3S4 
T1IE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
preserve the greatest quantity of grain of the best 
quality, and to gather in the straw in the best con¬ 
dition, as fodder for cattle. 
Sufficient attention is not paid, in very many in 
stances, in selecting the sort of Oat best suited to the 
locality, for, if the prolific character of the sort is made 
the only consideration, and the early varieties are thus 
sown upon exposed situations, it is almost impossible to 
secure the crop without more or less loss, from shaking 
off the corn by the wind. 
All the early sorts of Oat, such as the Potato Oat, the 
I lope to mi, the Devon, the Black Siberian, and Winter 
Oat, are prone to shed in the field, and require to be 
cut proportionably early on that account. The best 
guide is the colour of the straw; when this is for the 
most part tinged with yellow, the sooner the crop is 
1 cut the better—the grain will weigh heaviest, and the 
straw will make the best fodder, when there is a portion 
of sap still left, which, being dried in this state, adds to 
its nutritive value. 
On the other hand, when the crop is allowed to 
remain uncut till the corn is quite ripe, and the straw 
white and brittle, loss must ensue, not only in the 
process of cutting and harvesting, but from other cir¬ 
cumstances before alluded to. 
The later varieties of Oat—viz., the Black or White 
Tartarian, or the Copper-colourecl French, with some 
others—may be allowed to stand uncut, without any 
serious loss from shedding of the grain, for a consider¬ 
able time after they appear to be ripe, and on tins 
account they arc often selected for growth upon soils 
exposed to the wind from the sea, and also upon hilly 
I land in the midland districts. 
I have found, upon some occasions, when labourers 
have been scarce, or engaged upon the more important 
work of cutting the Wheat crop, that the mowing these 
late sorts may be delayed, without great loss, until the 
workmen are at liberty; but, in these cases, there is \ 
always a diminution in the value of the straw as fodder, 
although not to the same extent as in that of the early 
varieties, for, although the straw of the late sorts may be 
| quite yellow before cutting, yet there is always a greater 
deposit of sap, indicated by its deop-yellow colour when 
ripe. Hence, in some degree, we can account for 
! its well-known superior value for feeding purposes. 
; This crop often goes by the appellation of “ loose corn,” 
arising, no doubt, from the circumstance of its being 
cut and harvested in a loose state, which method, in 
some seasons when the crop is light and cut early, 
may answer the purpose, and the produce be secured 
without loss. But under ordinary circumstances, with 
a good crop of straw, it is the best plan, and one which I 
is coming more into use every year, to cut and tie the | 
Oats into sheaves, in the same manner as is adopted 
for the wheat crop. If the crop is stout, and not laid or 
lodged by the weather, it is best to cut with the scythe, 
throwing the swarth to the standing corn ; in this case, 
a sufficient number of women or boys should follow, 
separating the swarth into grips, which ought to be 
immediately tied and set up, thus allowing the mowers 
August IS. j 
I 
to continue the work of cutting. When the crop is very j 
bulky, and lodged and twisted together, it cannot be | 
mown without loss; it is then desirable to cut it with j 
the fagging hook, in the same way as is usually adopted 
for a heavy and laid crop of wheat, for there is less 
danger of shaking out the grain when the book cuts 
away from the crop, which is also in a much better ! 
state for tying. 
After being tied into sheaves of a moderate size, say 
| about twelve inches in diameter, they should be set up; 
about twenty sheaves together is the best number, the 
shocks being more liable to blow over with the wind 
when they contain a less number. 
When the crop has been managed in this manner it 
will take an immense quantity of rain and rough 
weather without much loss or damage. I have known 
Oats remain in the field, set up in this way, from three 
weeks to a month, without receiving any damage worth 
notice. 
Whereas, had the crop been lying in swarth, it must 
have received great injury, not only by sprouted corn, 
but in the loss of grain, from constant turning of the 
swarth. And the straw at the same time having been 
exposed to the alternate changes of the weather would 
prove valueless as fodder. 
I am aware that objections are raised by some parties 
against this mode of cutting and tying the crop, because 
it is said to be more expensive; but this applies to the 
manual labour alone, for if the cost of the whole opera¬ 
tions of harvesting be reckoned, it will be found to be 
quite as cheap a method, for although cutting and tying 
will cost as much again as mowing and forking the 
crop, yet the tied corn may be carted at half the cost of 
that in a loose state, which will make the expenses 
about the same, entirely irrespective of other advan¬ 
tages. 
It must, however, be borne in mind, that loose corn 
is generally in a fit state for carting several days earlier 
than it is when tied into sheaves, and it will require 
some care and attention to prevent heating in the stack, 
for it must be admitted that no kind of corn is so liable 
to heat as sheaved Oats, more especially where clover is 
found amongst the crop ; and as it is usual to sow clover 
seeds with this crop, care must be taken to give the 
clover sufficient time to get quite dry previous to cartiug. 
Much will depend upon the time the crop will bo 
required for thrashing, as to the size, &c., of the ricks, 
small ones being most convenient, and earliest in con¬ 
dition. When Oats are intended to be kept till the 
following year, the rick should be placed upon a stand, 
for mice do more injury to Oats than to any other corn 
Joseph Blundell. j 
SEEKING REST AND FINDING NONE. 
By the Authoress of 11 My Flowers.” 
Supposing, for one moment, that there was no judgment 
to come ; supposing, for one moment, that we shall not he 
called to render up an account of our time, our money, and 
our works — supposing this; yet is there anything here 
