lo Feb., 191^-] 



Potato Digging Machines. 



Hoover, on the otht-r hand, elevaies the tubers and soil together, trusting 

 to the former passing through spaces between tlie bars on the elevators. 



As stated, the "Boss " was of the spinner pattern. It was fitted with 

 a strong share that passes under the drill, the upraised crop coming in 

 contact with a set of arms forked at the end. These are attached to a 

 wheel that revolves rapidly, scattering the tubers on the surface up lo 

 6 ft. in breadth. This great width makes the work of gathering the crop 

 very tedious, but a more serious objection is the large quantity of tubers 

 bruised by the rapidly revolving arms. The Hoover or elevator principle 

 has many points to commend it. This machine is fitted with a shovel - 

 like share, which passes under the drill and raises the soil and tubers on 

 to an elevator, through which the earth falls as it is carried along by an 

 endless belt fitted with slats. The tubers are deliveied at the rear of 

 the machine in an even row, no wider than the space in which thev grew, 

 and very convenient for gathering. This, together with the fact tnat, 

 when working at the proper depth, the tubers are not damaged, seemea 

 to stamp it as the most perfect machine for the purpose. But when the 

 land is wet the bars of the elevator soon become clogged, with the result 

 thai; the whole of the tubers and the earth are carried up the elevator 

 which soon becomes 

 blocked up ; the 

 draught is increased 

 so enormously that 

 requires four horses 

 to work the ma- 

 chine. 



On reference to 

 the illustrations, it 

 will be noticed that 

 the Lee machine 

 digs with two forks. 

 In this respect it 

 imitates hand dig- 

 ging very closely. 

 The forks throw the tubers on to a grid where they are separ.;ted from the 

 soil and left in a row clear of the track where the horses walk, so that 

 digging may proceed whether the tubers are picked up or 1 ot. The in- 

 ventor of this machine has made some impro\ements recently which he 

 claims will render it perfect. 



Until about two years ago no important improvement was to be found 

 in potato-raising machinerv since the Royal Agricultural Societv of Eng- 

 land's trial in 1896. held at Leicester. However, several new designs 

 have come on the market. This society carried out trials at Littleworth 

 on 27th September, 191 1. One of the machines at this competition, 

 made by Alex. Jack and Sons, was on the Harder principle. As this 

 machine was noticed by the Hon. the Premier when in the past season 

 in Scotland to be doing very .'5at'sfactorv work, he purchased one and for- 

 warded it to Melbourne. 



A vtry satisfactory trial of this machine was held at Messrs. Clem-ent 

 Bros.' Market Garden, South Oakleigh, on 29th November. The soil, 

 a very hard sandy loam, put the machine to a good test as regards 

 draught, which was satisfactory as it was worked by two medium draught 

 horses without strain. The crop was a light one, with a fair amount of 



LEE S POTATO DIGGER. 



