INSTRUMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 87 



situations, where, by collecting springs, and forming dams, 

 half the labour of threshing might be done by water, with- 

 out much additional expcnce of machinery. 



7. The last power that has been lately applied for the 

 purpose of impelling threshing-machines is steam, and there 

 is one of these machines in East Lothian. It is said, that 

 on some new plan, steam-engines have been invented at 

 Hull, which would cost about L.200, which would furnish 

 power sufficient to drive a threshing-machine.* But there 

 has not hitherto been sufficient experience, to determine the 

 comparative advantages and disadvantages of the plan. It 

 is said that 12 cwt. of coals are required to thresh 50 Ber- 

 wickshire bolls, or 300 bushels of wheat. It is probable, 

 however, that the alternation of heating and cooling the 

 steam apparatus, may occasion much loss and expence in 

 repairing the furnace and boiler ; and there is little chance, 

 in districts merely rural, of being readily able to procure 

 work-people, who are sufficiently conversant in steam-en- 

 gines, for keeping the valves, leathers, and other parts of 

 such nice machinery in order. Where coal can be had at 

 a moderate expence, some would reckon steam superior 

 even to water ; but as fire is always a dangerous enemy to 

 straw, and farm-servants often careless, it may sometimes be 

 attended with risk. It is a great advantage attending the 

 use of steam or water, or even wind, that an apparatus, for 

 cutting straw, and bruising oats, may be attached to them. 



In regard to the expence of a threshing-mill, to go by 

 steam, the following is the cost of one, erected by a re- 

 spectable farmer on the border, (Mr Thompson of Chili, 

 lingham Barns), communicated to me by Mr Bailey, as 

 it is desirable that those, who propose having threshing- 



Communication from Mr Brown of Cononsyth, 



