The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-12-15

p'ck'aS StimS capable II being raised or
lowered 10y levers under the control of the
driver. The wheels, which are of non and
arc live feet III diameter, with rims six inch.
es wide, are provided at tn, hubs with
cog wheels To these arc atachcl chain
oandS which at the other end are attached
to Scarlny connected with the picking and
brushing machinery. The movement of
the large wheels upon the ground produces
the power by which the picking and brush.
inS machinery is operated The picking
machinery, which Of course is the most i'm
pOrtant part of the contrivancc, is compare
lively simple yet extremely ingenious. \
large number Of circular steel liScs with
peculiarly constructed teeth arc attached at
right angles to iron shafts. These shatts run
parallel to each other and when in work
ing position are adjusted at an angle ort@rty-
five degrees to the ground, the lower end
being in the direction Of the motion Of
the machine. This angle can be changed
however, By mems Of lever near the driv-
diccs arc wooden diccs placed alternately
with them, which being loose on the Shaft
do not turn with it, but move freely in any
direction. These wooden diccs are also
circular in form with rounded pcrimetcrs and
come up close to the steel diccs On each side
with ust enough room for the stccl dccs
to move freely. The teeth of the steel
discs are 50 constructed that the heel of ono
tooth protects the point Of the other. In
other words the points Of the teeth arc dc.
pressed slightly below the level Of the pr,
mcter BY this Arrangement the discs are
Perfectly smooth to the touch and may even
be rcvolvc1 against hhy's check without
scratchin" the skin The cotton boil being
hbrouS, however, when il touches the discs
sinks below the level of the prrimctrr and
is caught by the points as the disc re-
wolves, and while the first tooth may have
but the slightest hold the next ;lkcs 4 great
or hold aud N fraction Of second the
whole of the c"tton is taken fr ,m the bpll.
Above the shafts urpn which the picking
discs revolvc are cylinders provided with
hog bristlrS which move in the sam lirrc
,ion with the shafts but at Il yrcrtcr speed
These brush the cotton from the teeth ofthc
picking discs aud throw it into rcccptaclr5 1t
the sides, whence it is taken by endless
aprons or cuuvcyors to the wagon body of
the machine above. The above dcscriution
will give an idea Of how the cotton is taken
from the boil. The next arrangcm mt pro.
vidcl is for Sclrctin, the open bplls from
the unripc bo!ls, the forms, blooms and
leaves. To undrr,taad how this is i,nG
it must be borne in mind that the shafts
upon which the picking discs revovc are
parallel to each other, and are about four
Inches apart. In front Of the machiue two
sheet iron, guards wide apart at the outer side
and covering towards the picking shafts lead
the cotton plants to the space between the
picking discs. When in motion one wheel Of
the machine roll, in one alley. the other
wheel rolls in the next alley, aud the row
OF cotton plants is thus led in by the sheet
iron guards to the picAcrS. The picking
shafts rs they may be termed, brin. adjust
Cd at III angle Of lj degrees, the cotton
nearest the ground is first pickcl and rs the
plant passes Oh between the shafts. which
rise towards the rear, every portion Of it
must come III contact with the pickcrS
whether the plant be two feet high or six