INES are used for excavating ditches and trenches for drainage, etc. The Plumb Ditcher (Pig. I) cuts the whole ditch in one passage on the required grade. It of an engine and boiler driving n large cull ing-whoel. all set in one frame carried on tone bronil-fiwed wheels. The is drawn forward working by means of a wire cattle passing through a block anchored any distance ahead and winding on a drum on the front end of the machine. The ditch-cntting wheel is formed with ritn-scoops, which cut awl elcvahe t he dirt-cutting from the but tom of the ditch upward. The cutting-wheel hangs in a swinging flame raised or lowered at will to maintain the grade line required for the bottom of the ditch, and can cut to a depth of 4 ft. It forms a rounded bottom to the ditch, suitable for the reception of either of the ordinary sizes of farm drain-tile. The dirt is all discharged at one side of the ditch, convenient for refilling. As the wheels are 10 in. broad, the machine works on soft ground as well as hard, even where horses could not be employed.
Potter's Ditcher (Fig. 2) is drawn by animals, and, being a comparatively light machine,
performs its work by passing repeatedly over the same job until the ditch is brought to the required depth. The cutting-wheel cuts down the sides of the ditch, and a scoop just behind the lowest part of the wheel pares off a layer of dirt, and causes it to pass upward under the control of an endless apron, which retains the earth in the grooved periphery of the wheel until the dirt is discharged upon a spout at the top and dumped on both sides of the ditch. The digging can be interrupted to maintain the grade of the ditch-bottom. The cutting wheel frame is pivoted above its center of gravity, and maintains an upright position, cutting a perpendicular ditch at all times, whether the ground is level or inclines to either side. Small stones are readily thrown out, but large ones the machine rejects and passes over, scraping them hare of dirt, so that they may be reached and removed by other means.
Dolling : see Cot-ton-Spinning Machinery.
Dog: see Saws. Wood.