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tivatcd districts. Independently of the slovenly appearance ofthis procedure, and the considerable waste which must ne-cessarily attend the several removals of the loose grain, both<n the field and in the ricks, there is reason to believe, that afarther material loss by foul threshing, must be the conse-quence of this system. The practice may perhaps answer,where it originated, in cases where the crop is removed im-mediately from the field into large barns, into which the load-ed waggons arc admitted, and where consequently the grainshaken out is preserved; but in building loose oats, into largestacks in the yard, the lose would be very great.
After mown grain has been carried from the fields, thestubbles are always carefully raked. From experience, it hasbeen found that the ordinary hand rakes, used in hay making,are very incompetent implements for this operation. Theiruse is expensive; as, in harvest, when wages are excessivelyhigh, and the working people maintained by their employers,it will not cost less than seven shillings to rake one acre byhand ■, besides which, the reiterated short strokes of the rakes,and the frequent tossings which are given to the rakings,beat out and lose a considerable quantity of the best grain,perhaps in a good crop equal to twice the value of the wages,or one pound in all as the cxpencc and waste of hand rakingan acre. 13v means of the horse rake, a valuable implementrecently introduced from England, twelve or thirteen acresmay be effectuallyraked in a day, by a man and horse, and at anexpence not exceeding eight shillings, or about sixpence peracre, and the grain is very little shaken out during this steadyand efficient operation. In fact, the horse rake is indispen-sably necessary on a large farm, if the mowing of grain is tobo practised. For gathering mown corn into sheaves, somefarmers have recently adopted a peculiar kind of rake made°n purpose, having a few long wooden teeth and short handles,which they find to expedite the business considerably, andto save fatigue to the workers, by preventing the necessity ofperpetual stooping; but it is a much better plan, to employvoi.. i. 2 n