Abstract: A carding apparatus is illustrated wherein trash removal means is provided utilizing a carding flat means together with a first plate carried for vertical adjustment relative to the flat means for varying the setting between the plate and a clothed carding cylinder. A second plate has means for setting a surface thereof in close proximity to the surface of the clothed cylinder. A relatively wide setting is provided for the first plate and a slot is formed by the first and second plates which will be self-expelling of trash, short fibers and the like by reason of such wide setting of the first plate followed by the close setting of the second plate acting as an air barrier upon the opened fibers carded by the carding flat means. A suction plenum provides a system of removing a large part of the already expelled trash so as to greatly improve the carding operation while minimizing loss of desirable longer fibers.