76 



Management of Wheat. 



of the straw shows that the crop has arrived at maturity, and, if 

 standing in the field, is liable to be shaken out bj the wind. 

 Those who wish for further information respecting this subject 

 will find an interesting account in Baxter's ' Library of Agricul- 

 ture,' vol. ii., p. 402, 4th edition. 



The methods of cutting are either by mowing, bagging, or 

 reaping. The latter mode leaves a large proportion of straw in 

 the field ; a system in many parts superseded by the practice of 

 mowing, and the sooner it is generally superseded the better it 

 will be for those who cultivate the land — reaping being the most 

 expensive mode of harvesting the corn, and the most destructive 

 to the straw, as the stubble generally becomes rotten, and two- 

 thirds of it lost before it can be carted home. Bagging,'' which 

 is performed with an instrument known as a bagging- hook, cutting 

 the straw close to the ground, is rather more expeditious than 

 reaping. The cost is \s. per acre less. Reaping wheat, when 

 performed by the piece, is in England chiefly done by the acre ; 

 but the Scotch method of reaping at a certain price per stook, or 

 .shock (the sheaves being made of a certain size), is preferable 

 where the stubble is required to be left low ; for there is an in- 

 ducement for the reapers to cut as low as possible, as the lower 

 part of the straw, being the largest, fills the sheaf quickest, and 

 another advantage of this method is^ that the sheaves are never 

 made too large. 



The cheapest and most expeditious way of cutting wheat is by 

 mowing. This is done with a scythe^ on which is fixed a high 

 bale for laying the corn in one direction. One method is to cast 

 the swathe towards the standing corn, the other from it. The 

 general plan in those parts where the system is adopted is for the 

 mower to cut enough for a sheaf, after which he returns to gather 

 it, and then ties it up. One man will mow, tie, shock, and rake 

 three roods per day. There is a very obvious loss of time in this 

 method in laying down and picking up the scythe. In other 

 parts of the country the practice is rather different ; the best 

 method appears to be as follows : — A company of men, say four, 

 are employed mowing ; four strong lads will gather with their 

 hands and bind the wheat as fast as it is cut ; and a couple of 

 men, with a boy, can stook the sheaves, rake the stubble, and 

 bind the rakings. 



The great advantages of mowing wheat are — 



1st. Cheapness and despatch. 



2nd. A breadth of wheat can be cut down early in the morning, 

 while the grain is damp, and tied up and shocked without injury 

 in the middle of the day. 



3rd. It is allowed that mown wheat is sooner fit to cart, and 

 sustains less injury than reaped in bad weather. 



