MECHANICS. 
the (heaves of corn defcend; the latter being previoufly 
opened, and laid feparately on a board provided with two 
ledges, gradually declining towards fuch port, or opening. 
Within the cylindrical box there is an inclined plane, 
along which the draw and grain fall into a wire-riddle two 
feet fquare, that is placed immediately beneath a hole of 
a fimilar frze : the riddle is jerked at each revolution of 
the fpindle, by means of a knob fixed on its fide; and is 
thrutl backward by a finall fpring that preffes it in a con¬ 
trary direction. Thus, the (hort draw, together with the 
grain and chaff, that pafs through the wide riddle, fall in- 
ftantly into an oblong ftraight riddle, one end of which is 
raifed, and the other depreffed, by a fimilar contrivance. 
And, as the riddle laft-mentioned is not provided with a 
ledge at the lower end, the long chaff, which cannot pafs 
through, drops thence to the ground, while the grain and 
ftnaller chaff defcend into a pair of common barn-fanners, 
and are thus feparated with great exa< 5 tnefs. Thefe fan¬ 
ners are moved by means of a rope, that runs in a (hallow 
groove cut on the circumference of the cog-wheel. In 
the mean time, the (traw collected in the lower-part of the 
box over the wide riddle, and through an opening two feet 
and a half fquare, is drawn down to the ground with a rake, 
by the perfons employed to form it into trufies. 
In 177a, another thralhing-machine was invented by 
Mr. Alderton of Alnwdck, and Mr. Smart of Wark, 
Northumberland. The operation was performed by rub¬ 
bing ; the (heaves being carried round between an in¬ 
dented drum fix feet in diameter, and numerous indented 
rollers, that were arranged round, and attached to, this 
drum by means of fprings; fo that, during the revolution 
of the machinery, the corn was feparated from the draw by 
conliant friction againft the (lutings of the drum. But 
this contrivance was foon difufed; as many grains were 
thus crulhed between the rollers. 
The next invention is that of Mr. Andrew Meikle, of 
Eaft Lothian, in 1785, who obtained a patent. This ma¬ 
chine, with Come improvements more recently made in it, 
has been defcribed under our article Husbandry. Thus 
Scotland has the honour of the invention and fucceffive 
improvement of this moll ufeful machine. The corn- 
growers of Eaft Lothian were fo fenfible of their obliga¬ 
tions to Mr. Meikle, that a few years ago they collected a 
handfome fumto reward him in the decline of life. That 
ingenious man died, at a great age, in the year 1811. 
Thrafning-machines are now common in every part of 
the kingdom, on farms where the extent of tillage-land 
requires two or more ploughs ; and they are every year 
fpreading more and more. They are worked by liorfes, 
water, wind, and, of late, by ftearn ; and their powers and 
dimenfions are adapted to the various fizes of farms. A 
machine of this kind, to be worked by one or two men, 
has been lately brought forward, and may probably be 
found very ufeful on (mail farms. It is made for 8 or iol. 
and is faid to thrafti ten or twelve bufhels in an hour. 
A perfpeftive view of this machine, copied from the 
Farmer’s Magazine, vol.-xiil. is given on Plate NI. fig. 3a. 
It is not neceffary to point out the parts by letters and a 
minute defcription, as a reference to the plate of Thrafn- 
ing Machines, under our article Husbandry, vol. x. 
p. 597. will fully* anfwer the purpofe. At fig. 33. A is 
the feeding-board; B, the rollers; and C, the drum to 
which the beaters are attached. 
Hay-making Machine. 
Middleton’s hay-colleftor has been defcribed under the 
article Husbandry, vol. x. p. 596. but that machine re¬ 
quired the affiftance of hay-makers with their rakes to 
bring the cocks of hay within the action of the collector. 
Other machines have been invented wherein a fet of rakes 
was fixed upon an axle, and drawn by a horfe or horfes 5 
and the prefent is an improvement upon that kind of ma¬ 
chine, and for which a patent was granted to Robert Sal¬ 
mon, of Woburn, in the county of Bedford, furveyorj 
dated Auguft 23, 1814. 
VOL. XIV. No. 1005. 
