INSTRUMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 85 



sufficient quantity, after having finished their daily labour 

 at either cart or plough ; besides, the expence of tear and 

 wear of horses employed at the threshing-mill is very great, 

 as no work upon the farm is half so expensive. * Mr Ren- 

 nie of Oxwell Mains considers, that a wind threshing-mill, 

 equal to the power of eight horses, will annually save, when, 

 compared to horses, besides the saving that would be made 

 by the horses, L. 40 per annum, deducting the sinking of 

 L. 200 additional expence, in the erection of the machine ; 

 and Mr Wilson of Simprin in Berwickshire is of opinion, 

 that wherever a great quantity of wheat is grown, the re- 

 sistance is so great, and to overcome it is so destructive to 

 horses, that a threshing-mill ought to be driven either by 

 wind or water. 



Others object to wind machines, on account of the ex- 

 pence of the construction, the certainty of their not going 

 in calm weather, and the danger attending them when the 

 wind blows hard. Mr Brodie of Garwald, in particular, 

 observes, that in hilly situations, the wind is apt to rise in 

 such sudden squalls, as frequently to make that power in- 

 convenient, and not unaccompanied by danger. 



Mr Neil of Kelso informs me, that the expence of a good 

 wind threshing-mill will be about L. 550, and that when a 

 horse power is annexed to it, the additional expence, ac- 

 cording to the present price of timber, will be about L.120 

 more, or L. 670 in all. 



4. Aware of these objections to the power of wind alone,. 

 Mr Rennie of Phantassie, Mr Brown of Markle, and other 

 respectable farmers, have erected threshing-machines, SQ 

 constructed, as to be worked either by wind or by horses^ as 

 may be found necessary. They consider the power of wind, 



Communication from Mr Rennie of Kinblethmont, 



