38/42 The routine of operations is illustrated in the diary of Thomas P.Ravenel, of Woodboo plantation, 1847-1850, printed in _Plantation and Frontier_, I, 195-208.] The roller gin was described in a most untechnical manner by Basil Hall: "It consists of two little wooden rollers, each about as thick as a man's thumb, placed horizontally and touching each other. On these being put into rapid motion, handfulls of the cotton are cast upon them, which of course are immediately sucked in.... A sort of comb fitted with iron teeth ... is made to wag up and down with considerable velocity in front of the rollers. |