Fig. I. gives a side view of the machine; Fig. 2. a horizontal view ol it ; Pig. 3. is a view of the cutting wheel by itself, with s( partite cutters, or sillies, bolted to it, as at nniinn; Fig. 4. is a view of the cast-iron bar LLL ; and Fig. 5. is a view or the cutting-wheel. I am well aware of the difficulty which attends a descrip tion of this nature, and how imperfectly it may be under stood by the great body of those who are interested ; but if I have made myself intelligible to mechanics, or such cultivators as are tolerably well acquainted with the First principles of the art, my object will be completely gained.
We may add, that several years have elapsed since Mr Gladstones constructed the main parts of the ma chine, which we hal, e attempted to describe ; and, about two years ago, he made a model thereof, which was mentioned to the highland Society, by sir Alexander Gordon, Bart. That respectable body at first seemed anxious, that Mr Gladstones should construct a com plete machine, so as its powers and uses might be suffi ciently ascertained ; but latterly, for reasons best known to themselves, their support has been withdrawn ; and the design likely would have been given up, had not a public-spirited gentleman, sir Edward Crofton, happen ed to sec the model, and ordered one to be made on his account.
This machine has been greatly improved by Mr Glad stones, who has favoured the Editor with a drawing of his improved machine, which we shall give under the article REAPING MACHINE, where we shall have an opportunity of discussing this subject at length, and of describing the ingenious Rfaning Machine recently invented by Mr Alexander Scott of Ormiston, which has met with the approbation of the Dalkeith Farming Society.
Of Thrashing Machines.
We now come to treat of Thrashing Machines, the most valuable instrument in the farmer's possession, and one which acids more to the general produce of the country, than any invention hitherto devised. The sav ing of manual labour, thereby obtained, is almost incal culable; while the work is performed in a much more perfect manner than was formerly practicable, even when the utmost care and exertion were bestowed. In fact, had not the thrashing machine been invented, it is hardly possible to conceive what would have been the rate or expense of thrashing, or even whether a suffi cient number of hands could, at any rate of expense, have been obtained for thrashing the grain of the coun try. Thrashing was always an unpopular branch of work,
and seldom was undertaken where other jobs could be procured. If this was the case in former times, when hands were more plentiful than work ; what would have been the case now, when the labour of the country ex ceeds the means by which it is to be executed ? Either corn would have remained unthrashed ; or the charge of doing it would have greatly diminished the profits of the farmer, and consequently the value of land would have been considerably affected.
Nothing caused so much loss and vexation to the farmer in former as the process of separating the corn iroin the straw ; and various methods, in different ages Wel e adopted for accomplishing- this operation. The ancient inhabitants ol Asia and Egypt, where agri culture is supposed to have had its origin, knew no other method than that of enelosing a spot in the open air, and smoothing it with clay rolled hard ; this was the thrashing-floor. The corn being next spread in sheaves, oxen were turned in, and kept in motion fill the business was done. " Thou shalt not muzzle the ox, that treadeth out the corn." Dem. xxv. 4.
If .Elian may be believed, the Greeks were neither so mercilul nor cleanly in this circumstance. They besmeared the mouths of the poor animals with dung, to keep them from tasting the corn under their feet. Hist. Animal. lib. iv. cap. 25.
Machines were next invented, in different countries, made of planks or beams, stuck over with flints or hard pegs, to rub the ears between them; others to bruise out the grain by sledges, or trail-carts.
Dicendum et rime sins duris agrestibus arm. Tribula, trabxque, el tniquu pondcre rastri.
The translators of Virgil from Father Ogilvie down wards, have included the flail in this description : The sled, the tumbril, hurdles, and the flail.
Tribulum, however, was certainly the machine first described for the single purpose of separating the grain from the husk, or chaff. At what period of time the flail took place of the former awkward machine is not known with certainty. President Goguet says, that the Turks, and many of the Italians, have not yet adopted it. The barbarous Celts, accustomed to fire and sword, made short work. They burned the straw, and instantly devoured the grain ; and, it is said, this custom con tinues in some parts of the Highlands of Scotland to this day.