212 Threshins: Machines. 
THRESHING MACHINES. 
For the last fifteen or twenty years the attention of our mecha- 
nics has been directed to the improvement in the construction of 
horse powers and threshing machines. The result shows that 
their study and labor has not been in vain, for we now have them 
of great capacity, and at a price within the reach of most farm- 
ers. In the great wheat growing districts, a large and powerful 
machine is generally preferred, that will turn out from three to 
four hundred bushels of wheat per day. For that purpose the 
sweep power, requiring from four to six horses, has been employ- 
ed; but it is questionable whether they are the most economical, 
as it requires from eight to ten hands to attend them. 
For the last ten years we have had in use one of Hale's self- 
supporting endless chain powers, and it has never cost us one 
dollar for repairs. We have one of Pitts' separators attached, 
and with one horse, and a boy to hand the bundles, one man to 
feed, and another to bind the straw, from eighty to one huhdred 
bushels of oats, if in good condition, can be threshed, cleaned, and 
the grain put into bins, and the straw stowed away, in a day. 
" The advantages," says the editor of the Cultivator, " of this 
machine (Wheeler's) consist in its cheapness, poitableness, and 
effectiveness. The cost of the whole apparatus, ready for thresh- 
ing, as above delineated, is $75 for the horse-power, ^25 for the 
thresher, and $10 for the shaker. It is so light that two men 
can readily put it on and off a wagon, but at the same time it is 
very strong and substantial. As above shown, it is adapted to 
the use of one horse, and the performance of the machine with 
this power, is equal to threshing one hundred bushels of wheat, 
or two hundred bushels of oats, in a day; but to do this a change 
of horses should be made every three houis. It requires but little 
manual labor to use it; lor grain in bundles, two men and a boy 
are sufficient. The simple contrivance called a shaker, w^hich in 
the figure is shown attached to the thresher, saves fully the work 
of one hand, and besides leaves the grain entirely free from straw 
and so disposes of the straw that no grain is wasted. ^ 
"We have lately witnessed the operation of this machine, and 
are of the opinion that it is capable of performing more w ork in 
proportion to the force employed, than any other with which we 
are acquainted. The horse-power is much liked by those who 
are acquainted with it. It is easily applied to various purposes, 
and is the kind which is mostly used for sawing wood at the dif- 
ferent rail road stations between this city and Boston. It runs 
very easily; but by means of a brake, which is attached to it in 
