29S Cultivation of Arabic Laud. Thre/hiijg of Grain. By the Flail. 



Agricultural Survey of the Weil Riding of Yorkfhire, that the barns in which they 

 are erected fhould extend into the Hack-yards, as by that means the machines are 

 more conveniently fupplied, and ac much lefs expenfe of labour, with the grain 

 in the ftraw. Thefe threfhing engines mould likewife be adapted to the fize of 

 the farms, as by proper attention in this refpec t much expenfe may frequently be 

 faved. 



In th refhing corn by the flail it is the practice in fome diftridh for only one per- 

 fon to be employed upon a floor; but as two can threili together with equal if not 

 greater expedition, it muft be an uneconomical and difadvantageous mode. But 

 v here, more than two labourers threfli together, which is fometimes the cafe, there 

 muft be frequent interruptions, and a confequent lofs of time. The tool by which 

 this fort of bufmefs is performed fhould be well adapted to the fize and ftrength of 

 the pcrfon who makes ufe of it, as when difproportionately heavy in that part which 

 acls upon the grain, it much fooner fatigues the labourer, without any advantage 

 being gained in the beating out of the grain. The beft method of attaching the 

 different parts of the implement together is, probably, by means of caps and thongs 

 of good tough leather: iron is however fometimes employed. In threfhing moft 

 forts of corn, but particularly wheat, the operators mould wear thin light fhoes, in 

 order to avoid bruiiing the grain as much as pofTible. In the execution of the 

 work, when the corn is bound into fheaves, it is ufual for the th re fliers to begin at 

 the ear ends, and proceed regularly to the others, then turning the (heaves in a quick 

 manner, by means of the flail, to proceed in the fame way with the other fide, thus 

 fini filing the work. 



&quot;When much threfhed grain has accumulated on the th re fh ing- floor, it is neceflary 

 to feparate the fliort ftraw and chaffy matter from it,by paffing the whole through 

 a wide riddle or five for the purpofe. This fliould always be done before too 

 much grain has been collected, as in that way the bruifing of the grain may be more 

 effectually prevented. The fhort chaffy fubftance thus fenarated is in fome dif- 

 tricls termed covings, and is capable of being employed with advantage in the 

 feeding of horfcs or neat cattle. After this has been accomplished, the loofe grain 

 fhoulu be thrown up to the fides of the floor, or, what is better, into a chamber 

 conveniently formed for its reception, where it fhould remain till a fu flic lent quan 

 tity has been collected to render the clearing of it by the winnowing machine or 

 other contrivance ncceflary. 



It is almoft impoflible to afcertain-the quantity of grain that a labourer can threfli 

 out in the courfe of any given period of time, as it is obvious that much muft de 

 pend on the nature of the grain, the freenefs with which it threfh.es., and the exer- 



