18—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 13,1971 'Many Hands Make Light Work' - Third Report From Nepal , By Peggy Wollaston Chester County IFYE Any tiller of the soil, whether “Many hands make light he is a back yaid gardener or a work” is a proverb 1 nave often farmer, is well aware of that im- heai d my paternal grandmother portant time when the fruits of use and it certainly applies to his labor have i cached their rice harvest, piime and the task of haivest is Indeed, many hands are in at hand action as family members and Here in Nepal, I had the op- neighbors lend their assistance portunity to witness as well as The day on which I helped my participate in the harvest of host family harvest their rice, NEW 2 FOUR-BLA IMPELLE Unloads Silage In Volume Fast Volumatic II Silo Unloader * Big Capacity Unloading * Power Circle Drive * True Three-Point Suspension * Two Machines in One YOU CAN COUNT ON US Reliable Products - Installation - Service M. E. SNAVELY 445 South Cedar St., Lititz, Pa. 17543 I SEE US FOR TRACTORS FO 2 ALLEN H. MATZ, INC. the most important crop of the year rice NEW HOLLAND Ph. 626-8144 i u _ I * r host sisters brought a picnic lunch to the paddy Work ceas ed and all joined in to partake Of the food served to us on large leaves of dinner plate size The brass watei vessel was circu lated among the workers as each tipped it up and drank the water forming an arc from the container to the mouth of the person This is quite a tech nique to observe as the lips never touch the edge of the ves- S6l When harvesting resumed, half of us returned to our back bending job of cutting rice and the remainder began the thresh ing process. This is done by a sheaf of rice being lifted above the head, then hit upon the ground, the force of which knocks the heads of grain from the stalks This is repeated two or three times to loosen any tenacious grains and to insure Peggy Wollaston that all the rice is removed Reports From Nepal The bunches of stalks are then placed in a circle; heads I counted 25 persons in Lia to t h e center, which develops P a ddy. into a haystack of six to eight The contxast between harvest feet in height. This is later used time in America and Nepal is feed and bedding for the worth mentioning, not so much animals because of the machine vs At the end of the day, the pile sickle technique, but because of of rice which has accumulated the spirit of the people is scooped into burlap bags and A jovial atmosphere prevails taken to the house. The follow in Nepal as laughter, song, and day and for several days animated conversation is heard thereafter the gram is spread throughout the paddy What a sometimes on a straw mat, far cry fiom hai vesting at home more often on the bare when we are constantly fighting ground to dry in the sun. unpredictible time, against weather, and machinery break- downs Speaking of “machinery” break downs, the most serious threat in Nepal is the handle 1 coming off the sickle' This hap pened once to me as I was cut ting, but it was quickly ham mered into place by a fellow woiker and I resumed my task. ■ Meal time arrived and my GROWERS FERTILIZER SOLUTIONS applied in the row is one of the best and quickest complete analysis starter fertilizers on the market today. applied as a foliage spray is very quickly absorbed through the leaves are 90 to 95% available to the plant are non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-poisonous to animals will not freeze are delivered to the farm to 300 gallon Growers owned and maintained bulk tanks. are applied by inexpensive equipment offered by Growers give larger yields, result in earlier maturity, lower moisture content, and better quality in crops. offer a more economical and easier means of fertilization.' ' t > improve soil conditions and production when used’in conjunction with -- the “Growers Program.” ,u ■ 1 . .4' “hi. t * § ome area dealersl>!*ps '— contact Eastern State Distributing Co. Lititz, R. D. 2, Pa. 17543 Phone 626-8909 - 4 _ Roaches Fleas - Ticks Rats or Mice C. Ehrlich Co., Inc. 1278 Loop Rd , Lane. PHONE 397-3721 On-the-Farm Delivery by Growers Trucks I felt as a member of the family when my hosts permit ted me to assist in the rice har vest In this way, I was able to experience, vicariously, how it really feels to be solely depen dent upon manual labor for one’s livelihood. As the sun was setting, our labors of the day came to an end Walking from the field, sickle in hand, my thoughts re turned to the work that had been accomplished that day. Cooperation is an important factor in the life of Nepal, as evidenced that day, and indeed, “many hands make light work ” PROTECT YOUR FARM WITH A PINCOR PTO TRACTOR DRIVEN ALTERNATOR m an ono watts sure** capact*v • 16,000 watts continuous duty • Slew speed—l Boo RPM operation 1 • Cool running triple chain ] drive transmission • Heavy duty motor starting • Close voltage regulation • Meets NEMA codes • Heavy duty construction • Induction hardened input shaft • Rain proof construction • Completely wired control box • Three phase available •SEE IT AT... ii. i —' Hover stick Bros. 2111 Stone Mill Rd. Lancaster, Pa. 17603 Ph. (717) 392-57*2 L>/ICW
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