158 



GINNING MACHINERY. 



The most important results of studies upon this class of machinery 

 were presented in Farmers' Bulletin No. 209, of this Department. 

 By means of a number of experiments it was positively determined 

 that all weevils passing through the main fan in a pneumatic elevator 

 system would be killed by striking against the blades of the rapidlv 

 revolving fan (PL XXII, iig. 90). Modern cleaner feeders were found 

 to be quite efficient in separating the weevils from the seed cotton, as 

 they removed fully 70 per cent of the weevils passing into them. Of 

 the weevils removed, over 80 per cent were still alive when taken from 

 the trash. This fact shows the necessity for the use of some addi- 

 tional device which will crush or otherwise destroy all weevils taken 

 from the cotton by the cleaner feeder. 



For the weevils escaping the action of the cleaner feeder and pass- 

 ing into the ginning breast with the roll there are two avenues of 

 escape (PL XXIII, figs. 91 and 92); one with the seed, the other with 

 the motes. In these two ways it appears that over 85 per cent of the 

 weevils passing into the gin breast escape alive, while about 15 per 

 cent of them are killed by the saws (PL XXII, fig. 89). From these 

 facts it is evident that some wa}^ should be provided of properly car- 

 ing for the motes so as to confine the weevils which are thrown out 

 among them, and secure their destruction with those removed by the 

 cleaner feeder. Some method should also be devised for separating 

 from the seed the weevils that pass the saws, before they reach the 

 seed house or the farmers' seed bins. 



When we consider the important effect that gins have been found 

 to have in spreading the weevil, especially near the border line of 

 infestation, it appears exceedingly desirable that improvements in gin 

 machinery should be made in the following particulars: 



First. The area and distance through which the action of the picker 

 roll in the cleaner feeder is continued should be considerably increased, 

 compression rollers or some other device being employed to destroy 

 the weevils separated by the cleaner. 



Second. Some method should be devised for keeping under control 

 the weevils escaping alive with the motes, as under present conditions 

 they have free range through the ginner}^. 



Thii-d. Possibly the most important of the devices needed is an 

 apparatus which may be applied near the gin (possibly as the seeds 

 leave the gin breast and drop into the seed chute), by which the weevils 

 may be separated from the seed and brought under control, so that 

 they may be destroyed. 



With these improvements the oil mills would almost cease to be a 

 factor in the dissemination of weevils, and the movement of seed, either 



