FIELD TRIAL OF POTATO DIGGERS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7863, 14 May 1891, Page 2

FIELD TRIAL OF POTATO DIGGERS.

The field trial of potato diggers, held by the Department of Agriculture for a prize of .£250, offered by the Government) took place at Mr Skilbeck'e farm near Koroifc on Thursday, April 9th. From the first, very great interest has been taken in this competition by the potato growers of Victoria, and the fact of more than forty entries having been received from all parts of the world proves that inventors and implement makers are equally anxious te produce a machine that shall efficiently, cheaply and rapidly perform the work of digging potatoes without cutting or bruising the tubers. Owintr to the lateness of the season the trial was postponed for three weeks from the date origin ally fixed, and this allowed time for the Department of Agriculture to inquire how many of the machines were likely to compete. Of the total entries nineteen were subsequently accepted, but only ten machines appeared at the trial, and nine actually started. The weather was excellent, and the ground in first rate condition for conducting the trials. The number of spectators was estimated at fully 1500 people all more or lees interested in potato growing, while machinists were present from New Zealand, England, Germany and America. The machines tested were entered by Messrs Powell Bros, and Whittaker, Wrexham, England; Palmer, Scott and Co., Melbourne; F. W. Lees. Woodend; J. H. Yelland, Swan Hill; James Anderson, Brisbane; W. Saul, Warrnambool; M. O'Tool, Williarastown; A. D. Davys, Otago, New Zealand; and Hall's American digger, which was exhibited by the Department of Agriculture. Mr Hanken, Ararat, had also a machine on the ground, but he did not compete. The first machine tried was a German implement entered by Messrs Palmer, Scott and Co. It resembled a light plough furnished with prongs instead of mould boards. It was also provided with a hook which catches the potato tops and turns them to one side of the drill, so that the potatoes are left clear of both weeds and tops. In working, the earth falls through the prongs, and the potatoes being lighter remain on the surface. The draught was apparently light, and while some of the • other machines brought more tubers to the surface this one certainly did least damage to the crop. Messrs Powell Bros, and Whittaker had two machines, which were very similar in construction. The principle on which they operated was a revolving fork driven by gearing behind two wheels. A share raises the drill and the fork revolving at a high speed projects the earth containing the potatoes against a rimless wheel set at right angles travelling on the ground, and which acts as a sort of guard and pulveriser of the soil. There was no doubt that the potatoes were well exposed on the surface by this machine, but a large pro* portion of them was bruised and rendered unfit for market. The owners attributed the serious damage caused to the crop to the circumstance that the potatoes were several inches deeper in the ground than is generally the case in England. They are confident that they can adjust their machines to work satisfactorily at any depth, but before this trial they were not aware that any difference in the depth of planting the potatoes existed between the two countries, and consequently they had not Provided for that contingency. Messrs 'owell Bros, and Whit taker's machine is without doubt a first rate digger, and if it can be improved so as to leave the potatoes undamaged it will be very hard to beat Iα all other respects.

The only other machine which worked at all satisfactorily was the American digger, exhibited by the Department of Agriculture, This implement was broucht from the States by West, Irrigatloa Expert, among a number of other farm implements, at the direction of the Government. It is provided with a share resembling a diamond shovel, which raises the drill and passes the earth on to a sort of grating with a shaking motion. In loose, candy soil, free of lumps, it might work fairly well, bat it is evidently not suited for hard ground. A considerable number of the potatoes were damaged, and, owing to the lumpy character of the land, a large proportion of the tubes were left below the surface. A noticeable defect in this machine was the single wheel with which it is furnished, This wheel runs on the top of the drill. In America the potatoes are grown, as a rule, on the flat system, but here, where drilling is the custom, two wheels would be necessary to guide this digger with ease.

To intelligibly describe any of the other machines on the ground would be impossible. They were generally remarkable for their great size, complicated gearing, heavy draught, liability to choke, and causing damage to the crop. Spine of them could not be made to proceed more than 9 couple of yards before they stopped short never to go again, and others which did succeed in getting a little further left the ground in confusion and the potatoes smashed to pieces. Before the trial one of the confident inventors asserted that his machine would raise the potatoes, bag them, and do everything almpst but noil them. Needless to say ne was obliged to alter his opinion, and like several others return home a wiser man.

The judges, Messrs R. SkUbeck, J. Knigbfc, M. Landy and C. Scott, decided that none of the machines fulfilled the conditions of the competition, and consequently no prize was awarded. This finding was announced at the close of the trial by Mr Martin, Secretary for Agriculture, who expressed his regret (hat none of the inventions were entitled to claim the prize offered. On the recommendation of the judges, however, ha would endeavour to arrange for another, trial nexjjyear, and felt) tare that a machine would yet be forthcoming to suit the purpose required. The day's proceedings terminated with a hearty vote of thanka to Mr Skilbeck for so generously placing a field of potatoes at the disposal of the Department of Aerieulbure for carrying out the trial.—Leader,