POTATO CULTURE. 133 



not spread much in the soil. The machine would not dig 

 the old Peachblows clean. We have dug an acre in two 

 hours, with long rows and conditions all just right ; bnt this 

 is faster than the average. The machine is all iron, and I 

 do not think it would answer for digging before potatoes are 

 entirely ripe ; but this I do not know from experience. I 

 have found but one variety of potatoes that were injured, 

 when ripe, by the digger ; these were so soft and tender and 

 large that it bruised them some, and we put a stick under 

 the grate, on the axle, so as to stop all shaking, and with 

 care dug them pretty well in this way, the soil being quite 

 fine and mellow. 



On level or moderately rolling land that is clean, free from 

 stones, and fairly mellow, I can do a job that would do your 

 eyes good well, you may almost call it a perfect job, and 

 still, once in a while I cut or bruise a tuber, but not nearly 

 as many as I should by digging with a fork. You may call 

 the work practically perfect. Of course, the machine has no 

 business in a field full of large or fixed stones. With my 

 stone-shields on I can go through any gravelly place, or 

 through sm ill stones, almost without trouble ; but I would 

 not advise the use of such costly machinery where all land is 

 of this character. We have but little gravelly soil. In such 

 the wear and risk would be too much. The machine is 

 strong, and thoroughly well made ; but if yon do get a stone 

 in, and bring four horses to a sudden stop, sooner or later 

 you will break something, as you can see. I can not advise 

 its use on a side hill that is at all steep, where rows run 

 along the hillside. It will go straight up the hill all right, 

 no matter how steep, and it will go down a moderately steep 

 hill. 



Now I have told you the whole truth. With this machine, 

 and plenty of oil and gumption and power, and reasonable 

 conditions and long rows, I can make ten experts stir them- 

 selves to keep up with me with a fork. If the men are just 

 ordinary hands, not used to digging, and the soil is a little 



