1921.] 



The " Buckeye " Ditcher. 



311 



better measure of the digging conditions than do the figures 

 for the corresponding surface soils. The former will there- 

 fore be considered more fully than the latter. 



Samples 1 and 2 show clearly the exceedingly stiff and wet nature of 

 the lower part of the demonstration field. The subsoil contains as nnich 

 as 35 per cent, of clay and 9 per cent, of fine silt, while its water content 

 of 21-7 per cent, is by far the highest of any of the sain})les analysed. 



Soils 3 and 4 indicate that while the surface soil is substantially the 

 same as in the previous case, the subsoil is of an entirely different type, 

 being drier (10-5 per cent, water), considerably more calcareous (43-4 per 

 cent, chalk), and containing a relatively high percentage of stones (8 per 

 cent.). 



The stubble fields, as represented by samples 5 and 6, show 27 per 

 cent, of clay and 11 per cent, of fine silt in the subsoil. This denotes a 

 heavy subsoil. On the other hand, the water content of Id'o per cent, is 

 low, and the amount of chalk (27*4 per cent.) is considerable. 



It was subsequently found that the drainer could operate 

 more rapidly at any given depth in a dry clay subsoil con- 

 taining chalk and gravel than in a wet clay subsoil. 



The weather conditions during the trial were very favour- 

 able; no heavy rain fell. There were a few showers, but the 

 soil was never soaked, and the machine could always be 

 worked without any risk of damage to the texture of the land. 



Table II. 



Date. 



Hours 

 Lost by 

 Break- 

 1 towns. 



Hours 

 A. 1 just- 

 ing and 

 Repair- 

 inp. 



Hours 

 Working. 



(iallc.ns 

 Fuel. 



G:ill..us 

 Oil. 



Lb. 

 Grease. 



riiains 

 .3 ft. 6 in 

 mains. 



Chaii s 

 2 ft. 6 if 

 minors. 



19/8/20 





3 









4 



1-s 





20/8/20 















6 





21/8/20 ... 





4 





'4 











23/8/20 ... 





2 



4 



11 



2 







1 



24/8 '^0 





4 



5| 



111 



2 



1 





141 



25/8/20 ... 



n 



1^ 



6 



lU 



H 



4 





21. V 



26/8/20 ... 





2i 



5 



H 



U 



k 







27/8/20 ... 





2i 



H 



84 



2 



5 





17A 



28/8/20 



3 

















30/8/20 ... 





H 



1 



4^ 



n 





u 



3 



31/8/20 ... 



14 



1 



3} 



7i 



i 





85 





1/9/20 ... 

 3 9/20 ... 

 4/9/20 ... 





2.1 



3S 



9 



2.i 



'I 



124 







■i 



H 



13i 



2 





6 



36^ 





h 



i 



2 



n 





2i 





6/9'20 





i 





\n 



n 





24* 





7/9/20 ... 



1 



1 



H 



8i 



1 



1 



4* 



214t 



8 9/20 



6 

















9/9/20 



6 











— 







* .Mains 2 (t. 9 in. 

 t Minors 2 It. 



Digging Accomplished. — Fow who saw the " Buckeye " in 

 operation could fail to be impressed by the way in which it 



