Cbap,.r. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 133 



of the several arrangements connected with it, 

 the extent of its powers, and completeness of 

 execution, is equal, perhaps superior, to any in 

 Fife. 



The advantages of this invention to husban- 

 dry are great. It separates the grain from the 

 straw more completely than flails can do. It 

 performs the work in a shorter time ; and re- 

 quires fewer hands upon the whole. By thrash- 

 ing wet grain quickly and completely, it saves 

 it from being lost in wet harvests, when the 

 crop cannot be got easily and properly drie<J. 

 In short, the same hands, that would otherwise 

 be necessary on the farm, will be able, with this 

 instrument, to accomplish the business of thrash- 

 ing without much perceptible loss of time, as 

 they can always in an hour in the morning, be- 

 fore they go outgto the plough, or other work 

 without doors, thrash as much as will serve the 

 bestial for one or perhaps two days. 



In a few instances, indeed, I have heard com- 

 plaints that this machine, though erected at great 

 expence, and judged to be sufficiently executed, 

 did not thrash clean. But this "must be owing, 

 not to any defect in the principle, but to some 

 inaccuracy in the construction and adjustment 

 of the machinery : a circumstance not to be 

 wondered at, in a work so new and so compli- 

 cated. It may be expected, however, that, by a 

 course of trials, every defect will be discovered 

 and corrected, and by the improved skill and 

 dexterity which the mechanic will derive from 

 practice, the machine will be brought to such 

 perfection as to remove every complaint. 



