136 THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD OF THRESHING 



fourteen feet at the eaves with a little swell and a correspondiDg 

 top ; when the two rows are completed in this manner they will 

 represent three days' work for a mill. If space be limited four 

 stacks can be erected thereon, and the same end attained. When 

 the mill has been introduced between the stacks, and spread out, 

 it will be found that one man will be in a position to fork two 

 of them on each side taken in succession, and, in average seasons, 

 these ought to yield from twenty-five to twenty-eight bolls each, 

 according to the description of wheat they contain, or, in all 

 from 100 to 112 bolls for the day's work. As strict economy 

 is to be observed, the arrival of the mill ought to be anticipated 

 by the preparation of the required number of oat straw straps 

 for tying the straw ; these must be each five feet long, and thirty- 

 six bundles of them, with fifty in each, will meet the requirements 

 of one day. One hundred and tw^elve sacks (all whole) will also 

 be necessary to hold the grain. 



Under these conditions the fewest number of attendants that 

 can be proceeded with is thirteen (exclusive of engineers), viz., 

 seven men, four women, and tw^o boys ; as a given quantity of 

 work requires to be accomplished in an allotted period, it is 

 essential that tliey be all competent and experienced hands. If 

 the straw be put up outside, this duty is the most important 

 one in connection with the operations, consequently it demands 

 the attention of the most experienced workmen. Much straw is 

 rendered almost valueless owing to careless and inexperienced 

 builders, who appear to think they discharge this duty satisfac- 

 torily by putting as few sheaves in the heart as is consistent with 

 their not being buried altogether, the result being that every drop 

 of J'ain that falls upon its surface percolates to the inside as it 

 could not possibly do otherwise. Before the straw can be neatly 

 bunched, care must be taken by the feeder, as the mill will 

 eject it very much in the same state as it has been inserted, and 

 it is impossible to make a square bunch from material fed upon 

 an angle. One man will fork the sheaves on to the feeding 

 platform, two women will loose them, three men with the 

 assistance of a boy to hold the straps (already made) will bunch, 

 tie, and dress the sheaves handsomely, one woman will convey 

 them to tlie forker, who in turn will pass them to the builder, 

 one woman to remove the chaff to its destination, one man with 

 the aid of a sack ba.row will bag, weigh, tie, and deposit the 

 wheat in any suitable house forty yards distant from the mill, 

 and one boy to attend the engine with water. 



It will be ascertained, under these circumstances, that, with a 

 little experience, the work can be executed with exceeding 

 neatness, and no one will be harassed. The straw may be 

 erected upon the space where it stood formerly, whenever one 

 stalk has been cleared awav, and should be built in short. 



