Abstract: Apparatus for packaging of drinking straws. A cylinder having notches extending longitudinally thereof is positioned at the lower end of a hopper for the straws. The hopper has a supply conduit terminating in an outlet closely overlying the surface of the cylinder. The straws pass into the supply conduit in parallel horizontal positions to define an endless column. A feed mechanism compresses the straws within the supply conduit so that individual straws are forcefully engaged with the notches in the cylinder. A first web is fed onto the periphery of the cylinder in overlying relation to the notches and when a notch, covered by the first web, moves into alignment with the outlet of the supply conduit, a lowermost straw is forced from the supply conduit into the notch while deforming the web to the general configuration of the notch.