Report on the Trials of Potaio-^'axsing Macliines. 219 
larger number of forks, wliich was done at the trial. It is also 
capable of atljustment backwards or forwards, i.e. it can be 
brought closer to, or further from the back of the share, to suit 
heavy or light soil. Another novelty is the substitution of a 
revolving wheel or cratch, in place of the fixed screen usually 
adopted, as a means of collecting the potatoes in rows so as to 
facilitate packing and prevent burying. It is hung loose upon 
its axle, and caused to revolve by the force of the soil thrown 
against it. It was claimed for this arrangement that it arrested 
the tubers more completely and allowed the soil to pass through 
more effectually, but, owing to the angle at which it was, and 
Fig. 14. — Powell Brothers & Whitaker's Potato- Raiser. 
a, fork-wheel, showing augle at which tines are set ; 6, revolving cratch-wlieol : 
c, position ou rim of wheel for studs which are bolted underneath ; d, bevel 
gearing ; e, pole for draft ; /, lever rod for lowering or raising fork-wheel and 
share ; g, lever-handle for thi-owing in and out of gear ; A, driver's scat ; share. 
which I think was unnecessarily acute, a considerable number 
of the potatoes passed beyond the screen. Moreover, the col- 
lection was not so perfect as it might have been. This was 
pointed out by the Judges, and I am glad to learn that the 
manufacturers fully realise the present imperfection of this 
portion of their machine, and have decided to make the position 
of the cratch adjustable, so that it can be worked at several 
angles. 
I can quite imagine that a revolving-wheel would bruise the 
potatoes less than a fixed screen, but I do not believe that this 
or any other machine can dig one row after another and make 
economical work without the potatoes being first picked up. 
