New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
PRESSING THE COTTONSEED.
A MILL WHERE NOTHING is WASTED.

THE LAST BIT OF LINT IS PICKED OFF-HuLI4s
FOR THE LAND AND MEAL FOR CATTLE.
AND OH. TO BE SHIPPED AWAY.
cottonseed. after 1t has passed through the
ordinary process Of separating IT from the hrt'
appears to be clean and denuded o. all particles
of cotton as it well could be, but the amount
of lint obtained from It at the oil mill aggregates
a large number OF bales showing how trivial
quantities. patiently accumulated, will sum up an
important store. The first thing that attracts The
attention a cottonseed oll-mill is a great pile
OF "hulls" massed in dul-gray compactness, as
high as the upper stories OF the building, It's broken
outlines Closely resembling the Jagged surface OF
an enormous cliff In the shadow of this imita-
ton mountain is the huge furnace. winch sup
plies heat for the various machines that are pant
ing blowing and whirring with nevcr-ceasing
energy all day and every day. and sometimes far
into the night.
Two great presses stand dripping with Gil in the
middle OF the lower floor OF the mill; ,neir huge
clamps ever pressing the cooked seed tonfded
to them are black and shiny with the rich sub
stance exudng.
All the workmen are costumed alike. however
different their clothing may be in reality. in the
greenish hlmness that settles In fakes over every
object 1t touches. Their black faces shine out In
becoming contrast to their odd surroundings The
walls are tinted with n shade OF this grcei,-yellow
SCOT the floor seems OF the same lively hue; even
the conventional attire Of the superintendent ard
assistants is tngcd with the badge OF their occu-
patton and the transient visitor brings away on
hat or coat a reminder OF his visit.
The first thing that is done to the seed brought
in fresh from the country is TO relieve IT OF any
foreign substances that may be buried in it, Many
queer bits OF matter found. things that neither
the cotton plant nor the cotton-gin are hkely 10
produce objects that add much more to the
weight OF the seed bought than to the buyers
opinion OF the honesty OF the seller. and these OBJ
jects are found so commonly that an overhauli1g
and examination OF consignments OF seed IS no"
regular custom at the mills. The next process ~
subject the seed to description OF GIN I"cre
discriminating even than the delicate saws uat
have so recently freed 1t from the hbrous sub
stance in which 1t was imbedded. and the lint
rubbed from the seeds In this way Is shipped OF
TO be made into carpets and the coarser kinds Of
cotton goods.
After the lint ls removed. the seed Is hullei
tho hulls aiternated with other foods being given
TO cattle. many farmers selling their seed with
the proviso that the hulls are 10 be restored to
them. Having been cleaned and ginncd. skinned
or hulled the germ OF the seed is ready for the
cooking process. which must BE- conducted with the
experience and judgment necessary In al success
ful cooking After being cooked the proper length
OF time. the is placed in the peculiar ma
chimes before alluded to- which separate every drop
OF fatty substance from the rest OF the seed. and
this residue is left I'm square fiat cakes. hard,
brown and dry. which. In their turn. must De
ground into the cOttOnseed meal so valuable as IL
food for stock and also a fertilizer tor crops.
out In adjoining apartment though MOI unuer
the same roof as the machinery. stand the huge
watts or tanks into which the oil Is empued ready
FOR transformation the railway just AT the door
II Is estimated that 100 pounds OF seed VII yieli
three pounds OF lint cotton. and that ton OF s'e1
will give thirty gallons OF clear, pure OIL and three
OF Inferior quality.
The oil mills have made for the southern farmers
a new avenue OF profit. but they are "A doubttur
blessing fnasmuch the value o. the seed as "a
fertilizer Is withdrawn from the soil the majority
OF the smaller farmers selling their seed wnen
opportunity offers and troubling themsel yes
the hulls. C0tonseed In former times, when con
sldorci useless for any other purpose. " rs al
WAYS used az "A fertilizer for corn with the best
results and when that element il withdrawn
OF the crops are propOruonateiy Loor.
Just after the cOttOns"ed OIL mill VAS
started In Columbia, =. c.. ana the meal was
furnished to the few planters enterprising enough
to try "A new departure at a time when agriculture
In a depressed condition. owing To the scarcity
o, stock. farming tools. and Generalization or
hands The meal that time was offered for
sale In cakes. II not having been thought neces-
sary 10 reduce IL 10 form more likely 10 attract
the cattle. The stock did not take to- the new
kind Of food. and for various reasons besides. the
enterprise failure. For years many
popular. and now. IN neighborhoods where
the mills have been In successful operation Tor
four i've years farmers slow to believe in
the good qualities OF either the meal or the hulls,
after the oil has been expressed, though they are
gradually getting accustomed to the idea