246 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Auqttbt, 
Different Modes of Binding Grain. 
In binding grain each end of the b.and is, or 
should be, always held projecting from the closed 
hand on the side of the thumb and forefinger. 
There are in common use not less than three 
different modes of binding. One is, passing 
the right-hand end over the thumb, with a 
double twist and tuck; the next is, passing it 
under the wrist with a double twist and tuck; 
and the third is passing it beneath the left hand, 
making a nip about the left-hand end and tuck 
beneath it, or in common parlance, “nip and 
tuck.” Sometimes binding over the thumb is 
performed with a single twist and tuck. But, 
when bound in this manner, unless the bands 
are drawn very tightly, sheaves are liable to 
unbind, which is very disagreeable. 
The most expeditious way of binding is “over 
the thumb.” This is done by putting the left 
knee on the sheaf, as shown on the foreground 
of the harvesting scene on page 248, pressing it 
closely together, then drawing with the right 
hand as tightly as practicable, catch the right- 
hand band with the forefinger of the left hand, 
while the left hand holds the other end of the 
band also. Now whirl the right-hand end of 
the band around the other end with the right 
hand, giving them a twist, or two twists which 
is better, and tuck them under the band. 
The accompanying illustration represents a 
sheaf of oats well bound over the thumb with 
a double twist and tuck. The second mode of 
binding is done with the left knee on the sheaf; 
the right-hand end of the baud is carried under 
the wrist of the left hand, and held by letting 
the wrist drop upon it, until the two ends are 
twisted together, and tucked under. Sheaves 
are bound in the “ nip and tuck” style by passing 
the end of the band in the right hand under 
the left hand, then holding it with the left hand 
resting on it, when the right hand releases its 
hold, and renews it again above the left hand. 
Then the left-hand end of the band is broken 
over towards the binder, while the other end is 
brought around it and tucked beneath the band 
on the side towards the binder. When sheaves 
are thus bound, the left-hand end of the band 
forms a good handle for carrying the sheaf. 
While binding, the rake handle should always 
rest against the shoulder of the binder. This 
makes it easier work for him, than to lay down 
and pick up his rake at every sheaf. As soon as a 
sheaf is bound, and the binder straightens his 
body, his rake is where he can take hold of it, 
without stooping to pick it off the ground. An 
active man will rake and bind one thousand 
sheaves in twelve hours, which is an ordinary 
day’s work. Suppose that it consumes two 
seconds of time to stoop and pick up his rake at 
each sheaf, he must necessarily endure the 
fatigue of picking one thousand rakes off 
the ground, which will consume not less 
than thirty-three minutes, besides the useless 
fatigue. During that length of time he would 
be able to rake and bind not less than fifty 
sheaves, not a little saving with many hands. 
Another consideration of no little importance 
in raking and binding is, to make the sheaves 
of a uniform size, and bind them as nearly in 
the middle as possible. When they are bound 
too near the tops, the bands are very apt to slip 
off while the sheaves are being pitched. If 
bound too near the buts, the heavy heads are 
liable to fall in different directions, when they 
are handled, and they soon unbind. When 
some sheaves are made very large and others 
small, it is difficult to make a nice stack with 
them, as the courses will not be smooth, and the 
buts sufficiently even to carry off the rain well. 
It is also less convenient to load large and 
small sheaves together, as well as to set them 
in neat and smooth shocks. When the straw is 
long, and not very green, there is an advantage 
in making as large sheaves as a man can bind, 
as no more time is 
consumed in mak¬ 
ing a band for, and 
binding up a large 
sheaf, than a small 
one; but when straw 
is quite green, the 
sheaves should not 
be made very large. 
In order to make 
sheaves of a uniform 
size, the gavels from 
a reaper should be 
dropped off evenly; 
SHEAF OF OATS. when cradlers 
cut swaths of equal width, there will be no 
difficulty in making sheaves of a uniform size, 
if every swath is raked a given distance. But 
when one cradler cuts a swath nine feet 
wide, and another six or seven, as is frequently 
the case, if both swaths are raked the same 
distance, the sheaves will not be of a uniform 
size, and of course will not make a smooth 
stack, or an even mow. 
Raking and Binding. 
That some men are able to rake and bind a 
swath of grain as fast as it is cradled, and per¬ 
form tlie work well, while other larger and 
stronger men, by working hard, can not rake 
and bind more than half as fast, is a matter of 
common observation. Why it is so, is told in a 
few words : They do not know how to do it. 
