Misceltaneous Implemenis Exhibited at Doncastei'. 531 
Mr. Augustus C. Arter, Hilly-field Works, Barham, Canter- 
bury, entered a Potato Planter (Art. 99) which is likely to prove 
useful to those who plant their potatoes on the flat, as it is simple, 
effective, and cheap. The machine consists (fig. 8) of a hopper, 
one side of which is concave, and the other a revolving cone 
mounted on an axle ; these are carried on an iron frame, to which 
are fitted a beam and a fore-steerage. The cone, which is driven 
by gearing attached to the travelling wheels, has a series of 
projections, each of which is furnished with a needle bar. The 
needle bar is fitted with three points ; near the middle of the 
needle bar are a stud and spiral spring, and at the back of the 
cone is a fixed cam which actuates the needles. When one ot 
Fic 8.— Arters Potato Planter. 
the projections enters the bulk of potatoes, the needle is held 
back by the cam until a potato is driven up to the projection, 
when it is impaled on the needle, and conveyed to the top of the 
cone to the sj^out. Here it is released by the cam, which with- 
draws the needle until it is flush with the cone, and the potato 
falls into the furrow already made by a coulter to which are 
attached small adjustable mould-boards, and which is fixed in 
front of the spout. The machine is light in draught ; has few 
working parts which are likely to get out of order ; is capable 
of planting from three to four acres a day, when worked by a 
boy to lead the horse, a man to steer the machine, and another 
to keep the hopper filled ; and is guaranteed to deposit accurately 
95 per cent, of the potatoes, though in the short trials we wit- 
