CHAP. XIIII.
Of mowing, or shearing.
THe last labour and toyle, for the which all the other in the whole yeare going before, was taken, is mowing and cutting downe of the corne: which must be attended, after that it once becommeth ripe; which will appeare, by the turning of the colour into a light yellow throughout, in all parts alike: and before that the graine be altogether hardened and turned red, that so it may grow thicker in the weathering and barne, rather than standing in the fields. For it is most certaine, that if it be cut downe in good and due season, it will grow bigger, and encrease afterward: whereas otherwise, if you stay the mowing or shearing of it downe, till it be throughly drie, the greatest part of the corne will fall to the ground in shearing of it, and will become a pray for the birds and other beasts. If there happen anie violent storme, or whirlewind, it will lay it flat with the earth. You must, of all other times, make choice of the wane of the Moone, or betwixt Moone and Moone, to cut downe your corne therein, if that you would haue your corne to keepe well: and the best houre, is the breake of the day, when it is full of deaw. The manner of shearing, is either to cut it in the middest of the straw, to the end you may haue stubble to couer your countrey houses, as also to heat the Ouen to bake bread, in such countries as are vnprouided of wood, as in Beauce: or else to cut it within a foot of the ground, for the greater prouision of straw, which will serue afterward to make Mats for Beds, or Litter for Horses and other Cattell, and (which is yet the greatest profit of all) to imploy about the making of Mats, for the vse and behoofe of the householder in his chambers. That which remaineth, shall either be cut downe with Sickles, or Hedging-bills, made fast to the end of a great staffe, to make a fire withall for the Winter time: or else it shall be burned in the fields them∣selues, to make dung, by the means of raine falling thereupon, in grounds especially that are sandie, or standing of a stiffe Potters clay, or which haue a strong mould.
And although this be the French manner of shearing of Wheat or Rie (for of these graines there are no difference) yet in other countries they vse to sheare after the Sunne is risen, and at such time as the corne is most drie, holding (as doubtlesse it is most probable) that the binding of the corne together in sheaues, whilest the wet deaw is vpon it, doth either rot or make it mildew quickly. As for the stubble, it is much better to mowe it downe with Sythes, than cut it vp with Sickles, both because you may goe neerer to the ground, and also saue much labour, in doing your worke sooner and better.
The corne being cut, shall be gathered together and made into sheaues, and after led and carried into the barne by the Farmer: which must be seated in a sufficient high place, that so it may receiue the wind somewhat readily: and yet not that I would haue the wind, when it commeth, to be able to goe against the houses, or gardens: for besides the annoyance which the small chaffe would worke in the eyes of the people, and that before they should perceiue it, it would furthermore