42 On Threshing out Wheat by a Rotter. 



rally eat in winter, is straw of trodden wheat. They are 

 nice judges of good eating ; and I never observed them 

 to refuse well preserved trodden straw. The more close- 

 ly straw, and indeed hay, is packed, and kept from the 

 air, the fresher it will be, and the more kindly horses and 

 cattle will eat it. On its good preservation depends the 

 retention of its good qualities. I have heard more than 

 one gentleman of judgment and experience say, that they 

 thought horses preferred trodden to threshed straw ; and 

 they accounted for it, by conjecturing, that by treading, 

 it was made softer and more palatable. Sometimes I buy 

 a little threshed straw, raised on small lots, and I never 

 find that my horses make any difference, if it be all alike 

 sound and fresh. Trodden straw requires a little more 

 care in stacking ; and after the stack is put up, it should 

 be secured by a few rails or poles until it is well set- 

 tled. 



7. The chance of damage from rain has been stated 

 among the inconveniencies of treading wheat. I admit 

 that there is such a chance, and I believe that it some. 

 times happens ; but a farmer must be very unskilful in 

 the changes of the weather, or foolhardy, who will ex- 

 pose himself to the probability of such a chance. In fif- 

 teen years I have not once had a floor of wheat catched 

 in a shower ; nevertheless this circumstance is to be taken 

 into the calculation, but i will venture to say that no pru- 

 dent man, with tolerable judgment, ought to hesitate a 

 moment about adopting the roller, on this account. 



It may be imagined, from the preceding observations, 

 that I have a mind Unresist the introduction of the Scotch 

 threshing machine. I have no such intention. My pur 



