REAPING (or cutting corn when it is ripe) is one of the moat important operations of harvest. It requires many hands to: accom plish it in proper time, so that the corn which is ready for the sickle may not be too ripe and shed, nor the fair weather be allowed to pass before all the corn is secured in barns or stacks. The labourers who are required all the year for the common purposes of husbandry seldom suffice for the harvest, especially on extensive farms, and re course is usually had to the assistance of mechanics and artisans from the neighbouring towns and villages where the population is consider able, or labourers are induced by good wages to come from a distance. As the harvest ie later in those parts of every country which have a more northern situation, or are higher above the level of the sea, bands of reapers from these come to assist in the harvest of those tracts whose produce is earlier. To encourage the annual return of so desirable assistants, every encouragement is given them, not only by wages, but also by food and drink, and amusements after the toil of the day. Thus the time of harvest is a time of rejoicing both to the labourers and the master.
The common reaping-hook, or sickle, with which the corn is usually cut, is one of the oldest instruments of husbandry ; and the goddess Ceres was generally represented by the ancients with a sheaf of corn and sickle in her hand. In reaping with the sickle, a portion of the stems is collected with the left hand, and held fast ; while the sickle in the right hand is inserted below the left, taking the sterna in its semi circular blade, and cutting them through by drawing the sickle so as to act as a saw, for which purpose the edge is finely serrated in a direction from the point to the handle. The heads of the corn, with the upper part of the straw, are then laid on the ground in quantities which may readily be collected into a sheaf. Practice soon gives dexterity to the reaper; and he finds it more expeditious to cut small quantities in succesion until be ban filled his hand, than to attempt to cut through a large heedful at once. Severe wounds are often inflicted on the fingers of the left hand by beginners, even to the loss of a finger; but this soon makes them cautious and expert. The division of labour is
introduced with advantage amongst a band of reapers. A certain number cut the corn, while others follow to gather the sheaves; some only preparing the bands, and others tying them and setting up the sheaves into stooks or shocks, which usually consist of ten or twelve sheaves. The smaller the sheaves are, the less injury the corn sustains in a wet harvest ; as the moisture in a thick sheaf does not se readily evaporate. Hence it is the interest of the farmer to see that the reapers de not make the sheaves too large. In many places there in a regular measure for the circumference of a sheaf, which should never exceed thirty inches. The bands are made by taking two small hand.
els of the out corn, and crossing them just below the ears into a knot. The sheaf is then premed with the knee, and the band drawn tightly around it.. The ends are twisted together like a rope, and inserted muter the band, which effectually fastens it. This operation is soon learnt, and is done very rapidly. The sheaves should be so tied that there may be no danger of their falling loose when pitched into the cart or stacked, without being so tight as to prevent the moisture in the straw from evaporating. They should not be tied too near the ears, but rather nearer to the butt. The sheaves, when tied, are placed two and two on the butt-ends, with the ears leaning against each other : sometimes they are placed in a circle, all the ears being together, and the buts slanting outwards ; a sheaf is then opened, by inserting the hand into the middle of the can, and reversed over the tops of the preceding, forming a cone, and covering all the other ears, while it hangs down around them. In this position they will bear much rain without injury. It is a good practice to place the shocks across the furrows between the stitches or lands, so as to allow the air to circulate more freely around them. In this case four or five sheaves are placed in a row, leaning against as many in a parallel row; and two sheaves, being opened, are reversed over them to protect the ears. Whatever be the mode adopted in reaping the corn, the same kind of sheaves are formed, and set up in shocks.