Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-12-11

down by ran or storm, the scythe CALI
not certainly be used with the same adj
vantage as T it stand erect 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
fastening the stems together, and tying
them, in direction contrary TO that in
which they have fallen. Sometimes they
plant stakes through the field, and put
small cross bars or rods, from stake to
stake, 80 as to bear the stems up; and
after tits the corn may be moved. But
in the case of a fine, even, upright crop,
whetherof wheat or other grain, there
can be no hesitation in preferring the
scyfhe aid POLE, if properly used, to the
sickle. M ~
After tie mower has passed on, two or
more womsn or boys, commonly women,
follow, Whole business it is gently ard
carefully to spread the corn that has been
moved, much in the same way that FAX
or hemp Is SPREAD, in even regular lay
ers. Wheel properly dried, third ope-
ration preparatory TO binding is perform
ed by two dher persons. commonly wo-
men, one q whcm carries two wands or
rods, abouifour feet in length, the other
one rod only. The person carrying the
two rods, trIsts them, one in each hand,
under the layer of corn which lies spread
out on background; the person with the
single wadd, at the same time standing
opposite The other, puts the single wand
under the layer, directlymidway between
ihs two opposite wands. Then the hands
are raised, whilst the points of the rods
or wands remain en- the ground, and thus
the corn slides or is showed together, in
heaps large enough for binding. 1.-THE
crops are thin, the gatherings must be-
gin the wider apart, or two gatherings
may be united, and great attention during
this operation is paid to collecting any
scattered or Struggling stems. The same
operation may be performed with a long
toolbed rake; but the corn is shaken
much less when the waDds are used.
The binders follow those who have
collected the heaps and i, is to be par
ticularly 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
wanted for use, they are cartcd to the
Geld, and distributed along the rows
The time spent in knotting the bands in
the fields is thus saved, and the loss OF
grain from twisting the bands or rubbing
against other sheayes in carrying home
is avoided.
The advantage derived from this me-
tl,od. and the Lewiston Of labor, will be
obvious to any person who has once seen
the perfect practice; and do not think
there is anF exaggcra,ionin stating, that
with the same hands, a crop may by such
means besayed in half the time. But
am inclined to go further, and express
my conviction, that the crops may be
saved in half the time with even fcsye,'
hands than the sickle requires. Much
howeve pr will certainly DEP end Oh the dsx-
iterity and willingness Of the people en-
ploycd; bat the mere cxpei'imen, of the
scythe md fiote may be tried without any
expense or difficulty.
In describing this method as Swiss, it
is necessary to add, that it is by no means
gencralthroughort Switzerland, but con-
fined at present to particular districts :
after being once introduced, however, j,
is never abandoned; and I have been told
it is spreading very rapidly through the
country. There can be no surer proof
of its excellence; for in country ex-
posed to calainitics from Indictment sea-
sons, and where years of scarcity are by
no means uncommon, it would certainly
not be adopted, if it did not insure to the
husbandman the utmost possible produce
from his crop. There is no want Of
hands in Switzerland; on the contrary,
the valleys Of Oberland, where have
observed the use of the scythe most
prevalent, swarm with inhabitants and
men, women, and children all work in
the fields with the greatest assiduity, both
early and late.
Ihave purposely delayed this publica-
ton until the time of harvest was near,
under persuasion that it was likely to
produce more effect, when there was an
opportunity Of trying the experiment
whilst the subject was fresh in the mind.
II ISAAC WELD, Jun.
London, 18Th Jnly, 1921. %S
.Ssss -esee@eese I.
Fromthe Manufacturers and Farmers Journal.