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

wheels, the machinery for brushing aud
picking being capable ct being raised or
lowered by levers under the coutro of the
driver. The wheels, which are of ,on and
are live feet in diameter, with rims six inch
es wide, arc provided at tn, hubs with
cog wheels. To these are attached chain
oands which at the other end are attached
to 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 brush.
inS machinery is operated. The picking
machinery, which of course is the most i'm
portant part of the contrivance, is compara-
lively simple yet extremely ingenious. A
large number of circular steel discs with
peculiarly constructed teeth are attached at
right angles to iron shafts. These shafts run
parallel to each other, and when in work
ing position are adjusted at an angle offorty-
five degrees to the ground, the lower eud
being in the direction of the motion of
the machine. This angle can be changed,
however, by means of lever near the driv-
cr's scat. On the same shaft with the steel
diccs are 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 pcrimeters and
como up close to the steel diccs ON each side
with just enough room for the s&ee diccs
to move freely. The teeth of the steel
discs arc so constructed that the heel of one
tooth protects the point Of tho other. In
other words the points of the teeth arc dc :
pressed slightly below the level of the pc
imeter. BY this arrangement the discs arc
pefecty smooth to the touch and may even
be revolved against ladys check without
scratching the skin. The cotton boil being
fibrous, however, when it touches the discs
sinks below the level of the perimctcr and
is caught by the points as the disc re :
wolves, and while the first tooth may have
but the slightest hold the next takes great i.
er hold, aud N fraction Of second the
whole of the cotton is taken from the boil .
Above the shafts upon. which the picking
discs revolve are cylinders provided with
hog bristles which move in the same direc.
tion with the shafts but at a grecter speed.
These brush the cotton from the teeth of the
picking discs and throw it into rcceptacles at
the sides, whence it is taken by endless
aprons or conveyors to the wagon body of
the machine above. The above description
will give an idea Of how the cotton is taken
from the boil. The next arrangement pro-
vided is for selecting the open bols from
the unripe bols, the forms, blooms and
leaves. To understand how this is done
it must be borne in mind that the shafts
upon which the picking discs revolve are
parallel to each other, and are about four
Inches apart In front of the machiuc 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 rolls in one alley, the other
wheel rolls in the next alley, and the row
OF cotton plants is thus led in by the sheet
iron guards to the pickers. The picking
shafts, as they may be termed, being adjust
cd at an angle Of 45 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 it
must come in contact 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 it contains half
dozen open bolls, as many unripe bols, and
the everagc number Of blooms, forms and
leaves. The unripc boils, foliage, &C., when
they touch the picking disc, pass through
unhurt or unscratched in the slightest de-
gree, because they are brought into contact
with only the smooth portion CT the picking
discs and the smooth wooden discs which
move loosely on each side of them. But
when ripe open boil is reached its fibro us
particles sink below the level. The points
OF the teeth catch hold and the cotton is
pulled out, as above described
The shafts upon which the brushes for
cleaning the plants are also adjusted at an
angle of As degrees, so as to reach every
portion of the plants, be they large or
small
In front Of the machine is a contrivonco
for hitchins the horses or mules. These
walk Oh line with the wheels, one in one
alley and the other in the other aljey