106 



THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



latter by working the two treadles c, which are linked to a pair of cranks on the winch-shaft 

 D, which is mainly turned by a separate attendant. This shaft carries a pulley E, from 

 which a cross-band F passes to a pulley on the end of the lower fluted feed-roller G. The 

 same shaft also carries a large pulley H, from which a band passes to a pulley on the end of 

 the shaft of the upper beater J ; this shaft having upon it a spur-wheel gearing with a similar 

 wheel on the shaft of the lower beater M. In this way the two beaters simultaneously re- 

 volve at the same rate, but in reverse directions. The shaft of the upper better has also a 

 pulley, with a band passing from it to the pulley on the end of the shaft of the large 

 upper straw-clearing cylinder I. The lowei roller Q is similarly driven by a pulley on the 

 bottom beater-shaft, by a band passing to the pulley on the roller-shaft. 



Thus, as the grain is fed in, it is drawn forward by the grooved rollers G and carried into 

 contact with the pair of beaters J M ; and, as these beaters revolve at a high rate, they alter- 

 nately strike the grain upwards and downwards. Each edge of the beaters crosses the 



Fig. 2. 



horizontal line of traverse of the straw to a 

 short extent, (variable at pleasure,) so that, as 

 the unthrashed straw passes along, the grain 

 is most effectually separated or struck off by 

 the alternate and opposed actions of the beater 

 edges. The beaters are keyed, so as to work 

 constantly at right angles to each other. Hence 

 the two beaters work into each other, as it were, 

 like wheel-teeth, and subject the grain to a most 

 severe thrashing action. As the grain is detached, 

 it falls down clear of the machinery, into a proper 

 receptacle at the bottom of the casing of the ma- 

 chine ; while the cleared straw passes off to the 

 back of the machine, between the constantly- 

 revolving rollers, fig. 2. 



New Turnip and Root-Cutter. 



THE vegetable cutter for which the prize medal was awarded at the recent exhibition of the 

 Royal Agricultural Society, Carlisle, England, is constructed as follows: 



It is fitted with an improved cutting-plate, leaving a number of ledges and open slits, 

 through which the dirt, as it separates from the roots, falls in front of the implement, instead 

 of among the cut pieces, which latter is a serious objection, as it tends to encourage scouring 

 in sheep. The ledges retard the last flat piece of turnip till the next revolution of the wheel, 

 when it is cut into the proper sizes. It has thirty sheep and four cattle knives, so as to cut 

 either for cattle or sheep, according to the direction in which the fly-wheel is turned. 



Another machine for which a prize medal was also awarded was one for reducing turnips 

 and other roots to pulp preparatory to feeding. 



The object of this machine is to introduce a more profitable method of feeding animals, by 

 giving them minced roots mixed with straw chaff (cut straw) or other chaff, or meal-bran, 

 or linseed or rape-cake, instead of the old method of feeding them sometimes with roots only, 

 and sometimes with dry food only. Animals by this mode of feeding, improve faster and at 

 considerably less expense than by the old system. The same inventors exhibited a model 

 of a steaming apparatus for cooking cut straw and chaff. 



Improvements in Straw-Cutters. 



Gale's Improved Straw- Cutter. In an improved straw-cutter, invented and patented by 

 Warren Gale, of Auburn, New York, the nature of the invention relates to an arrangement 

 of the knife (or knives) of the cutting cylinder, so that it shall cut against a flange (or flanges) 

 on the opposite cylinder; also, in combination with the cutting cylinders, the method of 

 arranging the mouth or throat through which the straw is fed so that it shall govern the feed 



