754, 



Flax-Pulling Machines. 



rNov.,- 



DEMONSTRATION OF FLAX-PULLING 

 ^ MACHINES. 



Public trials of flax-pulling machines were arranged by the 

 Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction to 

 take place at Ballyveasey, Carnmoney, Belfast, on 26th July, 

 1921. Only two machines took part in these trials : — 



(a) The Crawford-Bennett Machine made by the York 

 Street Flax Spinning Co., Belfast. 



(b) The Fibre Corporation Machine made by Messrs. 

 Marshall, Sons & Co., Ltd., of Gainsborough. 



The Crawford-Bennett Machine is self-propelled, and con- 

 sists essentially of a polygonal drum of about 5 ft; in diameter 

 hung at the back of a motor chassis so that its lowest portion 

 is about 6 or 8 inches above the ground. At intervals of 

 about 45 degrees, rows of teeth extend across the width of the 

 drum and project about 5 inches beyond its circumference. 

 When the car is driven on its reverse gear the drum is rotated 

 by suitable gearing in the opposite direction to the ground 

 wheels and caused to advance towards the flax to be pulled at 

 a slow speed. The pulling is effected by the projecting combs 

 referred to, which pass up the flax stems until they encounter 

 the seed heads, when the upward movement of the combs 

 causes the plant roots to give way. The flax is carried over 

 the circumference of the drum and delivered at the top, where 

 it is forced from the teeth by a longitudinal metal lath , operated 

 by a cam, which presses upwards from the base of the teeth. 

 When at the top of the drum and freed from the uplifting teeth, 

 the pulled flax is engaged by a further set of combs mounted on 

 endless chains, which bring the flax forward and deliver it on to 

 a travelling canvas, which carries it in a sideways direction for 

 delivery on to the ground clear of the path of the machine, 

 either in loose bundles, or in bundles automatically tied. 



The Fibre Corporation Machine is built to attach to a motor 

 tractor and consists of endless chains passing over fore 

 and aft cogs carrying a number of combs at equal intervals. 

 This mechanism is mounted on a suitable carriage which is 

 attached to a tractor and made to travel in the same direction 

 as the ground wheels. A similar action is employed for pulling 

 as in the Crawford-Bennett Machine, combs being caused to 

 engage the heads of the standing flax, but, in this case, the 

 combs are caused to enter the crop from above in advance of 

 the travelling machine. The engaged flax is drawn underneath 

 the pulling mechanism at the slow rate of the difference 



