216 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



wheel turns on a cranked spindle, which moves a ratchet 

 wheel, fixed to one of the feeding rollers, by means of a 

 small hook or catch, which is capable of being so ad- 

 justed as to lift one, two, three, or four teeth at each 

 revolution ; and by this is regulated the length of the 

 straw projected in front of the face plate, and which is 

 severed by the knife. On the roller was fixed a revolv- 

 ing cloth, which passed over another roller at the hinder 



LESTER'S IMPROVED CHAFF-CUTTER. 



end of the box. A heavy block was used to compress 

 the straw. In modern engines, the rolling cloth is dis- 

 pensed with, and its place supplied by an upper feeding 

 roller, moved by a pair of cog wheels, one of which is 

 attached to the lower feeding roller before described ; 

 instead of the heavy block, a pressing piece, which re- 

 ceives its motion from the cranked spindle, alternately 

 presses dmvn the straw previous to the cut, and rises 



