The Blind Punch. 197 



introduced, with different arrangements of the work- 

 ing parts, giving increased durability, simplicity of 

 structure, and facility in setting and adjustment. 

 All these improvements combined have brought 

 about much better work, a smaller proportion of 

 the beans being cut and injured than formerly was 

 the case. 



This result has, I am informed, been very largely 

 contributed to by the new system of punching the 

 copper coverings of the discs and cylinders, invented 

 by the late Mr. George Clarke (of the firm of John 

 Walker and Co., and which was patented by that 

 firm in Ceylon). This punch instead of producing 

 sharp, rugged protuberances, causes merely small, 

 round elevations without any open points, and 

 when used, with the cylinder and chops correctly 

 adjusted, the damage caused to fully ripe coffee is 

 said to be really nothing, the quantity of work done 

 being fully equal to that of the other punching. 

 In fact this is looked upon as a most important 

 improvement, and it will be evident that such is 

 the case if, as is alleged, the old four or five per 

 cent, of injured beans is by its means reduced to 

 one or even two per cent. On the other hand, 

 great care is required in setting pulpers covered in 

 this way, as otherwise the projections may press 

 against the beans so closely as to cause a bruise, 

 which is the more to be feared, that the injury is 



