The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-26

c,uld be made TO single out the pro-
trudipg cotton and approprists that
a'one from the plant. The fibrous lint
would penetrate crevices fom which
substances Of other ferns are ex-
cluded, therefore it w5s necessary TO
place something within crtvlces that
would catch and pull away the lint by
seizing the projecting ibsrs. The re-
suit was the pro luttion Of q cotton
picker in 1888 that differed from IFS
numerous predecessors by picking
cotton lint, and nothing else, from the
plant. This was great advance, but
when SO much was accomplished the
litigation thai usually betets the in
ventor suspended public operations
for two years, and it was commonly
supposed that the Mason picker had
eoae ths way of all the rest. The
BiUOuac informs us, however, that the
quits have terminated favorably, and
the shop doors are sgsiu open.
In the interim Mr.. Mason has
been perfecting the application Of
his rev plan by which fiber
is seized and continuous surfaces re-
iected. The teeth are placed within a
cylinder CT corrugated sheet brass; at
the apex OF the oorruea.ions, whose
projections being perfectly smooth,
as the teeth move just below the sur
face-penetrate where the fiber is and
seizs and withdraw ii. These cylin-
ders are arranged in projecting stems
eight iuches long by an inch and a
quarter diameter, sixty OF them in
each machine. They are arranged go
as to project from main central cyl
finder, each revolving upon its own
axle as the whole are carried round by
the main cylinder. This cylinder
works upright within framework that
contains two OF them, and the neces-
cay gearing. The whole is little
less than five feet wide and weighs
under 800 pounds. One mule draws
the machine the shafts are on one
side of II, while itself Btraddles the
row. Two openings, each four feet
high and each oniaining main cylin-
der with it's revolving corrugated pick
ers, form two bottomless boxss. These
are in front, and the two boxes catch the
standing plant within them, the stem
piokers enter every portion OF the
plants, extract the lint which IL
thrown back, carried up by an elevator
and deposited in a suspended sack
One wheel Of the carriage part work.
the pickers, the other the elevators
The driver sits on the top; the wheels
are not in the way Of the plants, aud
the whole Is light enough for one ami
NAL to draw readily. Within the two
and half feet diameter OF the boxeI
the plant is loosely massed together
the revolving rtems penetrate it, the
base Of each stem catching the plan
before its top, every portion is rifieC
by the active little fingers beneath thu
angles Of the corrugated cylinder, thu
motion is then reversed by q seq
mental wheel; this throws the cottol
from the needle points, the elevator
receive 1t and carry 1t to tn
bag. The managers Of the con
Germ Go not elbow" the pick
err; they rely upon it when sol
and in the field TO be It's own pull
) Usher OF It's own claims. Thirt
thousand dollars has been spent /
: the factory, machinery, etc., $4,000
, which went for patents in Indi'
Egypt, Brazil, and other cotton-prC
ducing countries. For three season
Mr.. Mason has picked his own Gro
; with the picker at cost OF lit
: over 81 q bale, where hand-pickin
woald be 81 so a bale. The Bimplicii
and strength Of the parts prevent &c
. ting out Of order, and like the graf
reaper, the picker cannot work anon
projecting rocks or stumps. More
fewer revolving stems can be put Il
> above or below, as the crop Is top Gre
. or bottom crop. 1t is claimed that W
or dry, or in any other coalition, Il
, plant, with the blooms or squares
leaves or stems, is never injured,
9 nothing rubs or scratches or tears
. The stems enter the plant ss the h
: man hand does, takes of the lint ar
withdraws, iniuring nothing any mo
than a hand does. There is great C
4 riotty TO see the Mason picker whC
Z - Il.