rQ2 On Thrashing Machines. Dec. 



mer, or that the flail is the preferable implement. This sub- 

 ject shall therefore now receive my attention. 



Your correspondent says, that * in Leicestershire, where 

 *■ the power of a horse has been added to these small machines, 



* they will thrash about a quarter of corn in two hours, and 

 ' that they are there found to answer for moderately sized 



* farms.' Tne quantity here given does not exceed fourteen 

 pecks per hour of all grains, but taking it at a boll, w^hich I 

 believe is very near the truth, I have a foundation on which 

 the following calculations may be built. 



I have already sliewn, that twenty shillings on every fifty 

 bolls of grain thrashed is lost to the farmer who uses a small 

 machine, in the single article of wages ; and shall now state 

 the relative expence of thrashing by a small machine and 

 by the flail. 



In the case of the Machine. 



Value of horse labour for one 



day -- ^.040 



A boy to drive - 010 



A man to feed the machine 016 



A woman to riddle the grain 007 



A woman to open out the 



sheaves - - 007 



Prime cost of the machine £. 2)S ^ ^ 



Interest upon this sum at ten 



per cent, £• 3 



Tear and wear per annum 2 10 o 



10 o 



I- 



Suppose that the farm upon 

 which the machine is 

 wrought shall produce 300 

 bolls of grain per amiura, 

 which, at 8 bolls per day, 

 requires thirty -two days and 

 an half to thrash it ; inde, 

 the interest of capital, and 

 tear and wear amounts pe^ 

 day to - - 



r. o II 4 



