22 SCIENCE OF THRESHING. 



THE FEED BOARD. 



The feed board is a platform placed in front of the 

 concave and connects with it, as in hand feeding 

 machines on which the sheaves may be cut and spread 

 for presenting to the cylinder. The surface of the 

 feed board and its extensions, or tables, should be 

 smooth, and free from nails or other obstructions, to 

 facilitate the moving of the straw. 



If the cylinder does not have sufficient draft or 

 pull to take the straw readily enough, the edge of the 

 feed board which comes in contact with the concave 

 may be rounded or curved; this is usually a good 

 remedy. A desirable point in the working of a sepa- 

 rator is also gained in that the straw, which passes 

 more freely over this rounded edge than it would 

 over an abrupt or angular margin, is not broken or 

 cut up to any great extent. 



It is good practice to keep the lower edge of the 

 feed board on top of the concave close to the cylinder 

 teeth, even when the concave is lowered, thus every 

 head is acted upon by the cylinder teeth as it passes 

 over the concave. 



