186 



required distance apart. The interior of the screen is 

 fitted with guides, which conduct the potatoes into 

 cups or pockets, which empty their contents into a 

 trough as they revolve. Though attached to the 

 digger, the collector works independently. The 

 potatoes may be conveyed into sacks or a box, and 

 delivered at will. The machine is newly introduced, 

 but has been tried satisfactorily. It is, of course, best 

 adapted to work on light, free, dry soils, where it 

 doubtless saves much time in collecting the potatoes. 

 On sticky or wet soils so good a result would not be 

 obtained, but this may be said of other means of 

 raising the crop. It is necessary to remove the haulms 

 before commencing to dig, when the collector is used. 



It is important to pick up all the potatoes, because 

 those left in the ground, if diseased, may set up a fresh 

 attack in the following year, and also because when 

 another crop of potatoes is taken they will cause the 

 crop to become mixed and of less value. When, from 

 any cause, a portion of the crop is not picked up, an 

 endeavour should be made to destroy them by frost 

 during winter. With this view they should be worked 

 to the surface as much as possible, and be left 

 exposed. 



It is advisable to pick up all potatoes on the day 

 they are dug, as there is always a possibility of a frost 

 coming on during the night. It is, however, desirable 

 to allow the potatoes to dry before picking them up, if 

 the weather is suitable, as they are less likely to 

 become heated in the pits. All vegetables, such as 



