AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS AND RURAL ECONOMY. 119 



of the screens m and n, the other ends of these screens being supported by the levers b and b ; 

 these levers have their fulcra at g g' g". The termination of the screen m is an inclined 

 plane p, connected with the screen by the steeper plane r. P is the fan revolving, as shown 

 by the arrow 3, within the chamber H. S are the elevators which receive the cleaned grain and 

 convey it up the spout W, where it is discharged into bags. The beds B and E are so con- 

 structed as to be capable of separation at g g / , for facility of transportation. V is the driving- 

 wheel which gives motion to the wheel X, and through it the pinion Y, for driving the thrash- 

 ing cylinder and rotating the shaft. 



The simplicity of the construction and operation of this machine renders it a valuable im- 

 provement in grain-separators, as the grain, being received on the upper bed, is thoroughly 

 separated from the straw during its passage over the bed, and by the action of the bed E 

 descends in the opposite direction to the mill, while the straw passes over the tail of the ma- 

 chine, thus effectually making the first separation. The second separation is no less thorough, 

 as the grain receives the blast under the best possible circumstances to insure the blowing 

 off of the chaff, while from the confining of the blast above the screen m, and the arrangement 

 of the inclined planes r and p, the liability of the grain to be blown off is greatly diminished. 



In relation to this invention, the Winchester (Va.) Republican says — By this machine the 

 wheat is thrashed and bagged, the straw is completely separated and delivered by itself, while 

 the chaff is completely separated from the wheat and thrown by itself, without the least con- 

 flict of one with the other ; in fact, a place for each, and each in its own place, seems to have 

 been the great object of the inventor. 



Improvements in Grain and Seed-Cleaners and Winnowers. 



Beech's Improved Grain and Seed-Fan. — In this fan, patented August, 1854, the improve- 

 ments consist mainly in dispensing with the shoe, which, as commonly used, is loaded with 

 riddles and directing-boards, and swings in the blast, very much obstructing its force. The 

 air is used as it comes direct from the drum, unobstructed by any fixture whatever. The 

 current is upwards and forwards, through the descending column of grain ; and with the 

 arrangement of inclined planes, between which the air passes, the grain is suspended in the 

 upward current, falling according to its specific gravity from the drum to the tail of the fan ; 

 thus the full force of the blast is used, taking out the lighter impurities without wasting a 

 sound kernel. After the grain has passed through the blast, it falls on the sieve, and the 

 heads, sticks, &c. are separated from it. 



There is sufficient power in the blast to separate the cheat, cockle, &c, for preparing wheat 

 for market, thereby dispensing with the screen, and saving the small sound grains which 

 must be lost in separating with a screen. In cleaning wheat for seed, advantage is taken of the 

 above-described arrangement, whereby the grain falls according to its weight. By taking out 

 a board which directs the grain, the sound and perfect kernels, falling through the strongest 

 current of air, are caught on a screen below and carried over it to the front of the fan, while 

 the lighter grains and all the impurities fall under the fan or are carried over the tail-board. 



Leach's Grain-Cleaner. — A patent was granted in March, 1855, to George Leach, of Owego, 

 New York, for an improved machine for cleaning grain. The device consists in the furrowing 

 of the rubbing-stones in a peculiar manner ; also a peculiar device for maintaining the pa- 

 rallelism of the stones. The face of the bed-stone has four grooves cut in it, tangential with 

 the spindle orifice, and they extend about half-way between the spindle and the periphery. 

 At the edge of the face of the stone there are four furrows, slightly curved, that extend in- 

 wards nearly half-way to the spindle. The runner-stone has four furrows in its face, which 

 also curve and extend from the edge about half-way to the eye. Between these furrows are 

 others which are curved from the edge to points near the eye, and from these points to the 

 eye they are tangential with it, (the eye.) 



Keech's and Stillwell's Combination Fanning Mill. — This mill is constructed upon strictly 

 philosophical principles, and is said to answer most perfectly the end desired. The blast 

 generated by this fan is so proportioned as to overcome the weight or gravitating power of all 

 the impurities possessing less weight than the grain ; which impurities are forced out of the 



