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AGRICULTURAL MAGAZINE.

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No. LXXVI.] NOVEMBER, 1805.14(Noro! SM

[The Editor, at the particular Request of one of lus Correspondents, has in- Serted the anneved Engraving.|

A DESCRIPTION AND EXPLANATION OF THE BRABANT AND HAINAULT REAPING SCYTHES AND STAFF-HOOK,

FIGURE I. A perspective View of the Brabant Scythe. A, HEblade of this Scythe: it is two feet ten inches - long, and three inches and an balf at the heel.

B, an iron ring or ferrule and wedge, with which the 3cythe is fastened to the Snead.

C, the snead or handle is three feet Seven inches long, baving a crutch head, which is placed under the right arm of the reaper wben he uses the Scythe.

D, a slip of leather, Sixteen mches long, and one inch broad, one end of it is nailed to the Snead, the other has a Slit or loop in the endof it for the reaper to put his thumb into, which done, he wraps the Slip of leather round his hand, the better to Secure and Steady the scytbe.

E, the grasp or handle is fastened to the snead with an iron wedge, and an iron ferrule, whose Shank passes through the grasp, and 1s rivetted tothe endof it.

F, a carved piece of wood, fastened to the end'of the snead, which is placed like a crutch under the right arm of the reaper, and Serves as the fulerum or centre of motion. of the Scythe; the reapers use this Scythe with the crutch head under the right arm, and a staff-hook like the Hainault hook in tiheleft hand.

FIGURE II. A perspective View of the Hainault Reaping Scytbe.

A, the blade is one foot eight inches long, and. its extreme breadth is three inches, gradually diminishing towards its point and heel; its back edge from the extremity: of its breadth to its point, forms a curve nearly to a fourth part 6f a circle, whose radius is five inches, the blade of this Scythe is Dot flat like other Scythes, its under edge being turned up,

dg. Mag. Yol. 13. Rr.