The Scythe Book shows how a traditional hand tool can often outperform modern technology for cutting grasses and weeds and harvesting small grains, and provides detailed guidance on fitting the scythe to the individual, care and repair of the blade, principles of movement, and much fascinating lore.

• Contents
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Introduction
  • THIS BOOK
• The Parts of the Scythe
  • THE BLADE
  • BLADE COVER
  • SNATH
• Sharpening
  • PEENING
  • WHETTING
• Mowing Technique
  • A HELPFUL EXERCISE
  • WITH THE SCYTHE
  • SMALL ADVANCES
  • READING THE GRASS
  • THE USE OF THE BODY
  • RECONSIDERING THE TWISTING EXERCISE
• Mowing Hay
  • MAKING THE HAY
  • TOOLS FOR MAKING HAY
  • MOWING IN TEAMS
  • HAYTIME DRINKS
• Clean Culture
  • WEEDS
  • PASTURE
  • LAWN
• Harvesting Small Grains
  • THE SCYTHE AND ITS PREDECESSORS
  • CRADLE SCYTHES
  • CUTTING GRAIN WITH OLD AND NEW TOOLS
  • SOWING, REAPING, THRESHING, WINNOWING
  • BRINGING THE HARVEST HOME
• The Scythe Must Dance
  • Introduction
  • Clarification of Terms
  • Fitting the Snath to the Mower
  • How Tough is a Scythe Blade?
  • Blade Selection
  • Sharpening Principles
  • The Practice of Shaping the Edge
  • Honing in the Field
  • Repairing the Damaged Edge
  • Principles of Movement
  • The Blade-Fitting Challenge
• Postscript
• Acknowledgments
• Appendix
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index