HARVESTING CUSTOMS

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 4

HARVESTING CUSTOMS

FAILING INTO DISUSE At one time harvest meant even more than it does to-day to rural folk. W'lien oir grandfathers were children the reaping ol corn was still mostly done with the sickle, and a mueli larger number ol peple were engaged at the ingathering. Indeed, at one time the villages and Hamlets in England during harvestide would be almost deserted during the- day by all the inhabitants, old and young alike having gone to the fields. Naturally enough, m those days when everybody was more or less interested in the harvest there were jolly times connected with the ingathering of the crops. Many old customs, too, were religiously followed, most of which have fallen into desuetude. No longer does one see the “lord ” of the reapers leading his men with the sickle, and setting the pace with a long, free swing. But at one time it was a common custom to appoint one of-the best harvesters as a sort of head man over the reaping band. To him all the rest gave-, pre cede nee, and he made all the necessary arrangements with the farmers for the mowing and all. The other workers were bound, by ancient custom, to obev him. He took the head with the sickle, the scythe, and also on “ carrying day. tie was the first to test the cider and beer and the victuals. He was frequently humorously addressed as “ My Lord ” by his men. The crying of the reapers is still another old custom of the harvest field Ln far-away Egypt the weird cries of the reapers in the distant fields may he heard giving warning to the good wife

at the farm that with the death of the “ Coni Spirit ’--the cutting of the last sheaf—a healthy appetite awaits with an excellent digestion upon whatever good faro she hath provided for them, ilo that as it may, this crying at the “ death ” of the Cora Spirit—the mystic prototype of Osiris, is a cry that finds its echo in the world’s harvest fields, even m this enlightened age. “ In Devonshire,” says an observer of harvest customs, “ the old custom of crying tiro ‘ Neck ’ is still a feature of harvest home. The wheat cut, an old man goes among the shocks of corn and carefully selects the best cars he can find. The bundle complete is called the * Neck.’ The reapers then close in a ring round the old man, who holds th ‘ neck ’ in the centre. A signal is given, and all hats are removed and all heads bowed low. A shout from the reapers; ‘ The Neck! The Neck ’ heads are raised, hats are waved high, when suddenly the cry changes to what sounds to ears untutored in the dialect of Devonia: ‘ We Yen, Waif Yen, We haven! ’ a cry that when heard for the first time makes one jump out of one’s boots, as it were, so eerie is the sound. Strange, indeed, are the customs of harvest tune.'’ When the lost load has been carried to the rickyard, the harvest home was —and in some parts it is still recognised —celebrated with exuberant rejoicings. All the reapers and their wives, with the parson to say grace, came to the feast. Brave appetites kept the servers busy; “ cut and come again ” was the order of the feast, as it was of the day’s work. There was plum pudding and mash, mutton and taties mashed with lard, and cabbage, b°er and cider. Supper over, this was followed by revelling. The “ Neck ” of corn, gaily dressed with ribbons, was hoisted on to the mantelpiece. Horns were filled with foaming ale, and each reaper toasted the effigy and joined in the harvest song. With music and dancing singing and drinking, the harvest supper was protracted until a late hour, when all the happy revellers flocked down the fields together in the moonlight, shouting and laughing all the way homo.