104 
Report on the Miscellaneous Implements 
1. SLk digging-forlrs are now used instead of three, tliua halving the 
width of the spit, which was 7 feet, and is now 3 feet 6 inches. 
'2. Adjusting the deptli of the spit from to 9^^ inches, according to 
the work to he done. 
3. Placing the crank over instead of under the rocking-arm as hefore, 
thus giving, it is claimed, a better entry for the digging-forks, and a better lift 
of soil. 
4. Making the length of the roeking-arm adjustable for the purpose of 
giving a more vertical entry in soft, and a more inclined entry in hard soil. 
5. Arranging the forks so as to tarn up like those of a haymaker, in 
order to facilitate backing in the field, and travelling on the road. 
G. The abolition of numerous universal joints, through which the digging- 
tines were originally driven, and the substitution for this purpose of a con- 
tinuous shaft. 
7. A new means of operating the four driving-wheels, whereby they can 
be turned around their respective vertical axes, whether the engine is travel- 
ling or digging. 
8. Bringing the whole machine, whether digging or travelling, under the 
control of a single man. 
0. The introduction of a hydraulic jack, to take the weight of the engine 
off the wheels wbile these are being revolved around their vertical axes. 
Although this machiue was entered as a novelty, and a 
claimant for a silver medal, the Judges felt it impossible to 
make an award which would put the stamp of the Society upon 
such an important implement without careful and complete trial. 
The same remark applies to Proctor's digger, which was also 
exhibited at Nottingham. Nor was this conclusion come to 
without due consideration on the part of all five Judges, assisted 
in their deliberations by the Engineer of the Society. 
Both diggers were shown at work during the Show week, 
and inspected by Mr. Anderson, who took such notes of these 
performances as were possible without an exhaustive trial. Mr. 
Anderson reports uj^on Darby's digger as follows : — 
As far as I could see, all the mechanical difficulties connected with this 
implement have been overcome. It worked very well, digging furrows 
about 6 inches deep and Gj inches and 9j inches wide. The width culti- 
vated was 21 feet, and the rate of advance about 112 feet in five minutes, 
or 1,344 feet per hour. This would make '65 acre per hour, or from 
C to 7 acres per day of ten hours, which agrees with the estimate given 
me by Mr. L'arby. It took three minutes to turn at the headlands. I 
was informed that a water-cart, holding about 108 gallons, would serve for 
one and a half acres. This would be at the rate of 72 gallons per acre, and, 
as '65 acre is dug in an hour, the water consumption would be about 
46'8 gallons, or 4G8 lbs. per hour. An engine having only a 9^-inch 
cylinder would hardly consume less th.in 40 lbs. of steam per indicated horse- 
power per hour. This would make the indicated power 11'7, which seems 
very little; but the engine appeared to do its work without effort. 
It takes about three-quarters of an hoiu- to get the machine altered for 
travelling along roads, but the conditions under which the change was made 
were not favourable, as there were not le>s tlian three masters ])resent, all 
giving orders and bewildering the men. It should bo not(d that the boiler 
is verj' long, about 17 feet ; and though the tire-box is in the middle, it seemed 
