740 Report on Implements at Preston. 
Whittaker. In consequence of an omission to enter this as a 
" New Implement," the attention of the Judges was not drawn 
to it in time to test it in any way in the field, but they were 
very favourably impressed with the apparent merits of its design 
and construction. The fork-wheel is slightly conical in shape, 
so that the forks are a little advanced to work under the ridge ; 
the top of the ridge thus falls behind the machine, instead of 
being thrown on one side with the potatoes and the rest of the 
soil. There is a saving of power in this, and the potatoes are 
Fig. 33.— Leit/s's Patent Potato Bigger, No, 2178. 
less liable to be covered. The wheel is constructed to work 
with 6, 8, or 12 forks, and can be set forwards or backwards to 
suit heavy or light soil ; the angle at which it works can be 
readily adjusted by raising the front end of the spindle. The 
speed is gained by spur and bevel wheels. The Digger is pro- 
vided with a separating wheel made of wood, instead of a cratch, 
to stop the potatoes without bruising them, and allow the soil to 
fall through. The separating wheel does not touch the ground, 
but it revolves freely when struck bv the potatoes or by the 
earth ; and is said so thoroughly to prevent the tubers from being 
covered, that it can dig one ridge alter another without burying 
those first unearthed. !t is fitted with a pole which prevents 
the machine from running askew and cutting the potatoes on one 
side of the ridge. 
Fig. 34 illustrates Mr. J. IV. ForretCs patent Sack Hoist, 
No. 2679, a useful contrivance for loading and unloading at 
