Johann David Wyss

“ After threshing, we proceeded to winnowing: by simply throwing the threshed corn with shovels high in the air when the land or sea breeze grew strong, the chaff and refuse was carried away by the wind and the grain fell to the ground. ”

“ THRESHING IN ITALIAN FASHION.
hurry about the manioc, and digging potatoes in this fine light soil is easy work compared to what it is in Switzerland, while as to planting more, that will not be necessary if we leave the younger plants in the ground. The harvest we must conduct after the Italian fashion, which, although anything but economical, will save time and trouble, and as we are to have two crops in the year, we need not be too particular. ”

“ The skin has now nothing to unite it to the body, and, consequently, may be drawn off with perfect ease. This scientific fact has been known for many years; the Greenlanders make constant use of it; when they have killed a seal or walrus they distend the skin that they may tow the animal more easily ashore, and then remove its hide at a moment's notice. ”

“ My wife was satisfied when she saw the straw carried home and stacked; our crop of maize, which of course had not been threshed like the other corn, afforded soft leaves which were used for stuffing mattresses, while the stalks, when burnt, left ashes so rich in alkali as to be especially useful.
I changed the crops sown on the ground to rye, barley, and oats, and hoped they would ripen before the rainy reason. ”

“ Finally, when all the other treasures had been displayed, Fritz begged me to examine his thistles which he had gathered, thinking, he said, that it was a plant used in the manufacture of wool. He was perfectly right, for I recognized it at once as the “fuller's teazle,” a plant whose sharp little thorns, which cover the stem and leaves, are used to raise the nap of cloth. ”

“ It is not a bad plan, I can assure you, wife, and the Italians do not waste the straw by not cutting it with the grain; having more arable than pasture land, they use this high stubble for their cattle, letting them feed in it, and eat what grain is left; afterwards, allowing the grass to grow up amongst it, they mow all together for winter fodder. And now for threshing, also in Italian fashion. ”

“ The whole family of our old sow, and she herself, were standing at bay, showing their teeth and grunting so savagely, that the dogs feared to approach them.
I raised my gun and fired twice amongst the herd: two of the pigs fell, and the rest fled, followed by the dogs. ”

“ The rainy season again—The building of the cajack—The mother invents a swimming dress—A visit to our colonies—Mysterious seaweed—The mother's surprise—A visit to Whale Island—Mischievous pigs—The three boys return from a day's hunting—They display their treasures—A new skinning apparatus—We make a crushing machine—An early harvest—We prepare a threshing floor—Reaping in Italian fashion—Threshing also in Italian fashion—Return of the herring shoals. ”

“ The number of the creatures we killed rendered the removal of their skins a matter of no little time and trouble. It was not an agreeable task at any time, and when I saw the array of animals the boys had brought me to flay, I determined to construct a machine which would considerably lessen the labour. ”