39 



II. It loses the grass out of the bottom of the 

 sheaf. — This is sometimes the case ; but what falls 

 out can be very easily raked off the field after, 

 without any loss. 



III. The expense will be great But not so ; 



the strong part of the machine can be made of cast 

 iron, or wood, and the turning part of strong wire ; 

 so that they will not cost above, (as I am inform- 

 ed,) from Is. 6d. to 2s. each, sufficient to hold from 

 six to twelve sheaves, and will last a farmer for 

 generations ; and as corn can, in this way, be win- 

 nowed in a very few days, a few will serve a farm, 

 being so very portable that they can be taken from 

 field to field : even were it to cost a little more, no 

 farmer but would think it well bestowed, when he 

 calculates upon the difficulty, risk, expense, and 

 even the loss of grain he is obliged to sustain almost 

 every season, but particularly in wet seasons. But 

 I aver, that the very reverse will be the case, as by 

 this means he will always save his grain at less ex- 

 pense, and its utility is immense, every where in 

 wet seasons, when put in practice. 



Observe, the sheaf must be tied a little above the 

 middle, the band of the sheaf fixed on the forks, 

 and the bottom spread out, so that being entirely 

 off the ground, and turning round on the machine, 

 it admits of the air in every direction ; nor will 

 heavy pouring of rain injure it, as it runs oil' the 

 straw as it falls ; an hour's dry weather, at all 

 times, will tit it for the barn-yard after being win- 

 nowed. Three small poles of wood, little thicker 

 than a corn fork handle, turning on a bolt 

 at the top, set up and spread out at the ground in 



