FARM MACHINERY 293 



Types. There are two general types of manure spreaders, 

 classified by the construction of the aprons. The endless 

 apron passes over rollers or reels at each end of the box, and 

 is arranged to be driven in one direction only. As soon as 

 a load is discharged, the apron is stopped and is ready to 

 receive another load. This type of apron is more likely 

 to become fouled by manure passing through the upper side 

 and lodging in the inside of the apron below. In freezing 

 weather this manure on the inside becomes frozen, and is 

 quite likely to cause breakage. The slats are placed quite 

 close, however, and in many instances these troubles are 

 not experienced at all. One maker of the endless apron 

 spreader has the slats of the apron hinged so that while on 

 the under side they hang vertically, preventing the manure 

 which comes through the upper side from lodging below. 

 Again, another style of endless apron does not have slats 

 over much more than half of its length, and in this way 

 prevents fouling by leaving the under side open. In other 

 instances the apron proper is replaced with a drag chain 

 which drags the manure over the tight floor of the box. 

 Usually this type of apron, or conveyor, to be more correct, 

 is used only with the small-sized machines, as the amount 

 of power required to drag the load is much greater than to 

 move it on an apron supported by rollers. 



The return apron, after discharging its load, is brought 

 back into position again by a reverse motion. The return- 

 apron spreader has more mechanism than the endless apron, 

 on account of this return motion. The front end board is 

 attached to the apron and draws the load well into the beater 

 at the finish. 



A few endless-apron spreaders have a front end board 

 that moves with the load, and which, after the load has been 

 spread, is brought forward again by hand. 



