666 
Report on the Exhibition and 
very early attempts, the various systems of cultivation by means 
of rppes of steel or hemp have been unassailed. 
The Digger has been before the public for several years in 
a comparatively crude form, but is now much simplified, and 
promises to develop into a useful machine. It consists of a 
locomotive boiler, with a fire-box in the centre, the tubes on 
each side, and a funnel at each end. The engine is fixed 
on the top of the boiler, and has a single cylinder, 9 in. diam. 
by 12 in. stroke. On the crank-shaft are two bevel pinions, 
one of which drives the travelling-wheels through intermediate 
gear at either of two speeds ; the other drives the digger, which 
consists of three sets of tines, 13 in the centre set, and 14 in 
each of the outside sets, making a total width of land worked 
of 20"7 feet. A horizontal crank-shaft, running the length of 
the boiler, and with Hooke's joints between the cranks, drives 
the diggers, and revolves once for every 3*92 revolutions of the 
engine. When "digging, the axis of the travelling-wheels is 
parallel to that of the boiler ; and all are driven, but any or 
either can be disconnected, the two outer ones by pins, the 
inner ones by clutches. The steering is effected by a frame 
hinged on to the foot-plate, and in the rear of the diggers, 
carrying a set of discs, which, by means of a hand-wheel, can 
be turned to any angle and act as a rudder. When in travelling- 
trim this frame is unshipped, and the driving-wheels are dis- 
connected and turned round with their axes across that of the 
boiler in the ordinary way. One pair is connected with a hand- 
wheel, and used as steering-wheels ; the other pair is connected 
with the engine, and propels the machine. The wheels are 
3 feet 6 inches in diameter by 2 feet wide. 
The Digger was well tried in the field, but the land being 
very dry was all in its favour. Then came two days' heavy 
rain. How will the Digger go now ? was the general remark 
of those interested ; so, at the request of its makers and 
Mr. Darby, it was again taken out, and, to the surprise of all, 
worked as well as before ; but, in spite of at least two inches of 
rain, the land was of such a quality as not to be much affected 
by it, and any ordinary steam-plough would have worked. 
How the Digger will act in wet slippery clay it was impos- 
sible to prove. The work appeared equal to, or even in some 
respects better than, ordinary ploughing, but not so good as 
cultivating or digging, as far as laying the land up rough for 
fallowing, which is generally what is wanted where steam is 
used ; but this could doubtless be altered by using differently- 
shaped tines. The following are the results obtained by the 
Society's Engineers : — 
