IMPEOVED THRASHING MACHINE. 367 



soils where the temperature is not too low. Its grain makes 

 excellent ''horse-corn," but it usually fetches Is. per quarter 

 less in the market than white varieties of the same weight. 

 Special machinery is required to take out all the black ticks 

 from its oatmeal ; and its straw is almost valueless for fodder. 

 The Potato oat is a long-approved variety, and seems suitable 

 for light lands near the sea. The Sandy oat, being very early, 

 should suit sheltered spots in late districts. The Late Angus 

 is much too late for us in average years. 



A deputation from the Highland Society inspected the crops 

 twice in each year, saw that the divisions were properly made, 

 that the seed was true to its kind, and checked the measurements 

 of the plots. 



IMPEOVED THEASHING MACHINE. 



On an application by Mr. Peter M'Lellan, Millwright, Abernethy, 

 Perthshire, the Directors of the Highland and Agricultural 

 Society appointed a committee to inspect and report on certain 

 improvements, represented by him as having been effected on the 

 Thrashing Machine. The Committee, consisting of Mr. Henderson 

 of Gattaway ; Mr. Gorrie, Innerdunning ; Mr. Drummond, Mains 

 of Cultmalundie; and Mr. Alexander Slight, the Society's Curator 

 of Machinery, having met at the farm of Wester Cultmalundie, 

 near Perth, where the machine is erected, submitted the following 

 report to the Secretary : — 



Wester CuLTMALTmniE, 1th December, 1865. 



Sin, — The Committee appointed to inspect Mr. M'Lellan's improve- 

 ments on the Thrashing mill, having met here to-day and carefully 

 examined the machine, and the work performed, find that the combina- 

 tion of the Scotch and English drums in the same machine is a decided 

 advantage for thrashing different kinds of grain : 



Barley was thrashed equally well by each drum. 



Wheat was best cleaned by the rubbing drum without breaking the 

 straw. 



Oats were better thrashed out by the beater drum than by the rubbing 

 system. 



Beans and peas require to be thrashed out by the beater drum, as the 

 rubbing drum does not suit so well for them. 



The vibrating shakers which were exhibited at the Edinburgh Show, 

 but could not be well judged of there, were here seen to great advantage 

 in actual work ; they are a decided improvement. The Committee think 

 this the best shaker in use. 



The two dressing fans in one frame make a very compact arrangement, 

 and work in a very satisfactory manner ; these fans have only two blades, 

 and the wind is quite regular, and the power absorbed less than when 

 more blades are used. The grain passes from the first or mill fanners to 



