The National Register.
London, England, 1821-07-29 00:00:00

HI.N7S FOR THE APPROACM.VG HARVEST.

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A residence of two years in Switzerland, and particular atter,-
too dusted to the rural economy of the coutury, amongst other
taitigt brought me acquainted with a method ofinevating which
to me was quite new. Since my return home I made many in-
quiries without having learned that a similar method was ever
practia.-d in England. though it is by no means improbable that
It 11;3; already be known, either in local custom of old date, or
Lem Lacing been introduced by travellers who had equal oppor•
trinities with myself of observing what passed before their eyes.
I ant not aware, however. that any written description of this
netted has already appeared ; and it is untlef a persuasion of its
great utility that I now endeavour to give it every possible pub-
licity.
in harvesting. two important matters present themselves to the
teonsideration of the fanner :--expense of labour, and time.—
A saving in labour, if it protracts the time, is rarely beneficial.
a.• it exposes the crop to additional risk and accident from bad
wet.t'aer ; but every saving in time is a positive advantage. The
Salta method saves tooth time noel labour ; and the loss from
shedding. in handling the corn, appears to be less than with us.
Tic main principle of their system consists in the use of the
icraate instead of the site LE. Every one must be aware of
the very superior powers of the former instrument; but in the
ordinary mode of using it, nothwithstanding the various contri-
eanee- of bows, sweeps, cradles. &c. which have been attached
to the scythe to remedy the inconvenience, the corn is thrown
down in such rude heaps, and the ears become so entangled, that
a iereat allows from shedding t and hence farmers have con.
center it better to employ six sickles than one scythe. Nay, I
Fare heard it argued. when prices were high, that there was
its od economy in reaping Jaen barley.
In Switzerland, however, by a very simple contrivance the
objection to the scathe have been completely obviated. Each
mower is accompanied by a person bearing a light straight long
pole. whose business is to press the pole in a horizontal position
against the stems of the corn which arc to be cut, so as to bend
the ears considerably away from the mower, and leave him a
foil. fair, stoke at the aggregated stems. The pole is best
vitls: of deal, and much about the thickness of the handle of a
sweeping brush. and in Saitserland is commonly about nine feet
he length r but this must be determined by the nature of the
scythe used,* or rather by the sweep or extent of the stroke ; for
the person who bears the pole must be out of the reach of all
trom the scythe, and at the same time there must he
adiaeicnt length of pole left to press against the whole breadth
tor bench of banding corn which the mower can compass with
Lie set tite. The person who bears the pole, commonly a lad,
staude.with his face towards the mower, a little to the left of his
'line of progression, and moves backwards as the other advances.
'rite pole may be held as the bearer finds most convenient a and
steadied. either against his body, or his thigh, according to hia
Eeiaht ; but care must be taken that it is held nearly horsaontal,
and the pole should press on the standing corn, from about six
iaches to a foot below the ears, so as to give a sloping direction,
array from the mower, to the whole quantity likely to be cut at
err s:N.l:e. The ears which are thus pressed back never straggle.
either during or after the stroke, but slide along the pole which
it properly held, keeps them quite even, and they will fall one
year, smoothly and regularly.
Should the corn have been beaten down by rain or storm, the
scythe cannot certainly be used with the same advantage as if it
stands end and healthy ; the sickle will answer best under such
circumstances. The Swiss, however, are so careful about their
crops, that when fallen, they raise them, in part, by fattening
FICIIII together, and tying them in is direction contraty to
titer in which they have fallen. Sometimes they plant stakes
through the field, and put small airs bars or rods, front stake to
crake, so as to hear tL4., stems up ; and after this the corn may be
snowed. But in the cane of a fine, even, upright crop. whether
of wheat or other ;rain, there can be no hesitation in preferring
the se' the and pole, it properly used, to the sickle. I
After then:over has passed on, two or more women or boys.
commonly women, follow, whose business it is gently and care-
fully to spread the corn that has been mowed, much in the same
way that flax or heir.p is spread, in even regular lavers. When
properly dried. a third operation preparatory to binding is per.
formed by two other persons. commonly women, one of whom
carries too waritla or rude, about four feet in length, the other
✓ac rod only. The person carrying the too rods, thrusts them,
cne in each hand, under the 'e'er of corn which lire sorted on
the ground ; the person with the single wand, at the same time
standing opposite to the other, puts the Finale wand under the
oirtaaly midway between the opposite weals. Then the
hands arc raised, whilst the points of the rods or wands remain
on the ground, and thus the car, slides, or is slaved together, in
heaps large enough for binding. if the crop is thin, the gather•
inks unhat begin the wider apart, or too gatherings may be
united, and great attention during this operation is paid to col-
lecting any scattered or straggling stems. The same operation
may be performed with a long toothed rake ; but the corn is
waken much less when the wands are used.

