around each end prevents it bursting for it turns 800 - 1,000 revolutions per minute. Spiral rows of teeth are driven all round this block, the under teeth were bolted in plank to form the concave, generally three rows were used and spaced so that one eighth inch clearance was needed from drum teeth. Later hollow and bar drums were used so that the teeth could be removed to sharpen. Drum had to be well balanced.

A man stood on this metal capstan with a whip to team the eight horses who went round and round stepping over the spindle.

Two men stood behind the drum and shook the straw free of the grain, another man with wooden shovel threw the grain away.

Later the tread mill was invented; two horses walked in a revolving platform of eight inch planks on Wheels. The front was elevated so that the horses were always walking up hill; their weight turning a large fly wheel and a belt went back to a pulley on the end of the drum. A shaker was added to the drum to take the place of two men; it was about eight feet long with holes in the wooden bottom and two boards on edge with

notches moved the straw back over the end.

Leather belts were used six inches wide and 5 to 6 ft. long, laced together with eel skins, leather thongs or iron clips.

Fanning mills to clean the chaff and weeds out of the grain were made by Calhoun and Dickieson.

About 1895 the thresher and cleaner came into general use; they were built by Monaghan, Pickering and Halls.

Later came the straw blower, grain baggers and grain throwers and now we have the self propelled combine.

When the treadmill was used 400 bushel of grain per day was a good days work.

OYSTER MUD DIGGING

When the early settlers cleared the land of trees and stumps the first crops were poor but they soon found out by adding lime or oyster mud they could grow excellent crops. Oyster shells were 85%

lime.

A mud digger was a frame work of six inch lumber, the two upright posts had a root of a tree spiked to the sill each way to brace it strong, the cross trimmer on these posts was arched up to hold the block in position when digging at different angles. A good man on the handle could dig two to three feet Wider than the hole by manipulat- ing the handle correctly, thus getting a few extra loads on each shift

ahead.

A capstan was placed far enough away from the upright posts to allow a sleigh to load and enough room for the horse to go around

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