96 Cultivation of Arable Land.ThreJhiitg of Grain by the, Machine. 



.thefe machines feems eftablifhed. The principal obftarles to machines of this na 

 ture being more generally made ufe of, are chiefly thofe ofexpence in their erection, 

 and the flovenly practice which prevails in fome of the more fouthern diftricts, of 

 fecuring grain crops in a loofe manner. The fiift of thefe objections may probably, 

 however, be obviated by the conftruction of handthreftiing-engines j and the lat 

 ter by thedifcoveries and improvements that are daily taking place in this fort of 

 machinery. The objections that have been raifed again ft the practice, on the fcore 

 of its depriving labourers of employment during the winter feafon, are fcarcely 

 deferving of notice, as experience has fully fhown that no injurious confequences 

 can refult from it, as there mud always be work enough of other kinds at fuch peri 

 ods, where farms are under a judicious mode of cultivation** And the inconveni 

 ences that rmy attend the largenefs of the quantity of ft raw that muft be at once 

 produced in this method, may be eafily obviated either by placing it immediately 

 in clofe ftacks, or by having a part of it cur into chaff and laid up in a well- 

 ventilated granary, as, in this way, there can be little doubt but that it w ; ll keep 

 well, provided the operation has been performed while the ft raw is dry. Befides, 

 by the ufe of one-horfe or hand-machines the work may proceed without this trou 

 ble, as the ftraw is wanted for the ufes of the farmer, which, in the cafe of ftore 

 cattle being fed with it, may be a more advantageous practice. But where the 

 fold-yard and cattle-ftalls are kept littered, and as frequently changed as may bs 

 neceffary for promoting its converfion into manure^ the farmer will feldom be 

 much incurnbered with ftraw. 



Thefavingol expenfe in this mode of threfhing, over that by the flail, muft 

 be different according to the nature of the machine and the power by which it is 

 wrought, as well as the ftate and condition of the grain, and the regularity with 

 which it is fupplied. By fome it is ftated as about one half, while others makeit 

 muchlefs than that proportion. f With the beft conftruCtcd machines we appre- 



* Modern Agriculture, vol. II. 



t In the different forts of grain the expenfe and produce of a day s threfhing are thus ftated by 

 the author of the Corrected Agricultural Survey of the County of Kent : 



Wheat. 



L. s. d. 



Eight men, at Is. 8d. each - - - - 13 4 



Four boys, at Is. each - - - - . 040 



Four horfes, at 2s. 6d. each - - 10 



Cleaning and meafuring 24 quarters, at 3d. each 060 



1 13 4 



