THRESHING MACHINERY 



215 



Just before the grain enters the cylinder it is spread 

 and more evenly distributed by the retarders, which also, 

 as their name implies, prevent the grain from being 

 drawn into the cylinder in bunches. 



297. Stackers. The straw carrier was for a long time 

 the only means of carrying the straw away from the 

 machine. This consisted in a chute, over the bottom of 

 which the straw was drawn with a web. This developed 

 from a carrier extending directly to the rear to an inde- 



FIG. l62 A SECTIONAL VIEW OF A SELF-FEEDER 



pendent swinging stacker and the attached swinging 

 stacker. The former has gone out of use entirely, but 

 the attached swinging stacker is used to some extent. It 

 has some advantages over the wind stacker for barn 

 work. 



298. The wind stacker or blower has displaced the 

 straw carrier to a large extent because it requires a 

 smaller crew to operate. The wind stacker is made in 

 many types. The fan drum is placed horizontal, inclined, 

 or vertical ; the straw may enter the fan direct or into the 



