in Husbandry, a well known instrument which has been long employed for cutting grass for hay. The same instrument with certain modifications in its construction has been used in reaping grain, in place of the sickle, the use of which is far more common, and in Scotland at least prevails almost universally, although it must be admitted that the method of reaping by the scythe, where it is practicable, is attended with less labour, is more expeditious, and therefore more economical. But against the use of the scythe, as a reaping instrument, many objections have been raised. Some of these are probably founded in prejudice, while others, considering the slow progress which has been made in introducing this instrument as a substitute for the sickle, rest on a more solid foundation.
It is said that this instrument shakes the ear, so that many of the grains are lost; that it lets the corn fall after it is cut, in a scattered confused manner, in consequence of which either a great deal of it is lost, or much time is wasted in gathering it together. It is also affirmed that it can only be made use of in very even land, and which is free from stones; that it does not leave length enough of stubble on the ground, on which to lay the corn when it is cut; that it mixes noxious weeds with the corn, the seeds of which are sown the ensuing year; and finally, that the use of the scythe is prejudicial to the health of the reaper.
It appears, however, that these objections have either no weight, or they are made by those who are unacquainted with the scythes peculiarly adapted to this purpose, and with the manner in which they ought to be used. With a good scythe properly managed, the corn when cut, remains at first upright, afterwards falling gently on the rake fixed to the scythe, without any shaking or jolting, or at least with less than what is occasioned by the sickle. The loss of grain chiefly arises from the corn being too dry, and therefore it ought to be reaped on proper days, and suitable times of the day, which is more easily accomplished by the scythe than the sickle, because the one requires less time than the other. The stalks, held together by the rake, may be laid on the ground, or against the corn not yet cut down, in a state so regular and connected, that those by whom the sheaves are collected and bound have themselves alone to blame, should any thing be left behind. It is sufficiently even when lands are ploughed and harrowed. rowed in a proper manner; and the only necessary precaution in stony ground, is to keep the scythe a little higher, that it may not strike against the stones. If the stubble be short, the straw cut off will of course be the longer, and of consequence more valuable; and long stubble only inconveniences the cattle afterwards sent to feed upon it.
These and similar considerations, prevailed with the patriotic society of Milan, to send to these places where scythes are used for reaping; and having procured a model from Silesia, they ordered one of a proper size to be made. It was first tried on corn, and afterwards on raietl; and notwithstanding the first was far from being made with accuracy, and although such an instrument had never before been made use of by the reaper, nearly half the usual time was found to be saved, and the wonted fatigue and labour were much diminished. The corn was cut without receiving any injurious shock, falling in an even and regular state, by which means it was afterwards bound up with ease in compact sheaves.
These instruments are so simple in their construction, that a figure of one of them renders a description almost unnecessary. Fig. 1. represents the Silesian scythe tried by the society, the difference between which and the Austrian one we shall mention in our description. The Silesian scythe differs little from that commonly employed in mowing grass, except that the blade is rather smaller; to it four teeth of wood are added, parallel to the blade, fixed and secured in a proper manner, and designed to keep the corn together after it is cut; so that instead of its falling in a confused state, the reaper can lay it down in a regular and compact manner. The Austrian scythe is similar to the former, but the blade is larger; of course the wooden teeth, being five in number, are longer; the handle is also flatter, and rather crooked.
In the first, the handle \(a b\) (see fig. 1.) is four feet three inches in length; the blade \(b c\) is about two feet; the piece of wood in which the teeth are fixed, one foot ten inches and a half. In the second, the handle is four feet one inch; the blade, two feet eight inches; the piece in which the teeth are fixed, \(1\frac{1}{2}\) inches.
The difference in the construction of these two scythes renders it necessary to use them in a different manner, which will be better acquired in practice than by precept. Such as are accustomed to the use of the common scythe will soon find out the most advantageous manner of using these new kinds of scythes, and of laying down the corn properly after it is cut.
It is necessary to observe, that, in mowing grass, the feet are held in a position nearly parallel to each other, whereas in reaping corn they should be kept on a line, the one behind the other, bringing the right foot forward, and drawing the left towards it. The reason is, that when grass is mowed it is left to fall where it is cut; but when corn is cut down, it is to be laid in a proper manner against that which is not yet cut, and which is at the reaper's left hand. Were the feet kept parallel to each other, the reaper would be under the necessity of extending and turning his body in a very inconvenient manner.
These observations having been published, the society made farther experiments on the subject, by which they discovered, that when the stalks of corn are bent down by reason of extremely wet weather, the wooden teeth of the scythes are apt to lay hold of some ears, to the stalks of which the iron does not extend; and therefore these not being cut below, are pulled so that the grain is scattered. This chiefly happens from the reapers not being accustomed to that kind of scythe, and therefore not knowing how to adapt it to particular existing circumstances.
It occurred to an ingenious blacksmith, that, in order to remedy this inconvenience, a collector made of cloth should be added to the common scythe, as may be seen at fig. 2., where \(a b c\) is a common scythe, \(c d m o f n e\) fig. 2., is the gatherer, which at \(c d e\) is composed of a thin plate of iron, having a hollow at its extremity for receiving the point of the blade. At \(c d\) are holes for sewing in the cloth, which is coarse, light, and of low price; it is also fixed to two thick iron wires, of which the upper one is continued to \(f\), where it terminates in a hole in the handle; the other is fixed to the back of the blade. The manner of fixing this gatherer to the back of the scythe will be better understood by referring to fig. 3., which represents one of the irons, which, by fig. 3., means of the screw, are fastened to the back of the scythe. These proceed from, and make part of the upright irons \(m n, l o\), which serve to keep the gatherer extended.
This contrivance is both cheap and simple; but an attempt was made to render it more so, by substituting two iron hoops for the gatherer, which are shown in fig. 2., by the dotted lines \(h g, k i\), with a cross piece \(p\), fig. 2., which connects them. Experience has shown, however, that the gatherer is in general preferable to these hoops, as it does not leave an ear of corn behind.