336 MACHINE FOR WASHING ROOTS. 



III. 



Description of a Machine for Washing Potatoes and other 

 esculent Roots for feeding Cattle : hy Mr. WilliajI 

 LesteRj of Paddington** 

 SIR, 



Machine for jTi-EREWITH you will recelve a machine for the more 

 cleaning roots, expeditions washing of all tuberous rooted vegetables (such 

 as potatoes, turnips, carrots, &c.) from the soil that ad- 

 heres to them when taken from the ground. 

 Disadvnntages The Staved cylinder, revolving in a trough of water so 



of an old one gj^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ excitc the centrifugal force, is not new. I 

 for the purpose. =• ' 



have made use of it myself twelve years ago, but always 



found it cold and wet work, to take the roots from it when 

 These removed, washed. To obviate which, I have added the levers and 

 wheels, and find it a very great improvement, as a boy 

 therewith can do the work of two men, without exposing 

 himself to the dangerous effects of dabbling in cold water. 

 The importance of thif mode will appear very obvious, 

 when compared with the present laborious one used by the 

 potato sellers in London. The partial motion given to the 

 * potatoes, by stirring them about in a tub, cannot separate 

 the soil so effectually from them, as when the water is more 

 violently agitated by their falling over each other in a re- 

 Tolving cylinder, neither will they be so much bruised as 

 by the ends of the levers. If the soil should be particularly 

 ! ^ adhesive, the heads of a couple of old heath or birch 



brooms put into the cylinder will effectually disengage it 

 from the eyes of the potatoes, and as the dirt separates, it 

 falls to the bottom of the water in the vessel under the cy- 

 linder. 



If you will have the goodness to lay this before the So- 

 ciety, and it should be deemed worthy of their attention, I 

 •will, if necessary, on being requested, attend to explain 

 the effects of the machine. 

 I am, Sir, 



Your most humble and obedient servant, 



W. LESTER. 



♦ Trans, of the Society of Arts, vol. xxvii, p. 34. The silver 

 medal was voted to Mr. Lester. 



SIR, 



