CHAPTER XLII 

 FANNING MILLS AND GRAIN GRADERS 



The Use of a Fanning Mill. The final selection of small 

 grain seed must be made by mechanical methods. The 

 plant breeder may well afford to make a hand selection of 

 seeds, but the practical grower will find it quite impossible. 

 There are from 700,000 to 1,000,000 wheat berries, about 

 12,500,000 alfalfa seeds, and as many as 120,000,000 timothy 

 seeds in a bushel. A bushel of corn contains about 100,000 

 kernels; but only % to Vr bushel is required to plant one acre, 

 which permits seed corn to be graded by hand more readily 

 than other grains. However, it is more likely not to be done 

 at all. 



Another vital requirement of good seed is that it shall not 

 be mixed with any weed seeds which will foul the land and 

 reduce the value of the crops. Also, in order that the modern 

 seeding and planting machinery may do its work best, the 

 seed should be free from trash and be uniform in size and 

 weight. The first step to be taken in securing a uniform 

 stand lies in cleaning and grading the seed. 



Often two or more grains are grown together or become 

 accidently mixed, and the fanning mill is called upon to sepa- 

 rate out the different kinds. To summarize, the functions 

 of the fanning mill are : 



1. To clean grain, separating out trash and foul seeds. 



2. To grade grain, securing the best seed. 



3. To separate different kinds of grains. 



What the Fanning Mill Can Do. The fanning mill or 

 grain grader can grade clean, or separate grains only when 



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