Year: 1872

To the razor Of The TribuHe.


SIR: | notice in a recent TRIBUNE an
article in which is justly asked why there should not
be invented machine whereby four times much
Cotton may not be picked I'm day now can be done
without it The results that would follow the gather
ing of Cotton by steampower could hardly be exceeded
by any other possible Improvement but the practical
obstacles in the way very great As the bOlls grow
at different nights, less shielded by stems,
&C. and ripeu earlier, later, the apparatus
must be guided in its operation by human intelligence
and the means used for spluckng the hbers must act
with many times the quckness Of the most skillful
fingers. number of devices have been proposed for
the purpose but none, far know have been
actually tried Most Of these have been quite useless
but two or three at least theoretically plausible and
possibly may yet be developed INTO machines possessed
of real utility.


Perhaps the most feasible Though not by any Of
established merit among plans for power cotton
picker that proposed by Kentuckian about dozen
years ago. In this suction air pump was to be
employed to draw the Cotton through pipe into
ceptacle carried the same wheeled support the
pump, the latter having flexible netppe. at the free
end Of which was bell-shaped nozzle that, in the
working of the apparatus was to he placed over the


into and through the pipe by the inward current Of


In another suggested system two endless bands TO
be arranged to close together such to
grasp the Cotton between them, detach from the stalk
and carry It outward TO rotating brush provided to
I I
other plan proposed tOhrust teazels into the bos
and then withdraw them. the hOokended brils OK the


eaZes slipping past the Cotton hbers when moving in
direction, but catching them in the motion
appropriate appliances being of course furnished TO
clear the eaze after each outward gathering stroke
Still another and audaCiOus scheme that Of
using rapidly moving belts charged with frictOna cleo
tricity. These, brought close 10 the plants.
attract the nbcrs and draw them from the bOs
kind OF shaking jarTiDg motion being given also,
the plants by mechanical devices to facilitate the dis
engagement OF the Cotton Several other COtOnpckng
machnes have also been planned, which either un-
interesting or have escaped my memory.


It will be seen that harvesting Cotton by machinery
comprises yet only theories and suggestions, of
which, and perhaps ALL may prove yalueless extended
trial. But those most COnycrsant with the history Of
mechanical improvements viii bear witness To the
quency with which problems, apparently insouble by
invention, arc conquered sometimes by the simplest
means. For instance, the stripping OF the film OF lint
remaining cOttOnseed after ginning which for long
time baled all experiment. az last provided for by
a modification Of apparatus first used for burning
wool Something quite as simple may yet enable the
fbers Of Cotton 10 he gathered by steam power at
tithe OF the present cost OF picking THE TRIBUNE has
not Oyerestimated the importance Of the subject
have oycrrated the difficulties in the way OF the de-
sired result 10 those who, In the North may under
satisfy this great need of the times this caution
be given, that instead Of mag gning COttOn-plant
and then ideazng machine 10 gather its product IL
will be better 10 become practically familiar with its Cu
ture and 10 make every sketch and model OF proposed
machine with direct reference the crop stands
the field before the eyes OF the protector. Respectfully
yours, JAMES A. WHITNEY.


No. lS9 Broad0ay New York, May 80, 1917.