The Semi Weekly Leader

GETS HINT IN WHITTLING.
Inventor Discovers a Wood Valuable for a Homely Purpose.
Here is an instance of showing that obedience to the whittling conscience is still a cause of inventions, says the Scientific American. H. S. Hopper was driving through one of the southern swamps some time ago, when he cut down a reed, which he used for a whip. It followed, of course, that he cut off a chip from the end of the reed and used it for a toothpick.
He noticed that the chip was hard and durable, and yet pliable and for the purpose, was much better than the article commonly on sale. Acting on the suggestion, he has designed an automatic machine which makes an excellent grade of toothpicks from the reeds in the southern swamps. A factory has been built at Bowers' Hill, Norfolk county, Virginia, and the business inaugurated.
A reed is cut into suitable lengths without waste, and a set of radial knives is made to split the tubular reed into pieces the size of a toothpick. Before splitting, the ends of the tubular sections of the reed are reamed out by tapering reamers, which remove the pith or soft interior, so that the splitting forms toothpicks with tapering ends of hard, tough material.