(_A_) _The Towers or Supports._--The support in the earliest form of mill was merely a post, made of a suitable log or tree trunk--sometimes 30 inches thick--upon which the entire structure was carried or hung and pivoted, so that it could turn freely to the wind. This was the original type--the old “post-mill,” appearing in the earliest known prints and records, and alone used until about 1650. At that time the “tower mill” was developed, and this, of larger possibilities, soon resulted in great structures of that style being built, that generally replaced and threw far into the shade the earlier and simple post form. The towers of this latter form of old windmill were made of every conceivable or possible form and material. Straight or cylindrical; tapering or cone shaped; octagonal or multi-sided; even bottle shaped, like a mammoth milk bottle of the present time. Again, on open arches, as in two notable structures later referred to--anything to carry the overhead work, according to the fancy or purse or conditions governing the builder. Of brick or stone or wood; slate, shingle or thatch covered, in height these towers ranged from 25 to 100 feet. The largest ever built was at Great Yarmouth, England, 11 stories high, and over 100 feet, exclusive of the great vanes. The great Dutch grist mills were however, a close second in height, and with a base of some 35 feet and a top width of 16 feet were massive structures indeed. These tall structures were divided by various floor levels, the lower rooms thus formed containing the mill-stones or saw or other driven machinery, while the upper ones were used for living quarters or storage. The structure of the smaller post mills, however, being suspended on the centre posts, was never of stone or brick, but wholly of wood, and these rotating or movable buildings ranged in size from about 10 by 12 feet to 16 by 24 feet in the larger ones, and up to two stories in height. At the top of the mills, of course, was located the wheel shaft and gearing, and to protect this from the weather there was always a covering or “mill head” or top, and these tops have taken a great variety of interesting forms, for no apparent particular reason, and yet often a fixed style, following some geographical location. For instance, in France the almost universal [Illustration: POST MILLS. All pivoting on single centre post support. Small form. Large form. North Carolina, U.S.A. England, turret form. TURNTABLE MILL. Holland, side and end view. HYBRID MILLS. France, grist mill. Holland, dumping mill. TOWER MILLS. England and Holland, brick. Holland, Germany, Sweden, etc., wood. France, stone. Hungary, stone. Spain, stone. Turkey and Eastern Mediterranean. THE FOUR TYPES OF WINDMILLS.]