60 
Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
of an elastic medium as a reservoir of power. The action of the 
horses is irregular, the momentum of the drum causes an im- 
mense leverage over the horses, and thus, but for this arrange- 
ment, much power could not be utilised. The spring being a 
reservoir of power, makes the allowance of space of time necessary 
between cause and effect. It fills the same office (in its place) 
as the air-chamber of a force-pump, and its importance in giving 
elasticity to machinery is equally great, because it utilises 
every jerk and gives out every pound it receives. The Judges 
applied the spring to a portable 4-horse machine, and proved its 
efficiency. The motion was steadier and the action less noisy. 
The spring consists of three plates made of the best cast spring steel. These 
plates are riveted together at the inner hook end, and the strain on the outside 
plate, which is thickest, is tensile, whilst the strain on the inner plates is com- 
pressive, thus ensuring the durability of the spring. The spring is held in a 
casing of the spur-wheel which drives the drum-pinion. The outer end of the 
spring is connected with the casing, while the inner end connects with the 
centre hub. The hub is keyed fast to the shaft, whilst the casing is fitted to 
play freely on the hub, consecpaently the connection between the power and 
the work is elastic, and this has a tendency to equalise results. The cost is 
not excessive and the advantage decided. 
Fig. 52 shows the form of the spring and the position of the casing on 
the hub of the wheel. 
Fig. 52. — Illustrating the Eurela Coil-spriug. 
B. Position of casing ou hub of the wheel. 
Indian Corn Machinery. — Machines for threshing and dressing Indian 
corn occupy an important position in America. The corn is usually husked, 
that is separated from the straw and the sheaf by hand, the operator being 
provided with spiked gloves, which save the hands and facilitate the pro- 
cess. Latterly a machine has been invented which effects similar opera- 
tions. This is Phillips' Corn-husker, shown at Philadelphia by R. E. Allen 
and Co., New York. It consists of a frame 4 feet long by 1\ feet wide ; across 
one end near the top of the frame are two rollers provided with spiral grooves ; 
the stalks are passed between, and ears great and small are separated. The 
stalks drop upon an elevator and are removed. The ears drop on to 
longitudinal husking rollers, upon their surface are spiral depressions or 
grooves and spikes, so arranged that the ear settles down between the rollers, 
and as it is made to revolve, the iron pins on the rollers effectually remove 
the husks, which are dropped upon the elevator, whilst the corn escapes 