The binders follow those who have collected the heaps ; and it
is to be partieulaily noted, that the Swiss do not use the fresh cut
corn for bands, but make them at home in the barns, of straw,
at some convenient time in advance. When wantal for use,
they ate carted to the. field, and distributed along the rows.—
The time spent in knotting the bands in the fields is thus saved,
ate the logs of grain (tom twisting the bands or rubbing against
either sheaves in carrying home, is avoided.
The advantages derived from this method, and the division of
albeit 7, will be obvious to any person who has once seen the per
feet practice ; and I do not think there is any exaggeration in
amine, that a ith the same hands, a crop may by such means be
saved in half the time. lint I am inclined to go further, and
express my conviction, that the crop may be saved in half the
foie with even fewer hands than the sickle requires. Much
L. %ever will eertainiy depend on the dexterity and willingness of
ti.e people employed but the niece experiment of the scythe
and pole may be tried without au expense or difficulty.

I:. describing this method as Swiss, it is necessary to add, that
i. by no means general throughout Switzerland, but confined
at ire:ent to particular cliAriets ; after being once introduced,
however, Ais never abandoned and 1 have been told it is
spreading very rapidly through the country. There can be no
surer proof of its excellence ; for in a country espoweel to cala-
mities from inclement sea:ons, and where years of scarcity are
by no means unet.mmon, it would certainly not be adopted, if
it did not ensure to the husbandman the utmost possible pnwluee
from hi, crop. The.e is no want of hands in Switzetlanel; on the
centrary, the valleys of Oberland, where I have observed the
upe of the scythe most prevalent, swarm with inhabitants. and
men. women, and children all work in the fields with the green:at
as,aduity, both early and late.
I have purposely delayed this publication until the time of
liarse-t was near, under a persuasion that it was likely to produce
snort effect, alien there was an opportunity of trying the experi-
ment whilst the subjict wLb fresh tn the mind.
Luunivit. July ISAAC \VELD, jun.

• I I, acy thee coudnotoly used In ',wilt. rlatol have Ilght short blades,
awl I belies are tris"copally 01 Certnao In ....actor.. Ito. 'mum.,
ale touch bent; and the mower at.lods upright. The seteep
la rot vary great. got the Sod.. n.. admirable mowers; I have seen
n'alICS 01 gram on the Alps gru o log an der ledges of tort: ..h.,e stu
cause et aid climb, cal as rime and mot :o an a dekteroom
ca• dead could cat asr a,r. plat. Ihry pe..ta esqoadte edge op Mei.
erytio a by Itunnieting them ant on 1111:e ~sail, lead tor the ',miaow,
tatted ot thlonnag the viee by a costae Wart., aa oar mowers do; and
their IC) lbel by this Ire:dam:a caotacian::•ly lAtt Mien longer. 1110
Stop..atios I. .perfornord tAice in a d.. or two; and the edge in
I.CI wait!, ettlkearlbu !Learned by alit et strop or }Hero cu buord,
ILasa vas 1.