to make up a bale."

"Do the natives of India take the seeds out of their own cotton?" asked
Mary.

"Some of them do, using the primitive gins so long known in India. The
Chinese also gin much of their own cotton by amateur gins. But it goes
without saying that much of the cotton fiber is broken by these
methods. For the more perfect the gin the less loss results. Even with
our best machinery however, a certain amount of injury is done which
cannot be avoided."

"Then Eli Whitney's gin isn't so perfect," ventured Carl.

"Its method is as perfect a one as we have," answered Captain
Dillingham, "and up to date nothing better has been found. Those
handling large quantities of cotton are almighty thankful to have
anything as good, I can tell you. In India, China, and oriental
countries, though, where the lots are small the people, as I say, still
cling to their primitive foot gins. Here in America we have several
types of gin all made on the same general principle but differing
slightly as to detail. Some of these are better than others. By this I
mean some are less brutal and cause a smaller degree of waste. Indeed I
believe Whitney's own gin and those of its kind known as saw gins are
considered to do the most damage to the fiber. This sort of gin
consists of a series of circular saws set into a revolving shaft in
such a way that the cotton fed into the machine is separated from its
seeds in an incredibly short space of time. Afterward a whirling brush
cleans the saws of the fiber clinging to them. It is an effectual
system but a merciless one and is best adapted to short staple cotton
which is strong and does not snarl. The best gins use only long, smooth
blades to clear the cotton and it follows that these do the fiber far
less injury."

"How does a ginning factory look, Uncle Frederick?" Carl inquired.

"You mean the inside? I never went through but one. I was waiting for a
cargo at Norfolk once and as there happened to be a ginning plant near
where I was staying I visited it. Generally peaking I suppose they are
pretty much alike. The cotton is brought to them, as I said, in clearly
marked, or branded bags or baskets, and is tossed from the wagons
directly into hoppers. Afterward the contents of the hoppers is loaded
into freight elevators and shot to one of the upper stories of the
factory, there to be piled up and await its turn for ginning.

"When the time comes to gin that particular batch it is heaped in