54S 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



The first process is separating the heads from the 

 siraw.— This is done by thrashing it with a flail, in 

 the usual manner ofthrashinggrain, which can be 

 done with comparalive Hltie labor, in cold winter 

 weather. 



The second process is separating the seed from 

 the hull or chaff. — The machine necessary for this 

 purpose is similar to a email sized thrashing ma- 

 chine, except that the cylinder and concave are 

 covered with heavy sheet iron, which is punched 

 with a round and sharp punch, so as not to cut the 

 pie'Tre out where it goes through ; but leave the 

 edces sharp and ragged on the under side. This 

 is nailed on to the cylinder with the rough side out- 

 wards, and the concave, similarly punched, is nail- 

 ed on with the rough side inwards. These are 

 set so close together, that a few of the longest teeth 

 (as they are called) will touch until it has been 

 used for a while. 



The heads or chaff, as it is often called, arc fed 

 into the machine through a hopper, which extends 

 the whole length of the cylinder, and is secured 

 over the cylinder, so that not more than one-third 

 of the width or diameter ol" the cylinder is visible 

 through the mouth of the hopper, which is formed 

 with the ends perpendicular, and the sides spread- 

 ing not more than half as much as the hopper of a 

 common fanning mill. 



The manner of driving this machine, as well as 

 the size of it, must depend on the power by which 

 it is to be driven. 



T7ie third process is cleaning the seed when so 

 separated. — Any ordinary fanning mill vvill answer 

 this purpose. First, close the side doors which 

 regulate the current of air ; then take out all sieves 

 but the coarse chaff and the wheat sieves; then 

 put a thin board in the place of the sloping or 

 chess sieve, so as to prevent the seed from going 

 into the chess box, and also remember to put the 

 wheat sieve into the lowest sliding place, so as to 

 break the fell of the seed on the sloping board ; 

 then turn rather slowly and feed slowly. 



It will be found on examination, that a part of 

 the chaff, (that part lying next the mill,) has yet 

 some seed in it ; this must go through the machine 

 again, and we have sometimes to put a portion 

 through a third time. 



When this is accomplished, the seed will be 

 separated from the chaff, dirt, &c.; but in order to 

 make it fit for sowing, or for market, it must be 

 cleaned similar to timothy, turnip, or other small 

 seeds. For this purpose it is necessary to have, 

 instead of the wheat sieve, one finer than the slop- 

 ing or chess sieve ; the material for which can be 

 procured at any of the hardware stores — and the 

 wheat sieve must be substituted lor the coarse or 

 chnffing sieve. 



I have briefly stated the method used in this 

 neighborhood ; and although but imperfectly de- 

 scribed, it can, I think, be coinprehendod by any 

 man of ordinary mechanical powers. 



YourP, &c., W. N. H. 



Yates Co. ylugtist, 1840. 



IMPOnTAWCE OF PnOTKCTI.VG BIRDS. 



From the New England Farmer. 

 Mr. jBreck — In my communication on the origin 

 ©r the borer and my mode of extracting theni, I 



spoke of a narrow gouge as being the best instru- 

 ment with which i was acquainted for this purpose. 

 The remarks you made in relation to it, saying that 

 " the bill and" long tongue of the little speckled 

 woodpecker were quite as effectual," have induced 

 me to send another communication — not that I dis- 

 sent, but to say that I fully concur with you. I 

 believe from what I have seen and known by ex- 

 perience in farming, that if sportsmen were treated 

 as they ought to be, encroaching as they do upon 

 the public rights, the interest of the agriculturist 

 would be greatly promoted : the birds no longer 

 fi'ightened away from our habitations, would con- 

 gregate in our orchards and gardens, and rear their 

 young in our midst, and the husbandman might 

 fold up his hands in complacency, for aught that 

 could injure him in the shape of a worm or insect. 

 Nor is this all : we should not only have our trees 

 and gardens freed from insects, but music, sweet 

 music would be heard from every ' bush and tree;' 

 and who is there that does not like to bear the 

 songs of the leathered tribel Surely if ever there 

 was music that was intended by the Deity to cheer 

 the drooping heart of the larmer and impart joy 

 and happiness, it is the music of the songsters of 

 the grove. How often as he goes out in the 

 morning to engage in the toils of the field, is his 

 heart made glad by the joyful notes that burst from 

 every quarter upon his ear, and sympathizing with 

 the charming sounds, he goes whistling or singing 

 to the plough, rejoicing in Him who created all 

 and pronounced his works very good. Now who 

 would alter this wise and merciful provision of 

 Providence? None! none! unless it is the mean, 

 base, low-lived, baling sportsman — a set ofscaraps 

 destitute of all moral restraint, who now arc, and 

 always have been, a nuisance to all good society. 



But again : having our trees secured from the 

 vermin which infest them, and the pleasure we 

 derive in listening to their sweet music, are not all 

 the benefits which we derive from the protection of 

 birds. No — other advantages are numerous, and 

 I presume my employer will not be affronted if I 

 mention one which will result to him in this re- 

 spect. During the whole time he has been a resi- 

 dent of the place he now occupies, he has never in 

 the least manner discouraged the coming of birds 

 upon his farm and garden by shooting them him- 

 self or allowing others to do so : and not even in 

 (he time of cherries, when it is customary to put 

 lip Fomething in the tree to frighten them away, 

 has he done it ; but always allowed them to come 

 anil get what they pleased ; consequently his trees 

 arc not so much infested with insects as his neigh- 

 bors', and what is worthy of notice, the birds have 

 planted the cherry stones in the grove and about 

 the farm so liberally, that I have no doubt but 

 what three hundred English cherry seedlings may 

 be ibund upon the place of all sizes. These trees 

 my employer intends to have taken up soon, and 

 put in a convenient place for sale, which it disposed 

 of at the common price, will bring a good round 

 sum — more money than was ever gained in pre- 

 venting the birds from eating a few cherries, that 

 the owner might sell the more, without saying any 

 thing of the many Insects which the birds would 

 destroy in the mean time. 



The increase of insects is not only a sure result 

 of killing the binln, but how often have I seen the 

 sportsman discharge his gun into the small branch- 

 es of the tree, stripping leaves, buds and bark en- 



