563 Miscellaneous Implements Exhibited at Chester. 
Article 4404. Thomas Cooper , Ry burgh, Fakenham, Nor- 
folk. Steam Digger, price 750 1 . — The digger is combined with 
a 12 -horse triple expansion engine, mounted on a pair of wheels, 
with a lead roller wheel in front ; weight 8 tons 5 cwt. It is 
stated to be capable of digging 10 acres a day, using 1 cwt. 
of coal per acre, and. of cultivating 4 to 7 inches deep at a cost 
of 3s. per acre. Width on the road 9 feet, and at work 12 feet. 
This digger has been improved in many important details. 
Amongst others an elliptical travel is given to the forks, 17 
inches in horizontal length, 14 inches of which are effective. Also, 
the right angle end guards on the bearings of the digging cranks 
prevent dust and dirt from entering the journals and clogging 
them, and ensure efficient lubrication, thus overcoming what had 
previously been a serious difficulty. The depth of work is regu- 
lated by the length of the renewable points on the forks, but for 
a depth of more than 7 inches heavier longer forks are provided. 
The controlling levers are all very effective and well-placed. On 
level land of fair depth, with a porous subsoil — or at any rate 
without shallow drains — this implement would probably do 
excellent work, and no doubt there is full scope for its use 
under these conditions. Under the reverse conditions, however, 
the width of work must cause an uneven depth of cultivation, 
resulting in bringing subsoil to the surface to an undesirable 
extent, and in the case of any other than deep drains the risk of 
injury from displacement, owing to the weight of the implement, 
must be considerable. 
The special feature of the machine is that in the engine 
working it we have the first application of triple expansion to 
this class of engine. The three cylinders are placed side by side 
over the smoke box end of the boilers, and the slide valve on 
each is worked by a single eccentric set to cut off at the same 
point of the stroke in each cylinder. For starting, live steam 
can be admitted to the intermediate and low pressure cylinders, 
or the pipes to which automatic regulating valves are fixed to 
control the pressure in these cylinders. The customary fly- 
wheel is dispensed with, as it is claimed that the running of 
the engine is sufficiently uniform without it. The further 
development of this engine will naturally be watched with 
interest. In its design and arrangement it showed much 
evidence of care and thought. At the same time, it would not be 
fair to express a decided opinion thereon until some, at least, 
of the details are more fully worked out. 
Article 4573. Woodroffe & Co ., Albion Iron Works, Rugeley, 
Staffs. Knife-holder, price 9s. 6d . — A handy device for holding 
the knives of reapers and mowers for sharpening. It can be 
