Abstract: This invention pertains to an apparatus for applying layers of friable material on a belt, roller means over which the belt passes to define an upper reach for supporting the friable material to be deposited on said surface and a lower reach means for moving said roller means over the surface to be layered with the friable material, so that the belt passes over the roller means from the upper reach to the lower reach so that the belt can therefore drop friable material carried by the upper reach onto the surface to be layered.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling compacted blocks of compost, soil or the like material comprising a chamber defined by two relatively movable plates in which a batch of material is compacted at a compacting station. The chamber is moved to a depositing station at which the block is removed by firstly retracting one of the plates while the other plate holds the block, and then by retracting the other plate, leaving the block deposited on a platform. The apparatus desirably is in the form of a wheel assembly having plates defining a number of chambers radiating from the wheel axis and there is means for indexing the wheel so that each chamber moves in turn from the compacting station to the depositing station.