cxviii Report of Portable Steam Threshing-Engine. 



The peculiarity of the machine consisted chiefly in the application of 

 the power by means of side levers or bars, standing out at right angles 

 to the machine. One of these levers is applied on each side, having 

 connecting-rods for communicating the power to the acting parts. Two 

 men work each lever by alternately pushing and pulling, the recipro- 

 cating being converted into rotative motion by the connecting-rods and 

 cranks. This arrangement is ingenious, and it would seem to be an 

 economical application of human force, as it is exerted in a manner con- 

 venient to the physical structure of the human frame. Practically, 

 however, to a certain extent, and for the purpose of a portable machine, 

 this advantage is counteracted by the disturbing effect produced on the 

 machine by the alternate action of the levers on its opposite sides ; an 

 effect which requires that the machine be firmly fixed to the spot on 

 which it is to be worked. 



As regards the relative perfection of the work accomplished by these 

 two machines, there was no very distinguishable difference, judging 

 from the state of the straw and the cleanness of the ears. The per- 

 formance of both was considered to be very good. The following table 

 contains the numerical results, being data from which useful com- 

 parisons may be drawn of the cost and relative economy of effecting the 

 process of threshing by the flail, by the hand-machines, and by animal 

 or steam power. 



Sheaves 

 of Wheat 

 Threshed. 



Time. 



Produce, 



Men 

 Employed. 



Machines. 



Number. 



Mm. Sec. 



Lbs. 



Number. 





20 



22 40 



106 



2 



Lord Ducie's. 



20 



11 20 



103 



4 



Messrs. Ransome's. 



245 



23 30 



1260 



= 24 



S team-Engine. 



The produce of each machine was kept separate, and subsequently 

 weighed by Mr. Falkner, after passing the corn once through the win- 

 nowing-machine. He observes that the yield of each machine, propor- 

 tionally to the number of sheaves, may be fairly considered as identical. 

 He remarks that the sheaves supplied to the steam-machine were taken 

 at random, and that a part of them had grown alongside a plantation, 

 and would not yield so well as the others ; whereas, the forty sheaves 

 supplied to the hand-machines were picked. 



A repetition of experiments of this nature, conducted for a greater 

 length of time, with the attention directed to the difference in the power 

 and effect produced by varying the velocity of the beaters, their number, 

 &c., might be expected to elicit information of much value to the 

 constructor. It was very apparent, during these trials, that skill in feed- 

 ing exercises no slight influence both over the consumption of power, 

 and the completeness of the operation. 



JOSIAH PaRKES. 



