ADDRESSES 205 



may see immense fields of grain, from which a good yield is 

 considered nine to ten bushels for one of sowing. The crops 

 are never measured by the acre, and the above yield would 

 probably be not over twenty bushels to the acre. 



The threshing floor and its implements and operations 

 would interest an American farmer in the very highest de- 

 gree. Frequently a whole village will unite in constructing 

 one for common use. A description of such an one from 

 Hamlin's "Among the Turks" may not be uninteresting : 

 " I examined one that was about one thousand feet in length, 

 and, say, one-third of that in breadth. It was made by 

 hauling on to it hundreds of loads of clay and coarse gravel. 

 The whole was made into mortar, and spread some five or 

 six inches deep on a level, well-prepared surface. It was 

 then tamped every day by a force of men, that went all over 

 it twice a day, until it became too dry and solid for further 

 work. It is now artificial stone. Its inclination from a level 

 is just enough to keep it clear of water. With occasional 

 repairs, it lasts for generations. About three-fourths of 

 this floor is given to threshing, the rest to winnowing. The 

 grain from the field is spread six or eight inches deep over 

 the floor, and then the whole animal force of the village is 

 turned in upon it, horses, donkeys, mules, horned cattle, 

 with carts and drags, or with nothing but the feet." 



But the most effective, the finishing-off instrument, is 

 doubtless that referred to by the Prophet Isaiah (xli, 15- 

 16), where he says: "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp 

 threshing instrument having teeth." And this having teeth is 

 what I desire especially to bring to your attention. In ap- 

 pearance it looks very much on the upper side like a com- 

 mon stone drag or boat. It is of plank, about three niches 



