1804. On the 'tuorA:ifig of Thrashing Machines, * ^9 



nate as to get a bad machine, six years ago, which went on 

 progressively, from middling to bad and worse, till at lengtli 

 It failed so much, that I have got a new one entirely. In the 

 old, where the rakes were driven by belts, if the straw liap- 

 pened to be rank, I was obliged to post a person at the rakes 

 continually, to help them forward, when clioaked. I need 

 not say that a proper train of wheels obviates this, with ab- 

 solute certainty. The fanners do not need this precaution, as 

 not liable to the same cause of checking their motion, and be- 

 ing infinitely lighter to drive. Besides, their distance would 

 render a wheel-train cumbersome and inconvenient, as well as 

 a great additional expence. 



In horse-wheels there are two modes of draught. By traces, 

 from low starts ; and by the shoulders, from starts placed 

 high above the horses. I shall not trouble you with mathe- 

 matical reasoning on the subject, leaving that to others more 

 competent. But it may be incontestibly demonstrated, that 

 on a start of 13 feet long, the horse which draws by traces, 

 operates with a lever^ at least three feet shorter, in effective 

 strength, than when fixed to perpendicular limbers, on eack 

 side of his shoulders. Hence, the power of four horses in the 

 one way, barely exceeds the power of three horses in the o- 

 ^ler, by about a thirteenth part of the power of one horse : 

 Or, in other words, three horses, drawing by the short 

 chains at the high starts, are almost equal, in power, to four 

 horses drawing by long traces, at the low starts ; every other 

 circumstance being equal. In my new m.? chine, having that 

 improved method of draught, my four horses work a vast deal 

 easier than in the old one, which was drav^^n by traces ; al- 

 though the feeding rollers in the new machine are completely 

 a foot longer than those of the old, and it consequently does 

 so much proportionally more work in the same time. 



Another very important consequence attending this superior 

 mode of yoking the horses, is, that it admits of breachings, by 

 which the machine is instantly stopped with the utmost rea- 

 diness, v/henever that is required. Whereas, in the old wav, 

 by traces, it requireci a great deal of time and trouble, to get 

 the machine stopped. 



There can be no doubt, that wherever water can be had 

 conveniently, and not at too great expence, it is the most eco- 

 nomical, and most effectual power for working a thrashing ma- 

 chine. Where that can not be had, a wind-mill is certaird^^ 

 the next best way, especially if the farm be of sufficient ex- 

 tent to warrant its expence. But, even in such cases, it is 

 highly proper, and even necessary, to have a horsf^-wheel, 

 to supply fodder and litter, in time3 of long continued calm 

 weather. B 2 K. r, r. 



