134 THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD OF THRESHING 



begin, when threshing and winnowing were incorporated into 

 one operation. 



A decided change has, however, taken place during the last 

 twenty years, through the introduction of the portable engine and 

 mill, which in course has been superseded by the traction engine 

 and improved mill The use of the latter has become so general 

 and is so advantageous that in many cases good horse-power, 

 and even fixed steam threshinf? machines have been altos^ether 

 discarded and the entire crop on the respective farms threshed 

 by the travelling mills, the only exceptions being in cases where 

 water is the motive power, which nominally costs nothing, and 

 has the extra advantage of being instantly available. With these 

 circumstances in view it may very naturally be inferred tliat the 

 abolition of fixed mills is a mere question of time ; many other 

 reasons mi^ht be adduced to streni:>then this conviction. 



Machinery of all kinds is a very expensive commodity, and its 

 deterioration is quite as rapid from disuse, as from careful 

 employment, and, consequently, with proper attention paid to it; 

 again, there are so many improvements introduced from time to 

 time, that the best constructed fixed mills become very soon 

 antiquated, or ruinous expenditure is entailed in keeping them 

 abreast of the times. It is a noticeable feature in some com- 

 paratively new horse-power mills, that although the draught is 

 apparently light, still the horses by being put a little past their 

 usual pace, it may be, in attaining the required speed, appear 

 jaded after a long day's work, the effects of which is plainly 

 visible for a number of days, and the opportunity may be taken 

 of expressing the opinion that this exercise is better suited for 

 horses trained in a circus, than for their less agile compeers 

 accustomed to perform their duties in a straight line. Further, 

 a great deal of space is occupied in this manner which might be 

 made available for storage or other purposes by their removal. 

 It may be here argued, that being entirely dependent on the 

 travelling mills might occasionally cause inconvenience, but that 

 can be guarded against by judicious arrangements. So long as 

 grain is grown to the same extent in Ayrshire as it has been, 

 the probability of them gaining ground is the more apparent, — 

 they, as it were, condense more work in one day, — consequently 

 allow more attention to be given in the direction of improving 

 the farm. A far higher standard of efficiency is likely to be 

 attained by men devoting their whole time and attention to the 

 theoretical and practical working of machinery than could be 

 hoped for from the spasmodic and haphazard efforts of the 

 ordinary farm-servant, however intelligent. 



The most casual observer will notice that these men, in regular 

 charge, are stimulated by a desire to have their respective imple- 

 ments always in a presentable form for public inspection, and the 