It is not strength alone, that enables a man to 
rake and bind grain very fast, but the essen¬ 
tials are skill, and quick movements. To 
rake swaths into handsome gavels or sheaves, 
having square buts, and not twice as long as the 
straw, requires a hand-rake with long teeth, as 
described and illustrated on page 210 last 
month. Then, instead of rolling a gavel over 
and over, keep one foot and leg constantly 
against the buts, and move it along as the rake 
slides the gavel. Always keep the head of the 
rake parallel with the gavel, as this will pre¬ 
vent its running out longer than the straw. 
When a rake with short teeth is used, if a man 
has not strength to slide the gavel along, it must 
be rolled, which is a slow process. Some 
rakers attempt to even the buts of gavels with 
the rake; but this consumes too much time. 
Some binders always grasp a handful of straw 
near the middle of the gavel at the heads. This 
is objectionable, as it frequently makes the 
sheaf longer. Some separate a handful of straw, 
and tie the tops in a square knot; this requires 
too much time. By others the band is laid 
across the gavel, when each hand grasps one 
end of a band, and raising the gavel at the same 
time, they turn it over and bind it; but this is 
an awkward and slow way to bind. Others di¬ 
vide the band below the hand that grasps it 
near the heads, then bend all the heads over to 
one side, and bring up one end of the band over 
them and place the thumb on it. This manner 
of making a band requires more time, and the 
lock is very apt to slip when binding. The best 
and most expeditious way to make a band is, 
to take a small handful from the top of the gav¬ 
el, and while separating it, hold back other 
straws with the other hand; then grasp it with 
the left hand a little below the heads, and di¬ 
viding the straw with the other hand, take the 
half of the band at the right side, carry it 
quickly to the left side of the other half, so that 
the left half will rest on the back of the right 
hand. Now elevate the right hand above the 
left, thus throwing the but ends of the branches 
of the band into the air above both hands. 
Pass the portion of the band in the right hand 
around all the heads of grain, and place the 
right thumb on them, and the lock will 
never separate when binding, if it is well 
made. Next, with the band in the right 
hand, throw it forward of and around the 
gavel, while the left hand is passed beneath 
the opposite side, palm upward, grasping the 
band in such a manner that its hold need not 
be relinquished until the sheaf is bound. When 
the hand grasps the band so that the hold must 
be relinquished and renewed, it often occupies 
time enough to finish binding the sheaf. When 
the right hand is passing the band around the 
bundle, if the stubble is sharp and stiff, keep 
the band beneath the palm. By this means the 
tender skin on the back of the fingers and hand, 
will be protected from the sharp points. 
Western Agriculture. 
A LETTER FROM SCOTT COUNTY, IOWA. 
Editor American Agriculturist. 
It seems to me that the “West” is not proper¬ 
ly understood either by its own people, or by 
our eastern friends. We regard the West as 
“ King ” in agriculture and the East as being a 
“ played out” region. Per contra, the East con¬ 
siders us as having fertile soil and cheap lands, 
but deficient in all else. I believe, that each can 
learn from the other much that would be bene- 
ficient. The letter from “Western BojV’and 
your comments thereon, in your July number, 
seem to open the wmy for a few remarks about 
western farms and farming operations. Passing 
over the usual panegyrics on our golden prairies, 
inexhaustible fertility, etc., the plain fact re¬ 
mains that western farmers need instruction on 
as many, though perhaps not the same, points 
as do those of less favored regions. What we 
of the West need is, the appreciation of the 
necessity of system and judicious methods in 
our labors. The majority of western farmers, 
who are to-day richer than when they came 
here, have made their profit in the increased 
market value of their lands. Few have, on aver¬ 
age, been able each year to show a tangible 
profit on their crops. We occasionally, as in 
1856—1857 and 1863—1864, have seasons in 
which good crops and high prices combine to 
our advantage, and in such years it is not un¬ 
usual for our farms to yield a profit equal to 
their total market value. I have known many 
instances where farms have cleared their cost in 
one year, but a close observation in the richest 
and best county of Iowa, through the last ten 
years, shows that as a class our fiirmers are but 
little, if any, better off than when they began. 
I say this is the case, but in justice to the West, 
I ought also to say that this need not be the 
case, and it is to the latter result that the teach¬ 
ings of the Agriculturist could exert a power¬ 
ful and wide spread influence. Our farmerft 
need special and urgent admonitions against— 
first, attempting to cultivate too much land; 
second, cultivating too many acres of one pro¬ 
duct ; and third, neglecting to take good care 
of their horses, cattle, and farming implements. 
These three are the leading and universal fail- 
