Abstract: A seed is placed in a receptacle filled with soil to grow into a plant. The plant is transplanted when it has reached a certain size and it is then desirable to be able to relocate the plant together with a coherent lump of soil. This is difficult to achieve, but the present invention makes it possible by providing a conical lump of soil that is formed in a depression with a bottom. When the plant has grown sufficiently large so that a root system has been formed, the bottom of the depression need only be upwardly displaced for a firm conical lump of soil with a plant to be obtained, which is easy to transplant.

Abstract: Apparatus for the simultaneous manufacture of several chains by means of not less than three and not more than five operating stations (5-8) equally distributed about a circular course and serving successively to add a link to the chains and to perform the operations required to finish the link. A set of movable conveyors (11-14) equalling in number the operating stations carried by an annular supporting member (22) rotatable about the vertical axis of the course successively presents depending ends (1a-4a) of the chains to the operating stations. A set of stationary conveyors (15-18) receives the chains discharged by the movable conveyors and conveys them to points from which they can be withdrawn to localities remote from the manufacturing apparatus.