Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-10-06
ThREShiNG GRAIN.
IMPROVED METHODS NOW EMPLOYED
IN THE WESTERN FIELDS.

ThREsHiNe GRAIN.
IMPROVED METHODS NOW EMPLOYED
IN THE WESTERN FIELDS.
Threshing grain has undergone many
changes since Moses laid down the law
that said, "Thou shalt not muzzle the
OK that treadeth out the corn" to the
present time, when steam and horses do
the work, aud no muzzle Is required.
The writer remembers his lessons In
the use Of the fail, as machine to
thresh grain In the barn on Maine
farm In his boyhood days. Many a rap
on the head was the price paid for
false motion in its use. This used TO
be the mode Of threshing In great
portion of our country few years ago.
To-day on the great prairie OF Kansas
| saw latest improved threshing ma
chine at work, and my reflections led
me to write for the information OF the
Maine farmers the way a grain crop is
prepared for market and use, out here
In the great grain fields OF this nation.
The cost OF this newest and latest ma
chine, when ready to be run out into our
fields, Is little over $500. Thus you
see 1t is not toy that every farmer can
afford 10 buy, and but few are owned
aud operated in community. OF course
but few Of these are needed, for each one
threshes "A large amount OF grain, and
does the work for many farmers.
The steps In the line OF improvement
of the machine are about as follows {:
first, the cylinder or beater run by n
tread horse power, the cleaning being
done by hand. Then the cleaner at
tachment TO the beater machine was the
next step, delivering the grain clean into
the measure. Years ago In our town n
machine WAS put In mill and was
driven hy water power, farmers hauling
the grain from the fields TO IL, instead OF
having IL come 10 them. Then increas-
ing capacity Of machines and using more
horses, working them on down or
sweep power, came in regular order,
until they reached a capacity OF seven or
eight hundred bushels per day, requir-
Ing the united power OF twelve horses TO
keep up the motion, and crew OF about
| fifteen men.
As we live In the age OF steam, 1t was
natural step 10 substitute steam power
In the place OF horses. AT first these
engines had To be drawn from place to
place by horses, so the owners could not
wholly dispense with animal power, but
had 10 have few teams to haul their
outfits about the country. The natural
:, quence came soon, In the form OF
self-propelling or traction improvement,
enabling the engine to pull not only IT.
4 l..t tl,..s .t.sr "a
Of horses now will suffice TO haul the coal
and water necessary TO keep up power.
The sight would no doubt be novel
and interesting 10 those who see
threshing outfit on the highway az II Ia
travelling towards some field. Engine
In lead, hauling the separator, straw
carrier and coal wagon. Their rate Of
speed Ia slow usually, for the gearing on
the engine Is made to give strength in
stead OF speed. Laws have been enacted
governing the 'rules Of the road" In re-
gard TO these engines. Later improve
ments are less important, consisting OF
self weighing or measuring attachment,
blast stacker and self feeders.
This new machine OF to-day, made at
Minneapolis, Mimi, has twenty horse
power engine, having all the up-to-date
improvements so as To save as much
fu y as possible, using compound steam
cylinder, thus getting all the benefit OF
the steam. \ large separator with self
feeder, contrivance that takes the place
of three men. a self. weigher and blast or
wind straw stacker, these taking the
place OF four men, so the crew consists
OF engineer, water hauler, two men to
look after the separator, aud six pitch
ers. This machine, when run To full
capacity. Is capable Of threshing two
thousand bushels Of wheat per day.
Instead Of taking toll. a charge OF
seven cents per bushel Is made when
the machine owner boards his crew, a
less price IL the farmer boards them.
While looking at this new machine |
also saw another outfit with twelve
horse power-old-fashio concern
pull into a neighboring field and go to
work, as was the custom twenty years
ago. Near by was steam outfit running
minus the self-feeder, self-weigher, and
blast stacker, having three men 10 feed
the grain, each feeder working short
time and resting till his turn comes
again. The dust, heat OF the sun and
hard work make the feeding the worst
part OF the work. A man with hall
bushel measure TO receive and record the
number OF bushels OF grain, putting il
into wagons in bulk, for the grain Is not
put into bags nowadays, and three men
on the straw stack, with the force OF
pitchers necessary To get the bundles To
the feeders-a crew Of at least fifteen
men. A small house on wheels used as
kitchen, or "Pie house" as it Is called In
thresher parlance.
These older methods will give place TO
newer ways, for everything tends to
whatever cheapens production, and as
these old machines are worn out they
will be replaced by new and cheaper
ones, or ones that cheaper the cost Of
threshing; and mechanics promise that
they will soon make electrical engines
that will surpass steam. so we may ex-
pect to see new factor entering into
the domain Of grain production, thus
relegating to the rear the steam and
horse power, and the ''ox that treadetb
out the corn"
What has become OF the OK in this
age of change? He has not passed out
Of sight, although he has passed from
under the yoke, for he can be seen 10
the pastures all about US doing nothing
but growing large frame upon the
grass, ready to be fed all the corn ne
will eat when the feed Of the pastures
has become scant. And when he Is fat
and sleek he is hauled by steam to the
great packing houses, there to be turned
into beef and hurried to the eastern
tables. GEO. n. TALBOT.
Chapman, Kansas.