^ 



COTTOX CULTUlrE^V / 



field will be damp, not to say wet, ^n'djnmch 01 tlfej 



was picked dry, and has been stt&exJ .in ^tij$sypr sheds, Vill^ . 



be too damp for the gin. /, ; 



The rule is that no cotton is fit to gin utrfe^ tl 

 snaps brittle between the teeth. Hence a 

 paniment of every gin is a scaffolding, more or less 

 sive, upon which the cotton may be sunned. In most 

 cases, this scaffolding consists of boards rudely supported 

 on blocks or stakes driven in the earth, and, where the 

 amount of cotton to be sunned is not large, a permanent 

 and more expensive arrangement would hardly pay. But 

 on the lower bottoms of the Cotton States, what with the 

 heavy dews, frequent rains, and late picking, there is al- 

 ways a great deal of cotton on the scaffold. Hence it be- 

 comes important that it should be so arranged as to afford 

 the utmost convenience in handling; for every laborer 

 unnecessarily kept around the gin-house, is so much sub- 

 tracted from the picking force. There is no reason why 

 two hands, with a boy to drive the mules, should not con- 

 duct all parts of the ginning process, but the practice has 

 been to have three, four, and sometimes five hands, more 

 or less, busy about a gin-house. 



The side view, presented on the next page, will give a 

 tolerably clear conception of a very convenient arrange- 

 ment for drying cotton. 



The gin-house is presumed to stand north and south, 

 giving at its southern end a sunny exposure, where the 

 scaffold, S, is erected. It will be seen that this scaffold 

 extends from the left, or third story, in a gradual slope to 

 within six feet of the ground. It is supported by posts, 

 which should be charred at the lower end to prevent decay. 

 At the end next the building, it is high enough to enable 

 a loaded wagon to drive under, and discharge cotton that 

 is perfectly dry into either story of the gin-house. The 

 slope of the scaffold should be so gentle as to admit of 

 easy walking upon it, and should be roofed with some 

 3 



