CHAPTER II. 



ON IMPLEMENTS. 



Art. XIX.— ON THE THRASHING-MACHINE. 



By Mr. Sullivan. 



[In a series of valuable ' ' Remarks on the Agriculture of Aberdeen- 

 shire," published in the Farmer's Magazine, there occurs the following 

 account of the thrashing-machine, and of the instruments worked in con- 

 nection with it ; with incidental illustrations of the great economy and 

 convenience of water as an impelling power, a resource which is still, for 

 the most part, very grieTOUsly neglected.] 



In 1799, a macliine, propelled by water-power, was erected 

 in the parish of Kintore, in this county, for 31 Z., including* 

 the dam and water-course, which thrashed at the expeditious 

 rate of fourteen quarters per hour. This is stated on the 

 best authority — the aged owner of the machine in question. 

 It is proper to add, that it was reckoned a three-horse power. 

 The feeding rollers were 3 feet in length ; the drum was 

 3 feet in diameter, and made eight revolutions for one of the 

 water-wheel, which was 8 feet 8 inches in diameter, and the 

 iloats 8 inches in width by 1 foot 4 inches in length. It 

 was what is technically designated an imdershot wheel. ^ 



Few of the thrashing-machines now erected at double the 

 cost and of double the power of the one just referred to will 

 thrash so much as fourteen quarters of oats per hoiu". In 



' There are three sorts of water-wheels, commonly known as the overshot, 

 the undershot, and the breast wheel. The first derives its name from the 

 water coming in contact with and passing over the upjier part of the wheel ; 

 the second, from the water, after impinging on the floats, flowing under- 

 neath ; and the third, from the water striking at a point in the circum- 

 ference of the wheel intermediate between the former. 