689 
The improvements confift, Firft, in the particular con- 
ftruflion and application of the revolving rakes, whereby 
their fixing is fimplified and facilitated, and their opera, 
tion rendered more certain and permanent. Secondly, in 
the particular manner of giving motion to thefe rakes by 
an internally-cogged wheel, whereby many advantages are 
obtained. He makes the axis of the carriage-wheels and 
of the rakes in the fame point; thereby admitting of the 
introduction of any fized wheels or rakes, with the op¬ 
portunity of varying the fpeed. He makes all the cogged 
wheels fo as to admit of being completely boxed within 
the carriage-wheel, thereby fecuring them from clogging, 
and alfo making the frame and (hafts lefs likely to clog. 
He makes the movements of the rakes at fuch command, 
that the driver can inftantly throw them off without (top¬ 
ping the horfe; or in the cafe of clogging, or any extra¬ 
ordinary (train, they (hall throw out themfelves, and give 
notice when this occurs. Laftly, he makes and applies 
the rail into which the rakes or teeth are fixed, more Am¬ 
ple, durable, and effective; and fo as more completely to 
turn out of the way when meeting with obftruCtions, or 
when moving from place to place ; the fame conftruCtion 
affording the opportunity to change them at pleafure, and 
to admit of different rakes, according to the crop. 
Figs. 34 and 35. .are an horizontal plan and feftion of 
this machine. (The fame letters apply to both.) A, the 
acting carriage-wheel on the axis C. B, free carriage- 
wheel, at liberty to turn on the other end of the axle. C, 
axle rounded the whole of its length, except at the parts 
on which the branch or plate F, and ratchet-wheel D, are 
fixed; and at each end of this axle are nuts, which keep 
the fides together. D, ratchet-wheel. E, fpring-bolt, 
fixed to the frame. F, branch or plate iinmoveably ri- 
vetted or fixed on the fquare in the axle, with pivots at 
different diftances from the centre, to admit of different- 
fized wheels, to alter the fpeed of the cylinder I. G, wheel 
turning on a pivot in the plate F. II, internally-cogged 
wheel, fixed to, and turning with, the aCting carriage- 
wheel, and working into the wheel G. I, cylinder turn¬ 
ing on the rounded part of the axle, and carrying round 
the revolving rakes. K, wheel fixed on the end of the 
cylinder I, and worked by the wheel G. By the chang¬ 
ing of thefe two wheels the fpeed of the cylinder is altered. 
L, L, iron arms, and wheel, carrying the rakes. M, M, 
revolving rake-rails, rounded fo as to turn in fockets in 
the wheel L, and revolving at the extremities of the forks 
at the rate of about five to two of the circumference of the 
carriage-wheels, or thereabouts. N, N, frame. O, O, (hafts. 
P, line for the driver to pull back the fpring-bolt, and let 
free the rakes when required. 
Fig. 36. '(hows another way of applying the internally- 
cogged wheel to give motion to the axle with the revolv¬ 
ing rakes thereon, without a cylinder. A, hubband part 
of the fpokes of the carriage-wheel, as before. C, axle, 
rounded in all parts except where the wheel K and arms & 
are fixed on it. G, wheel running on a pivot fixed in 
frame N. H, internally-cogged wheel, fixed op the out- 
fide of the fpokes of the carriage-wheel, and working into 
the wheel G. K, wheel fixed on a fquare on the axle, 
paffing and working through the box ot the wheel, and in 
a contrary direction to the wheel. L, L, part of the arms 
of the iron wheel that carries the revolving rakes. N, 
frame communicating with (hafts, as in figs. 34 and 35. 
The two following figures exhibit fome parts of the ma¬ 
chine feparately on a larger fcale. 
Fig. 37. the ratchet-wheel, and bolt. D, the ratchet- 
wheel, fixed on the fquare at the end ot the axle. E, the 
bolt. Hiding in an iron cafe, with a fpiral fpring to keep 
it into the ratchet-teeth ; this fpring is to be Itrong enough 
to lock the ratchet and axle, and prevent the axle from 
turning, except when any violent obftruction to the rakes 
takes place, at which time the force of the obftruCtion, by 
overpowering the Ipring, will force back the bolt, and 
with conliderable noife give notice of this event. The, 
axle then is at liberty to revolve, and leave the rakes 
8 N at 
