The reaper and binder was a regualar sight in the cornfields of days gone by in rural Ireland. It was a cumbersome machine requiring four powerful horses to drag it along under the burning September sun.

Its rapidly mowing blades neatly severed the wheat stalks 6 inches over the ground. The stalks were then beaten on to a moving canvas roller which conveyed the stalks into the machine to be quickly bound with twine into sleaves. An automatic arm neatly tossed these sheaves out at the rear of the binder to be made into stooks by the workmen bringing up the rear. These piles of corn were placed about in foot intervals apart. It was hot, toiling under the schorching sun suitable to dry the grain.

Sometimes the workmen would take a welcome pause to change a blade on the Binder or have a cool drink.

Usually this activity would last foe weeks as the Binder would be on hire and each farmer had to wait his turn.

Many an evening we rushed home from school and charged into the wheat field to help the workers.

After some time all this activity would cease and we would be treated with some refreshing tea and home made scones by the housewife. \indeed they were happy childhood days of long ago.