224 
Report on the Practice of Ensilage, 
CoMBisED Chaff-cutters and Elevators. 
1. Mons. Alharet, Liancourt, Oise. — This maize and fodder-cutter has been 
specially manufactured by us for cutting maize, which, however, does not 
prevent it cutting straw and other fodder-crops with the same facility. It is 
composed of a cast-iron table mounted on a solid oak frame. On this table is 
a kind of box, also in cast iron ; with the transmission of movement it forms 
reall}' the essential part of the maize-cutter. Two rollers of a large diameter 
(10 inches), and consequently very heavy, run across this box ; they carry 
projections necessary for the seizure of the maize. The lower roller is fixed, 
and turns in its supports. Those of the upper roller slide in the grooves 
arranged in the two sides of the box, which hold and guide them. Consequently 
these supports and the upper roller can rise and fall at the same time, beiug 
parallel, whatever their jx)sition. Above this roller is an iron lever on which 
is placed a counterpoise, which can be moved at will, so as to obtain a variable 
pressure on the fodder to be cut. 
The upper roller is moved by the lower, whatever its position, by means of 
a chain, which rolls on two teethed pulleys, wedged on the shaft of the 
rollers. It turns the opposite way to the one which moves it. 
This chain can be stretched when it is lengthened by use by displacing the 
axletree of the roller, which is well held in a slot-hole, and which holds the 
chain in its proper position. The speed of the rollers can be regulated by 
means of a lever within the reach of the persons who feed the machine. 
This lever governs a coupling arrangement, which allows the maize, &c., to 
be rejected, should a strange body be introduced with it. The position of the 
lever corresponds with the instantaneous stoppage of the rollers. 
A straight gear, that can be easily thrown out of work, can engage suc- 
cessively four straight wheels. The fly-wheel, working four knives, cuts 
the maize a length of about 1\ inch, f inch, 5 inch, or i inch, according as 
the gear governs the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th of these wheels. If the flywheel 
works two knives, the lengths would be just double. A very large amount 
of work can be done with this machine. 
The engraving (Fig. 16) shows that the whole instrument is mounted on 
four solid metal wheels, which allows it to be transported wherever required, 
which is indispensable for ensilage and many other uses. So as to facilitate 
the feeding of the machine, and to make a saving in the cost, it possesses an 
automatic " entraineur," or seizure formed by a kind of endless platform, 
made of small boards, mounted on two chains, working on two parallel shafts, 
one of which is governed by the lower roller. This platform forms the 
bottom of the hopper, and its speed is always the same as that of the rollers, and 
its movement is always the same way. The feeder has therefore only to place 
the fodder in the said hopper, without being obliged to push it to the rollers. 
The work is thus more regular, less heavy, and requires lewer workpeople. 
The aim of the centrifugal elevator, with which the machine is provided, is 
to be able to load, in an economical way, the silo.e, or carts, with the cut 
matter according to the rate of cutting. It can also be used for shooting the 
fodder into store-houses,&c. It is composed of a cylindric envelope surrounding 
the fly-wheel. This envelope is shut on either side so as to enclose the knife 
working the fly-wheel, which also carries iron paddles fixed on cast-iron projec- 
tions. A tangential conductor completes the machine, the whole forms a 
kind of large ventilator. The fodder cut by the knives falls into the box, 
with which the maize-cutter communicates. There, submitted immediately 
to the palettes, and the powerful blast produced by them, it is shot out 
through the tangential conductor. 
In the centre of the box, and also in front, is an opening allowing the entry 
of the atmosi)here. Its dimensions can be changed at will easily by means 
