312 



The " Buckeye Ditcher. 



[July, 



performed the work. Mains 4 ft. 6 in. deep were dug at the 

 rate of three linear feet per minute in the stiffest and wettest 

 part of the demonstration field. Boulders were either broken 

 down and thrown out in pieces or else raised entire; moist 

 clay was delivered in large lumps; dry clay in small flakes 

 resembling cracked linseed cake. 



On the day of the demonstration the machine was working 

 continuously from 10.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m., and in these 

 6 Lours it completed 6 chains of 3 ft. 6 in. mains and 36 chains 

 of 2 ft. 6 in. minors; the latter were excavated on top gear at 

 12 ft. per minute. About 200 people visited the ground, and 

 the speed and efficiency with which the work was done was 

 favourably commented upon. 



Data Obtained. — In Table II will be found a summarised 

 statement of the observations made during each working day 

 of the trial. A few words of explanation are necessary with 

 regard to the headings of the columns. " Hours lost through 

 breakdowns " comprises the time during which the machine 

 was rendered idle by some part having to be taken to a 

 smithy or repair shop. " Hours adjusting and repairing " 

 represents the time spent on altering the setting of the 

 machine to face new soil conditions, and on minor repairs or 

 replacements performed on the spot, and also includes time 

 spent on oiling, &c., before starting. " Hours working " 

 includes the time when the machine was actually excavating, 

 moving overland from the end of one drain to the beginning 

 of the next, and travelling small distances by farm roads from 

 one field to another. The fuel used was benzol, and, on a few 

 occasions, 2nd grade petrol. The lubricant was heavy cyUnder 

 oil. On two occasions, September 6th and 7th, the depths 

 of the drains dug were not as stated at the head of the last 

 two columns; the depth of the mains on these days was only 

 2 ft. 9 in., and the minors only 2 feet. 



As an example of a typical day, August 25th may be quoted. 

 There was a stoppage of U hours for a blacksmith's reps^ir; 

 If hours in minor adjustments in the field; and a period of 

 6 hours was actually spent in digging 21J chains of 2 ft. 6 m. 

 minors in stiff wet clay, lU gallons of benzol, 2^ gallons of 

 cylinder oil, and about Jib. of grease being consumed. 

 August 19th was an exceptional day, when much time was 

 spent in adapting the machine to local conditions. On this 

 occasion the machine followed a curved main, a type of work 

 for which it was not suited, owing to the length of the 



