96 
CULTIVATION OF COTTON. 
In the rear of the cylinder, and in contact with it, is a 
circular brush of bristles supported on arms which, revolv- 
ing by means of the gearing with, great velocity, compared 
with the revolutions of the saws, whips or brushes rapidly 
and completely from them the lint or fibre drawn through 
the grates. The velocity with which this fan-like brush 
revolves causes a strong draught of air through the aper- 
tures in the stand, which wafts the lint in light flakes 
through a flue to the lint room, made close and tight for its 
reception. The flues are constructed with a false floor of 
slats, between which much of the false seed and trash, 
which may have passed through the grates with the lint, 
falls in passing to the lint room, and the cotton is thus 
freed from these impurities. 
A good sixty-saw gin will gin five or six bales a day ; 
but the average performance, where care is taken to make 
a good article, is not more than three bales. 
From the lint room the cotton is taken to the press. 
The boxes in which the cotton is pressed in packing, 
are made of wide three-inch plank, and are four and a half 
feet long and twenty-two inches wide, securely keyed 
together, and having side doors hinged on the ends to take 
out the bales when pressed and tied ; the top and bottom 
of the box, either of which is called the follower, as the 
pressure is applied from above or below, according to the 
construction of the press, are made of similar timber, with 
seven grooves at regular and corresponding distances, 
through which to pass the ties. 
Preparatory to making the bale, a piece of bagging of 
suitable dimensions is spread on the bottom of the box. 
A proper quantity of cotton being packed or trodden in, 
another piece of bagging, of suflicient size to complete the 
covering, is laid on, the screw or lever is put in motion, 
