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XIX.— On the Hainault Scythe. By Sir G. H. Rose. 
Sir — As an old, though retired, Hampshire farmer, and grateful for the 
good whicli your noble institution is calculated to iiromote, I use the 
freedom of writing to you now, but am fully aware that at this present 
moment it can neither be attended to nor noticed. 
In about the year 1811 I introduced here the use of the Hainault 
scythe, brimming hither two Flemish labourers. It prevails through the 
whole old Netherlands seventeen provinces, and probably is of very 
ancient date. For its advantages I refer you to a report of the Christ- 
church Agricultural Society in 1814, made in my absence, fairly and 
openly. The facts established are such as were proved for a few years 
together; and they would have been better established then, had any one 
person present well understood the subject. They enumerate three ad- 
vantages. The first is dispatch ; this is so ; half the time of reaping is 
saved, a result most beneficial in many ways ; secondly, straw and corn 
are saved ; this is so ; you gain the whole of the straw with no more 
trouble to the labourer ; thirdly, the sheaves are more easily and better 
made; you have much longer straw to bind with. Besides this, very 
great fatigue is spared to the reaper; he steadies, and finally collects, 
what he cuts, with his staff and crook in his left hand, and uses his pecu- 
liar scythe, only leaning to the right, and sparing his back, and swing- 
ing it with his right arm, with a loose shoulder, as in fencing; the 
blade enters the corn obliquely, so as not to shake the standing crop, but 
giving what with the sabre is called the drawing cut. The use of this 
scythe is most easily learned, as the Report, which I subjoin, shows. 
My gardening lad (Felix Edgell), wi'.h very little practice, beat a very 
fine man, the Flemish instructor. Hiscock, Footner, and Hascall were 
mere rcQruits. Should there be a wish for further information, I shall 
willingly give it. There are men here who could instruct learners, es- 
pecially my gardener, who won the first prize when a lad. My direction 
(the Right Hon. Sir G. H. Rose) is, till Friday, at Wilton House, South- 
ampton, afterwards as dated above. 
I am, Sir, your very obedient humble servant, 
Sandhills, Christchurch, Hants, G. H. Rose. 
July 23, 1844. 
The implements are somewhat like the following rough sketch : — 
staff anj Crook. ScyOie. 
VOL. V. 2 s 
