HORTICULTURAL CROP GROWING MACHINE

1,214,058. Horticultural crop growing combine; treating plants. R. A. BRADSHAW, S. M. BRADSHAW, C. A. BRADSHAW, R. V. HUGHES, and M. M. GOLDING. 13 March, 1969 [26 March, 1968], No.14458/68. Headings A1B and A1E. [Also in Division E1] A combine horticultural crop growing machine provides simultaneous cultivation of hardy crops in the ground and frail crops under initial protection on the machine and comprises a frame 1 supported on wheels 2, which run on a ground track 4, and driven by toothed wheels 11 which engage a rack in the track, the frame 1 supporting transverse rails (15), Fig. 4 (not shown), on which runs a platform 17 carrying a plurality of ground cultivating implements, the machine having covered conveyer belts 37 on which seeds are sown in compost and eventually planted in the ground. The machine advance and movement of the platform, belt and compost cutter 48 may be co-ordinated by electrical switching associated with a ground engaging wheel 50. Ground cultivating implements such as a humus spreader (22), rotary cultivator (26) and seed and fertilizer distributer (23) may be attached to the moving platform. Frail crops are planted by seed sowers 36 in compost on the covered sloping conveyer belts 37 which gradually transport the growing seedlings to the ground planting devices 47 and compost cutters 48. Water pumped from a trough (7), Fig. 6 (not shown), in the track may be sprayed on to the seedlings, being controlled by a humidity device and belt movement. Thermostatically controlled heating may be applied under the covers 45. A framework 51 behind the machine supports covers (53), Fig. 10 (not shown), over each row of seedlings after they have been planted in the ground, to facilitate fumigation and watering. Operators and pickers may shelter under tunnels 62 and grading, packing and cultivating devices such as the hoeing device (54), Fig. 12 (not shown), may be secured to this frame.