A POTATO DIGGER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 57, 6 March 1880, Page 1

A POTATO DIGGER.

The Auckland Herald gives the following account of a trial of a new potato digger recently imported from Glasgow; : — The start was not a punctual one, and it was nearly 3 o'clook before the machine was fairly at work. Mr Knox had taken the precaution to remove some of the weeds, which grew most luxuriantly on and between the potato rows. Notwithstanding this, considerable hindrance to the progress of the machine was caused by the curling of a vine-liki weed, which kept winding around the share, which necessitated frequent stoppages in order to secure its removal. Mr Hoiham —who of course was present — stated that he saw a solution to the weed difficulty, by the application of a skeitb; which could be set in front of the share to cut the stringers, which sprang principally from the bottom of the drills. There was a universal expression of opinion that the machine was a decided success, and it was declared that nothing could excel the work it made where there was an absence of the before-mentioned weed. To those who are notacquainted with the principle upon whieh this machine works, we may say that a large sock, or share, composed of steel, passes along at the bottom of the drill, underneath the potatoes, and aa it elevat.63 potatoes and earth about eight or ten inches above the ordinary surface, a wheel, about 28 inches in diameter, composed of iron staves, forked, flat at the ends — revolves, and lifts the whole substance of the potato drill oat on to the surface of the land. A large wooden cradle in the form of a rake, is attached to the maohine in such a position aa to prevent the potatoes being lifted to a greater distance than say, 4ft from the machine. As a matter of course, the roots fell Sat on the surface, and some estimate of the rate at which they were turned out can be formed from Ibe fact that twenty natives were kept constantly at work picking them off the land. There does not appear to be anything new in the principle of the machine, as it is very similar to those that have been in use here for some for some years past, but there is a vast improvement visible ia this one, inasmuch as it is a great deal less ouraberBome, especially in turning at the ends of the drill. By a very simple process the share can be elevated, the revolving wheel stopped, and the whole concern made to reßt upon its wheels. It has also one wheel less than the old potatodigger, which helps to simplify the turning. The wheels which run on either side of the potato drill are upon a sliding axle, and can consequently b!e extended or drawn in so as to run in the bottoms of either a broad or a narrow drill. The draft <00, appears to be considerably lighter. Two faorsea were tried as an experiment, and they did not eeetn to have a very difficult task, whilst the three animals which worked it most of the time did jit with comparative ease. It is estimated that nearly an acre of potatoes were taken 1 out during the afternoop, and, considering the nature of the load, very few of the potatoes sustained any damage.