642 



Agricultural Gazette of y.S.W. 



[Sept. 2, 1920, 



Hackling. 



The most widely-used hac'rler is a locally-produced hand machine with a 

 spiked drum. Wi li the addition of t-xtra fly-wheels, intermediates, and 

 other makoshifrs, gas engines and horses have been used satisfactorily 

 for the driving power — considerably reducing the cost and saving time. At 

 least three "hands" are necessary for hackling — the feeder, an assistant who 

 arranges the bundles and hands them to the feeder (occasionally two are 

 thus employed), and a help, who keeps up the supply of brush, removes the 

 cleaned brush back to the shed, and cleai-s the seed away from beneatli the 

 hackler. 



First the millet is brought from the shed and placed on the receiving table 

 with the heads facing the assistant, the small bundles, with eight to twelve 

 heads in each, l^eing more easily separated from the bulk when placed in 



Bale pressed, doors dropped, and bale ready to be removed. 



this way. As it is the seed that is to be dealt with, these parts are bunched 

 together and the bundle placed in the feeder's left hand. Holding firmly, 

 lie places the heads on the fast revolving spiked drum and turns the bundle 

 so as to bring all the seed in contact with the spikes, transferring it to the 

 right hand when treated and thence to a table at the right of the machine, 

 an'l receiving, as his left haiul becomes free, another bunch from the 

 assistant. The help at intervals removes the cleaned brush back to the 

 shed and there packs it on the shelves, usually deeper than before and 

 with all butts level. Here it is allowed to cure until baling time. The 

 brush is more easily handled when being removed to the press if the butts 

 are level, and it also binds better in the bales if packed while curing. 



