JANUARY. 25 



THRASHING. 



I before remarked, that the farmer, in thrash- 

 ing his crops of corn and pulse, should be atten- 

 tive to proportion his thrashers to his stock of lean 

 cattle, that neither more nor less straw may arise 

 than is regularly consumed. Relative to the ma- 

 nagement of the thrashers, the farmer sliould be 

 very clear-sighted to their motions, both as to the 

 cleanness of their work, and as to their honesty- 

 He may lose immensely if his straw be not thrashed 

 clean ; and as it is a work generally performed by 

 measure, the men are too apt to turn it over too 

 quickly, and to thrash out only that corn which 

 comes the easiest from the ear. In respect to pil- 

 fering, the work gives them greater opportunities 

 for it than any other ; for which reason, he should 

 have a sharp look out, and take care now and then 

 to meet the men of an evening in their way home, 

 and to come upon them in the barn, at various 

 times, and unawares. Such a conduct will keep 

 the men honest, if they are so already, and will 

 prevent many knaves from practising their roguery; 

 whereas an indolent, inattentive master, will make 

 pilferers. 



THRASHING-MILL, 



If the farmer has one of these most useful im- 

 plements, he is safe from the two evils mentioned 

 in the preceding article. The expence of a fixed 

 mill, is from 60 to 10O guineas for one that requires 

 two or three horses. It will thrash about 15 quarters 



of 



