Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Messor

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

MESSOR (ἀμητήρ, θεριστής). A reaper of grain. (Cic. Orat. iii. 12. Virg. Georg. i. 316.) The most common practice amongst the ancient reapers was to cut the stalk with a reaping hook (falx messoria, or stramentaria) about midway between the ear and the ground, as represented by the annexed figure (Messor/1.1) from a sepulchral painting of the Christian era, the straw being afterwards cut by itself. But in some places, Umbria more especially, they cut the straw near the ground, as we do, leaving only a stubble behind; and for a particular kind of bearded corn, like the Egyptian, which has several ears clustered together on the top of a single stem, they nicked the heads off the top of the stalk with an instrument furnished with teeth, like a saw (falx denticulata); an operation which is exhibited in an Egyptian painting published by Wilkinson (Ancient Egyptians, vol. iv. p. 89.). Varro, R. R. i. 50. Compare Columell. ii. 20. 3.

2. Messor foeniseca. A mower of grass with a scythe (falx foenaria). Columell. ii. 17. 5.

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  Messor/1.1