384 .
grain lias to be repeatedly handled, after heavy rains, to faiseit from the ground, or to turn it over for the benefit of theair. When thoroughly dried, it has to be again bound up andstooked, or immediately carried home to the stack-yard. Nocircumstance can well prove a greater trial of the temper,patience, and judgment of a husbandman, than the manage-ment of a crop of grain during the bad weather which sofrequently happens in Scotland during the harvest season.The circumstances however are so numerous and complicated,that no distinct directions can possibly be given for meetingthem in the most advantageous manner. Every person mustjudge for himself under the difficulties of the moment, andstore up his dear-bought experience for future and similaremergencies.
Oats and barley are sometimes cut by the scythe j but, sofar as known, always from the standing corn, that is, begin-ning at that part of the field from which the corn leans. Thescythe in mowing corn is often naked, though sometimesfurnished with a bow, which probably assists to lay the headsmore evenly in one direction. The use of the scythe can onlybe admissible when the corn stands upright, or with a regu-lar inclination or slope all one way, or nearly so; as thescythe can neither act with efficucy, nor even with safety,when the crop is much lodged, or when it has been irregular-ly broken down or interwoven by squalls of wind or heavyrains. When mown, it is sometimes left in the swathe tillnearly or altogether ready for being carried to the rick-yard.It is then taken up, bound into sheaves, and carted home withall expedition. But this is considered to be a dangerous aswell as a slovenly practice, and every active farmer makesit a rule, to gather, bind, and stook it, if dry, as fast as pos-sible.
Hitherto no Scotch husbandman has ventured to lead homeany of his grain crops in a loose state, as is done freely insome parts of England ; at least if some individuals have donethis, it has never been adopted in the practice of the well cul-