Book IV. 



THRESHING MACHINES. 



405 



M 



1st. The very great comparative case obtained for the cattle, in this the heaviest part of their work. 

 This, without doubt, is a real saving of labor ; for it is no exaggeration to affirm, that five horses, yoked 

 by this apparatus to a threshing machine, will perform with equal ease the labor of six horses, of equal 

 strength and weight, yoked in the common way, each horse being independent of the rest. 



2dly. A very great saving results in the tear and wear of the machine, from the regularity and unifor- 

 mity of the movement. This will be acknowledged by any judge of the subject who witnesses the per- 

 formance. The sudden jerks and strains that generally take place in the usual way, are found to be quite 

 removed ; the machinery moving with that kind of uniformity as if driven by water. In consequence of 

 which, the work is better performed, and that in a very perceptible degree. 



2640. Meikles water threshing niachine {Jig. 348.), is the preferable engine when a 

 supply of water can be 



obtained. The main axle S'^8 



or shaft (a), upon which is 

 fixed the water-wheel (i), 

 has placedupon its circum- 

 ference cast metal seg- 

 ments (c), the teeth of which 

 turn the pinion which is 

 fastened on the axle of 

 the threshing drum; the 

 platform, on which the un- 

 threshed corn is spread, 

 joins the feeding rollers, 

 that conduct the corn for- 

 ward to the threshers ; 

 next the threshing-drum is 



AM 



the straw-shaker, driven by a leathern belt, passing over a sheeve, fixed on an iron 

 spindle, connected with the axle of the water-wheel, and the sheeve on the axle of the 

 shaker. 



2641. Meikle's threshing machine to be driven hy water or by four horses {Jig. 349.), is 



349 f-k. 



a powerful and convenient engine, as advantage may be taken of water when it is 

 abundant, and in dry seasons horses can be applied. To this machine the improved 

 apparatus for yoking the horses is appended, and by the simple operation of varying the 

 positions of the pinions on the common shaft (a), which communicate with the water and 

 horse wheel (6, c), threshing may be carried on without interruption, either with the water or 

 the horses separately ; or a small quantity of water may be applied to assist the horses 

 at any time, when a sufficient supply of water cannot be obtained to impel the machine 

 alone. 



2642. Meikle's threshing machine to be driven either by wind or six horses, [Gray, 

 PI. XII.) is a powerful but costly erection. On large corn farms, however, it will 

 answer to erect such machines ; and there are frequent instances in Berwickshire and 

 Northumberland, of farmers incuring that expense on the security of twenty-one years 

 leases. The machinery of the wind power of this machine is fitted up with a small 

 van to turn the large ones to face the wind, and with the machinery necessary to 

 roll on or olF the sails according as the wind increases or diminishes ; by which means 

 the naturally unsteady power of wind is rendered as regular as that of horses or water. 

 The threshing part of this machine contains the usual apparatus, and also a complete 

 set of fanners and screens for cleaning the corn. To the board upon which the 

 unthreshed grain is spread, and introduced between the feeding rollers, succeeds the 

 drum, with the threshers, or beaters, fixed upon the extremity of its arms ; then the 

 shaker, that receives the straw from the threshing drum, and conveys it to the second 

 shaker, by which it is thrown down a sloping scarce, either on the low floor, or upon a 

 sparred rack, which moves on rollers, turned by the machine, and by this means is con- 

 veyed into the straw-shed, or else into the barn yard. One searce is placed below the 



Dd 3 



