The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-06-08

moves down directly over the plant,
and has in front a V-shaped guide,
which slightly congresses the plant
as it passes along, bringing the
whole within reach of the little
steel fingers; these fingers are the
most ingenious part of the machine;
there are about three hundred of
these on each side of the center
of the picker; they are about eight
70 ten inches long, by about one
fourth inch diameter at the hub
end, tapering to a point about one
elghth inch diameter; they revolve
very rapidly and have a faculty of
moving backward out of the branch
es of the plant at the same speed as
the machine moves forward: this
largely explains how these numerous
steel fingers can thoroughly search
every inch of space within the plant
form without tearing and other
wise damaging the plant itself. The
tlhger has a row of teeth, very
much the same as saw teeth, run
ming from end to end, but covering
laterly only one-fifty of the sur
face; this finger, turning to the
right engages any lint which it
comes in contact with, and releases
1t when it reverses it's motion on
the back stroke; thus released, the
cotton is delivered onto a belt con-
Veyor, there being one on each side
or the machine; these conveyors
take 1t to large canvass basket at
the rear of the machine, a basket
being on both sides, and two sides
OF the machine are Identical in all
respects, which makes it necessary
that the steel fingers should pene-
trate more than half way through
the plant form.
we saw the cotton picked on Mr..
MarshalPs plantation, weighed and
ioaded in several wagons; this was
marked for Identification by the
members of the party, and the driy-
ers were directed to go to the large
Murray Ginning Company at Dallas
| Our car was soon attached to q
passing train, which took us to
Dallas; we went Immediately to the
gin, and about the same time the
loaded wagons arrived; the cotton
was identified by our party, and
was then driven under a gins sue
ton conveyor, and delivered to the
cleaning machine, thence to the
gins and to the press; we witness
ed all the details of converting the
cotton from seed to bale Ready for
market. When the cotton was baled
and rolled on the platform. we
took samples from al four sides:
the consensus of Iopinion was that
tne cotton elassed Strict Middling
New York Classification.
me next demonstration was at
Tie Dallas Fair Grounds; the
ground encircled by the race track
was planted in cotton, which was
ready for picking; here we saw two
of the Price-Campbell cotton pick
ing machines in active operation.
SO much interest was manifested in
these machines, the field was en-
closed by wire fence, and gate-keep-
ers employed to keep back the
crowds. Here l saw another me-
chanical picker in operation; it was
horse-drawn and worthy OF but
passing notice; the horses appeared
overloaded, and a great deal of
cotton was left on the ground as
the machine passed; the plant was
also injured considerably. l did not
learn the name of the machine or
! it's promoters.
Ih1s demonstration at the Dallas
Fair Grounds was an impressive
sight; many native farmers had
gathered there and a good many
were admitted to the cotton field,
In order that they might see the
operation of the machine at closer
range; l talked with a number of
them, and every one pronounced the
picker success; the only criticism
heard was the amount of green
leaf which was picked along with
the cotton; this was for the most
part, eliminated by one process of
cleaning at the gin. 1 talked to Mr.
Price and Mr.. Campbell concerning
this feature, and was informed that
they had perfected an attachment
to the picker which would take out
take out this leaf as the cotton was
being picked; they have not yet ap-
piled this attachment. If this
thouble is overcome the machine is
an asset with which cotton produc-
ers throughout the South will of
necessity have to reckon in the fu-