suitable levers and rods to the set-on handles at each end of the
machine and to the valve of the water pipe near the top of the frame,
while the upper end of the inclined or oblique rod is fulcrumed on a
rod projecting from the frame. The lower or curved end of the
oblique rod rests against the boss of one of the upper rollers.

[Illustration: Fig. 12]

The water valve is opened and closed with the starting and stopping
of the machine, but the oblique rod is moved only when irregular
feeding takes place. Thus, the upper rollers rise slightly against
the pressure of the springs when thick stricks appear; hence, when a
thick place passes under the roller which is in contact with the
curved end of the oblique rod, the end moves slightly clockwise, and
thus rotates the fulcrum rod; this results in an increased quantity
of oil being liberated from the source of supply, and the mechanism
is so arranged that the oil reaches the thick part of the strick.
When the above-mentioned upper roller descends, due to a decrease in
the thickness of the strick, the oblique rod and its fulcrum is
moved slightly counter-clockwise, and less oil is liberated for the
thin part of the strick. It will be understood that all makers of
softening machines supply the automatic lubricating or batching
apparatus when desired.

A view of a softener at work appears in Fig. 13. The bevel wheels at
the end of the rollers are naturally covered as a protection against
accidents. In many machines safety appliances are fitted at the feed
end so that the machine may be automatically stopped if the
operative is in danger. The batching apparatus for this machine is
of a different kind from that illustrated in Fig. 12; moreover, it