The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-02
A valuable Invention for Cotton
planterH.


Tho Charleston Neps ana Courier gives
Che description Of new contemplating
machine recently invented by Mr. Daniel
r. uaselton, Of Charleston, and which has
been tried In the fields with thoroughly
satisfactory results. The machine consists
az two parts, one part the forward part)
being used for brushing the cotton.plants
free OF sand and dust and the hinder part
being used to pick the cotton from the
bolls. In appearance the machine re-
scmb,es a long wagon on two wheels.
the machinery for brushing and pick
ips being capable OF being raised
or lowered by levers under the control OF
the driver. The wheels, which are OF
iron. and FIVE feet in diameter, with rims
six inches wide, are provided at the hubs
with cog-wheeis. To these arc attached
ehain-bands, which at the other end are
attached 10 gearing connected with the
picking and brushing-machinery. The
movement of the large wheels upon the
ground produces the power by which the
picking and brushing-machinery is ope-
rated. The picking-machinery, which, OF
course, Is the most important part Of the
contriyance, IL comparatively simple,
vet extremely ingenious. The picking
shafts, Al they may be termed, being adj
justed at an angle OF forty-fve degrees,
the cotton nearest the ground Is first
picked, and as the plant passes on
between the shafts, which rise towards the
rear, every portion OF II must come I'm con-
tact with the pickers, whether the plant be
two feet high or six feet high. Suppose,
now, that cotton-plant four feet high is
thus led In between the picking-shafts.
Suppose Il contains half dozen open
bolls, a. many unripe bolls, and the average
number Of blooms, forms, and leaves.
The unripe bols. foliage, &C., when they
touch the picking disc, pass through I'M
hurt or unscratched In the slightest
degree, because they are brought into
contact with only the smooth portion OF
the picking discs and the smooth wooden
discs, which move loosely on each side OF
them. But when ripe open boil Is reach
cd its fibrous particles sink below the
level. The points OF the teeth catch hold,
and the cotton Is pulled out. Upon the
trial in the field il was found that the ma
chine was slightly defective as far as the
arrangement for the attachment Of horses
was concerned. but otherwise il worked
smoothly enough. The inventor, who is
comparatively poor. has had hard time OF
1t in securing sufficient capital TO construct
his machine, and il was only at the last mo-
ment that some gentlemen Of Charleston
agreed TO furnish the necessary money.
The South Carolina Legislature will be
applied 10 for charter by the gentlemen
interested. and stock company formed.
ohould the machine ultimately prove sue
cess il will be invaluable TO the southern
cotton-planter. II is estimated from what
has been seen that when the machine is
modified as described it, capacity will be
between 1900 and 5000 pounds Of seed
cotton day with the Use of two mules and
one Iaborer. The cost OF picking the last
cotton crop exceeded S50,000,000. The i'm
measc value Of the machine, if it even ac-
eomplishes half OF what Is claimed for il,
will be seen at q glance.