4 BULLETIN 1219, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Table 2 shows that seed may be delinted very closely with not 
over 1 per cent of saw-cut injury. One lot was delinted at a rate of 
161 pounds of linters per ton and only 0.8 per cent showed injury. 
This seems to be the maximum rate at which the seed may be de- 
linted with safety. Most of the lint or fuzz is removed and little 
advantage is gained by attempting to delint more closely. 
Saw-cut injury to the seed is affected by the condition of the 
machinery. The saws should be kept moderately sharp. Filing 
them at regular intervals of 24 to 36 hours run insures uniform delint- 
ing as well as reduces the liability of breaking the seed. In a two- 
unit delinting plant which has come under the writer's observation 
an extra saw cylinder was provided. With the aid of an automatic 
gummer and filer, the saws were gummed and filed by the operator 
in charge of the delinters. With this arrangement, a sharp set of 
saws was available for replacing any dull cylinder without loss of 
time and with no extra expense incurred for labor. 
APPEARANCE OF DELINTED SEED. 
A larger percentage of the black hull or seed coat is exposed as the 
rate of delinting increases. At the maximum rate at which seed 
POUNDS LINTERS ,_.. nAV 
CUT PER TON *»IH UAT 
OF SEED 20 40 60 80 
I 
PER CENT OF GERMINATION 
5TH DAY TOTAL 
20 40 60 80 20 40 60 80 
PER CENT OF 
TOTAL ON 5TH. DAY 
20 40 60 80 100 
Fig. 2.— Delinted cottonseeds germinate more quickly than ginned seeds. In greenhouse tests ginned 
seeds showed only 9 per cent germination in 4 days, compared with 70 per cent for seed delinted at a 
rate of 161 pounds per ton. The final percentage of seeds germinating was not affected by delinting. 
may be delinted with safety, very little linters or fuzz is left on them. 
The contrast between the appearance of ginned cottonseed and seed 
delinted at varying rates is illustrated in Plate I. 
EFFECT OF DELINTING ON GERMINATION. 2 
Delinting reduces the time required for cottonseed to germinate. 
It promotes uniform germination and a maximum stand of plants 
in the shortest possible time. A larger percentage of the viable seed 
germinates in a given limited period. This percentage tends to vary 
directly with the rate of cut. 
2 All germination tests referred to in this discussion were made by and under the direction of W. L. Goss, 
of the Seed Laboratory of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 
