On Fanners. 



This excellent instrument is more generally to be found 

 in Scotland than even the threshing-mill. By using it, 

 with the aid of riddles in some part of the operation, all 

 dust, chaff, and other refuse are blown away, and the 

 grain separated into divisions according to its quality, by 

 which it is rendered intrinsically more valuable, than if 

 the good and the bad were mixed together ; in the same 

 manner as a fleece of wool is more valuable, when broken 

 or sorted by the wool-stapler *. Some years ago, religious 

 people, attached to old habits, refused to winnow with 

 the deifs wind, as they called it ; but every scruple of 

 that sort, is now given up. The threshing-mill has gene- 

 rally one set of fanners attached to it, driven by a belt 

 from the end of the axle of the threshing drum ; but 

 where the machine is driven by horses, the working of a 

 second pair, for cleaning the grain completely, is rather 

 found to be severe upon them : the second pair of fan- 

 ners is therefore generally driven by hand. Mr Dudgeon 

 of Primrose Hill states, that one of his neighbours has 

 got a small water-wheel, totally unconnected with the 

 threshing machinery, for driving the second fanner, which, 

 by affording a steady equable motion, separates the light 

 grain in the most complete style f. By some improve- 



There is an excellent account of the fanning process in 

 Kerr's Berwickshire. 



f Mr Cuthbcrtson finds, that the two pair of fanners at- 

 tached to his water threshing-mill perform their work so 

 well, that oats or beans are completely finished for market ; 

 wheat and barley, hovcvcr, require an additional dressing bf 

 tbe hand-fanners. 



