satisfactory results. With this machine many pounds of onion seed 

 can be separated in a short time. It would not be a difficult matter 



Fig. I. 

 Various Types of Wooden Sieves for Separating Seeds. 



for anyone skillful in the use of tools to duplicate this machine at 

 small cost. 



The tube and bellows method has been much used for separating 

 tobacco seed and is well adapted to this purpose, since tobacco seeds 

 are small and it does not require many ounces to supply the average 

 farmer. An appliance of this sort is capable of separating in a short 

 time enough tobacco seed to plant many acres. The principal fea- 

 tures of this device consist of a foot bellows, a glass tube f or more 

 inches in diameter and 2 or 3 feet long, and a separate air space to 

 receive the air. See Fig. II. The bottom of the tube must be cov- 

 ered with cheese cloth with a large enough mesh to allow the air to 

 readily pass through, but fine enough to hold the seed. The pres- 

 sure of the air and the diameter and length of the neck are features 

 which must be adjusted to one another to secure the best results. 

 Various kinds of blowing appliances are used, all having the same 

 object, — to properly separate the seed. For our purposes we have 

 devised an apparatus consisting of a series of tubes placed in a 

 block side by side, (see figures III and IV,) and while certain ones 

 are being operated, others can be emptied and refilled. The tubes 

 are set in holes and imbedded in parafiine, rendering them secure. 

 The block holding the tubes is in two sections, and the two halves 



