PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 291 



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Grain and Seed Separator. 

 We also saw another valuable machine for wheat-growers, 

 called the Uncle Sam grain and seed separator. Corn, wheat, 

 clover seed and timothy are separated as readily as chaff can be 

 blown from the grain. It also separates rye or oats from wheat, 

 and Mr. Hyer, the inventor, offers to undertake to separate any 

 kinds of seeds ever o;rown and mixed with wheat or other grain. 

 The ftumers present appeared delighted with the working of this 

 machine. 



Horse-Forks. ^ 



There was also exhibited a newly-invented horse-fork, acting 

 upon different principles from any one heretofore in use. It is 

 made of two slim bars of steel, which may be represented by 

 supposing a man standing upon a load of hay with his feet 

 crossed and close together, and his arms extended to the full 

 length, slightly curved downward. Now, suppose another man 

 seizes him by the shoulders and thrusts him down to his middle 

 into the hay. In doing so his legs turn outward and his arms 

 press down, reaching nearly to his toes. In this condition the 

 fork is locked. Of course, it grasps and must lift a great burden 

 of hay. When hoisted to its place it is easily tripped, and the 

 prongs assume their original position, and are as easily thrust into 

 the load as any harpoon fork, while the hold upon the hay is 

 probalbly ten times greater. 



This fork was approved by the Club, and is included among 

 those which were tested at Rye by the committee whose report 

 will be found in this volume. 



Value of Sorghum. 

 Mr. Solon Robinson called attention to some stalks of sorghum 

 grown on his laud, in Westchester county, without any more manure 

 or care than was ffiven to Indian corn. I think the weig-ht of the 

 crop, four times that of an ordinary corn crop, as the stalks average 

 twelve feet high, and stand more than twice as closely as corn. 

 Now for its use, if not intended tor making syrup. The little 

 patch I grew was cut when mature, but not until after the first 

 light frost ; and when cured was taken to the barn, where, for 

 some days my man has been feeding it to the cow and horse. We 

 think it increases the flow and improves the quality of the milk. 

 The horse has become so fond of it, that it has learned to dislin- 



