SMO 



science of AGiurri/rriiK. 



Pakt II. 



i^a pair of low wheels: it is a convenient machine for moving Bocks in a granary or bam 



floor, from one point to another. 



2542. The Normandy wheelbarrow ( Jig. 252.) is said to be exceedingly useful on a 



farm. The handles or trams (na) art" nearly 



tifu'i'ii feet in length] by which, when loaded, 



nearly all the weight is thrown on die axle, 



so that the man has almost nothing to carry, 



and has only to push. IK' is thus saved 



from being bent down while at work, and 



consequently from acquiring a habit of stoop- 

 ing. A shoulder strap (b) is commonly used 



by the operator. (Morel I'iude, a?id Gard. 



Mag. vol. vi.) 



The truck (Jig. 253.) is a machine of the barrow kind for conveying compact 



heavy weights, such as stones, metals, &c. 



2544. The hand-harrow is of different 

 kinds (Jigs. 254, 255, '-'56.), and is in fre- 

 quent use in various departments of agricul- 

 ture, where the soil is soft, or the surface 

 uneven. Its bottom should be close and strong 



for carrying stones; but may be light and open for dung or corn. 



2545. The winnowing machine, originally introduced from Holland to East Lothian 



by Mr. James Meikle of Saltoun, father to Mr. Andrew Meikle, the inventor of the 



254 255 256 



7!i 



threshing machine (799.), is in use for cleaning corn in most of the improved 



districts. There are different forms, but the best are those founded on the Meikle or 



Berwickshire winnower, which, instead of 



one screen, has a set of sieves put in 



motion by the machine, by which means 



the com comes out, in most cases, ready- 

 to be meted up in sacks. A highly- 

 improved form of this machine, and the 



most perfect, we believe, at present in 



use (Jig. 257.) is manufactured by Weir 



and Co. of London. 



2546. The hand threshing-machine 



(Jig. 258.) is worked by two men and 



one woman, and is sometimes used for 



threshing the com of a small farm, or 



lor threshing clover or other small seeds. 



The advantage consists chiefly in the 



completeness in which the grain is separated from the straw; there is no saving of 



human labour, unless the power of horses or water is applied. 



258 2547. The potato cleaner is a hollow or per- 



forated cylinder or barrel, with a wooden axle 

 through its long diameter, and a handle at one 

 end, by which it is turned like a barrel churn. 

 A hinged board forms an opening for putting in 

 and taking out the potatoes, which fastens with 

 an iron hasp and staple. It is filled one third 

 with potatoes or other roots, and then placed in 

 a cistern of water, by means of a crane or other- 

 wise. In this state, being two thirds immersed 

 in the water, and one third full of potatoes, it is 

 turned round a few times, when the latter are 

 found cleaned, and the barrel is lifted out by the 

 crane, emptied, filled, and replaced. 

 254K. A locomotive steam threshing-machine, capable of propelling itself and a man. 



has been constructed in the count) of Northumberland. It is intended for the small 



farmers, as it can be moved from one farm to another, and thus enable them to thresh 



