Abstract: A culture plate is fed down a ramp to a processing position rotated in that position and from that position moved up the ramp at a controlled rate while an innoculant spreader head is automatically brought into contact with the surface of the plate in order to produce a spiral form innoculant trace on the plate. The spreader head is subsequently automatically lifted from the plate and the plate automatically stacked. Movement up the ramp may be controlled by a cam operated arm extending up through the ramp or by differentially speed driven belts between which the plate is disposed.