COTTON HARVESTING 361 



a cleaner, and thence through the gin, which breaks the 

 lint from the seeds by means of circular saws which re- 

 volve at a speed of about 400 to 500 revolutions per min- 



^BR 



FIG. 158. SECTION THROUGH A GINNERY. 

 Showing four gins, press, suction pipe, and shafting. 



ute (Fig. 159). A brush removes the lint from the saws 

 and passes it to a condenser, which presses it into layers. 



Cotton ginned when damp affords a poor sample be- 

 cause the gin cuts a considerable proportion of the fibers. 



It is generally believed that a better grade or sample 

 is afforded by storing the seed cotton for a few weeks than 

 by ginning it soon after picking. 



342. Baling. The fleecy staple is then carried to the 

 press and compacted into rectangular (so-called " square ") 

 bales, which usually weigh about 500 pounds each, or 

 about 14 pounds for each cubic foot. 



