Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-17
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From the N. Y. American Agriculturist
PREPARATION FOR THE HARD WORK
ING SEASON

LII our last nuinDer we gave an article on tood
for the hard working season. and in this we pro-
pose making few simple observations on the
best method Of preparing for the arduous labors
Of the harvest
There is not greater error, nor one more
commonly entertained among the rural popula-
ton, than this: that person or animal which
has lain still for some time, or been at light work
till it has become fat, is thus made strong, and
thoroughly prepared by its rest and gross accu-
mutation of flesh for the hardest sort of work.
To do hard weeks or months work without
injury, man or domestic animal must certainly
be we'll fed and in good flesh, or more properly,
condition but to have the bones well covered
with hard muscle instead of soft, juicy flesh, are
two very different things. The strength ofman
an animal Of any kind lies principally in the
muscles (hard lean hesh;) how important then
that they should be in proper condition The
first requisite for this is proper food, as given in
our last the second, regular exercise. No bet
ter preparation can be had for the tolls of harv-
esting than the farmer usually gets in the fore
part of the season in ploughing, planting and hoe
ing. 1t must be recollected, however, that the
different from that required for moving pitching,
reaping and grading, To perform these opera
tons new set of muscles (hard lean Aesh) are
brought into action, and the great error in the
beginning of harvest is, to NOW or cradle too
much the first day. Active, ambitious young
men will very frequently commence harvesting by
moving or grading nearly the whole of the first
day; the result is, that they thoroughly fatigue
and strain the muscles which had been lying idle
land consequently get fat and lusty) during the
forepart of the season, that they will be so stiff
and sore the next morning that they can hardly
move, and it takes week perhaps to get over
this feeling, and not unfrequenty lasting injury
is done to their whole system by this single days
work
The true way is to inure oneself gradually
and commence by moving or grading, or doing
any other severe work, single hour in the af-
ternoon, and two hours the next morning In
crease an hour each day, and at the end of a
week one may NOW all day long, without being
particularly fatigued, and never injured AL.
though we utterly detest racing, trotting and
foot matches as at present conducted, or anything
which borders on gambling, or is attended witt
cruelty to animals yet the Woodworking mar
would do well to learn the principles, or physio
logical reasons of training men and animals to dc
the wondrous feats they frequently perform with
out the slightest injury to themselves. Indeed
at the risk of being laughed at for the expression
we will say, that to be able to work hard and ca
silly during harvest-time, one should go into train
ho IN, 81,
if preparing for a great foot match. Only thin
of aman running twenty miles in two hours wit
ease, as was recently done in England. 1t wa
condition produced by training which enable
him to do this The ancient Greeks and Re-
mans trained, that is, got themselves into cond
ton for their sports, war, and the chase an
the North American Indians, though ignorant
the physiological reasons for it, taught by exper
ence of its great advantage, did the same
then, it be so advantageous in an idle, foolish,
grossly wicked cause to prepare to acquit GU
selves with distinction, how much more impcr
tive with the husbandman on whose labors d
pend the very existence of mankind, to do ii
samel But this is delicate ground, and, to OF
knowledge, untrodden ; we therefore forebe
saying more at present, only wishing that v
could persuade our farmers to study animal ply
iology. 1t would enable them to improve Il
breed of man as we'll as domestic animals sa
them many disease add to their longevity al
happiness; and qualify them to do more work a
with greater ease to themselves, and if we mt
incite by selfish consideration, they wou
thereby make more money.
C i Il l.
give themselves the trouble to study Mr. Jo
R. Pitkin, of Woodville, L. l., in the N Y. Fl
mer and Mechanic thus admirably describes IL
of moving, the practice of which enabled him
easily beat the strongest and most active comp
itors.
"lst. The scythe should hang naturally a
easily, and as have soid before, it must be k
in first rate order
"2d AS you approach the standing grass,
the heel of the scythe move to the very point
commencement and let it stop the instant it
done its work. Thus there is nothing lost b
backward or forward swing. 1.-THE grass stal
up SO as to admit ofmovng on, measure the
most capacity forward of your scythe, take
quick easy gait moving your right foot well
towards the Standlng grass, ana your BODY "
1T, though leaning back, by bending the knee
little forward, SO as to bring your whole wei
to bear upon the scythe, without twisting the b
from right to left as many dol thus giving c
to each clip, and ability to repeat in an advan
position, without fatigue.
"NoTE.--lf you swing 6 inches too far b
and g inches too far in pointing out, it makes
inches loss Then apply the same strength
scientific forward motion, and you will fin
difficult for ordinary mowers to keep up"