The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1902-06-14

cord, Mr. J. S. Weiss. Of Greenville, thus
discusses the work of the American cot
ton-picking machine, patented by Mr..
Angus Campbell:
Il am perfectly satisfied beyond any
question OF doubt that Mr.. Campbell has
solved the problem of picking cotton
with his machine, and it does even bet-
ter work than is claimed for it.
"On the 18th day of last October saw
the machine in operation at Col. Nor
gan's place, at Sheppardtown, Leforc
county, and saw the machine pick 93.7
per cent OF cotton that was on the row
without destroying the leaves, bolls or
stalks in any shape Or manner. l have
also seen the machine at work before
frost, never a green leaf, bloom, boil or
square being hurt.
Zone could not tell that the machine
had been i'll the field, excepting that the
lint was missing. Strange as it may
seem, the machine only takes the lint,
but of course if there happens to be a
piece of dead leaf OH a boil it takes it
along just as one does picking it by hand
which of course is cleaned before the cot
ton is ginned.
II think am safe in saying that the
farmers of this great Delta only harvest
ed about rs per cent of their crop this
season, and think it is question of a
very short time when Mr.. Campbell will
have his machine at point where he
will get 100 per cent.
las before stated that the machine
picked 93.7 per cent, however, the other
6.3 per cent does not go to waste, as the
planter can gather it if he chooses.
Il don't think the machine will work
in very hilly land, but it does the work
to perfection in fiat and low lands.
1.-THE machine will pick at least three
bales per day, and has already picked as
high as FIVE. Every planter with whom
have talked and who has seen the
machine work is More than pleased with
it.
"In my estimation the cotton farmers
of the South are about to receive their
greatest boon. 1t goes without saying,
as to my mind, the question has been
solved regarding the harvesting of cot
ton."
The Southern Farm Gazette discusses
the invention at some length, and says
that the Campbell picker, if successful,
must result in enormous economy in
bringing the cotton to the gin. Hon. w.
H. Morgan, of Sheppardtown, Lefore
county, a member of the board Of trus-
tees of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Mississippi, and an extensive
planter, operated one Of these machines
on one of his plantations last fall during
considerable part of the picking season.
In response to an inquiry from the Man
ufacturer's Record concerning the Ameri-
can cotton picker, Maj. Morgan says:
eve did not do continuous work with
it, but / do not see why it should not do
continuous and practicable work when
the conditions are suitable, that is, when
the land is level and free of stumps or
impediments, and we'll cultivated. 1t
does not injure the cotton stalks or bolls
at any stage of growth. 1t will pick not
less than 80 per cent of the cotton that
is open at any one time, and under favor
able conditions will pick more than 80
per cent. At no time was there an
actual loss of more than 3 per cent.
knocked out on the ground, and this can
be saved by hand pickers following the
machine, if worth the trouble.
Now, these tests its ability to do
the work were made almost every day