THRASHING-MACHINES.

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machinery might be thought too great; but even upon suchoccasions, the horse or hand-machines, which are constructedupon cheap principles, and occupy but little room, may bebrought to perform the business in an easy and expeditiousmanner, and much more efficacious and effectual, as appearsfrom improvements recently made in this sort of machinery;it will probably be to the interest of such fanners to aban-don the old method, as the saving in various ways will soonrepay their first expense., and, at the same time, afford thema very considerable profit.

Moreover, the thrashing, as performed by the flail, requiresvery expensive barn-floors, either fixed or moveable; butchiefly of the former, whereas the latter kind will do formachinery; also that the latter sort may sometimes be capa-ble of being removed for other purposes, which may renderit useful for other views and intentions, and thereby will itlessen the charge of providing them.

The author of “ Practical Agriculture ” states, that be-yond the superiority of the method by machinery over thatof the flail, already suggested, the advantages are numerousin other respects. Me insists upon the very superior advan-tage resulting from the cleanness with which the work isperformed, upon the saving in price, and withal with suchdespatch, as to permit a farmer, in most cases, to bepresent during its process.

It has been also said, that the flail is a tool only adaptedto the most rude and savage state of a people; and whichonly particular seasons, or in weather of a peculiar tendency,can be used with advantage: whereas, the machine can beequally well employed iu any temperature ot the air, andwhen no other sort of work can be done, especially out ofdoors; and it will employ women and children, as well asmen. And, it should not be forgotten, that by its use, thefarmer will be enabled to take the advantage of markets tosecure the best price for his article, as he has thereby thepower of selling and delivering any quautity within a littletime: and also, by thrashing out, and placing the cornwithin a dry and secure store-room, or granary, the greatloss occasioned by vermin, from keeping it in the straw,may be wholly prevented. Numerous other beneficial con-sequences may also result from the practice of threshiug bymachinerv, but particularly that of saving the heavy expenseof raising and upholding different kiuds of buildings, oflarge dimensions.

It must also be staled, that the writer of the report of thestate of the agriculture in the county of Kent, found, upon