Abstract: An apparatus for selectively harvesting a plant material (such as tea plants) having a stem. The apparatus has a first plant material engaging element rotatable about a first axis, and a second plant material engaging element rotatable about a second axis in the opposite direction to, and synchronized at a fixed ratio with, rotation of the first engaging element. The first and second engaging elements each have a moveable engagement surface to entrap a first respective upper portion of a plant stem therebetween. With continued rotation, the first and second engaging elements pull the entrapped first respective upper portion of the plant over a time period so as cause increasing tension in a second respective lower portion of the plant stem. The second engaging element has a plant material breaking surface which is moveable along an arc so as to contact the second respective lower portion of the plant stem.

Abstract: A selective transplanter is provided for transplanting seedlings from a tray to seedling planting apparatus. The tray includes a plurality of cells for holding plugs of growing medium containing seedlings. The transplanter is arranged to eject plugs from the cells of the tray to a conveyor which conveys the plugs to the seedling planting apparatus. The transplanter is arranged to remove plugs that do not contain germinated seedlings from the conveyor at a removal position before they are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus. A seedling retention roller engages with plant material of the seedlings projecting from the plugs at the removal position before the plugs are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus, preventing removal of plugs containing seedlings with projecting plant material. The transplanter provides the advantage that the plugs containing seedlings can be planted in rows in a field without dud plugs being planted, leaving the rows substantially gap free.

Abstract: A selective transplanter is provided for transplanting seedlings from a tray to seedling planting apparatus. The tray includes a plurality of cells for holding plugs of growing medium containing seedlings. The transplanter is arranged to eject plugs from the cells of the tray to a conveyor which conveys the plugs to the seedling planting apparatus. The transplanter is arranged to remove plugs that do not contain germinated seedlings from the conveyor at a removal position before they are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus. A seedling retention roller engages with plant material of the seedlings projecting from the plugs at the removal position before the plugs are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus, preventing removal of plugs containing seedlings with projecting plant material. The transplanter provides the advantage that the plugs containing seedlings can be planted in rows in a field without dud plugs being planted, leaving the rows substantially gap free.

Abstract: An indexable vacuum formed nursery tray and a method of making same, the tray being formed from a sheet of polymer material and including a plurality of rows of vacuum formed cells positioned between at least two spaced rows of indexing apertures formed in the sheet and wherein the plastic sheet has a thickness at least at the zones containing the indexing apertures greater than the minimum thickness of the sheet of polymer material prior to forming.

Abstract: A field planting device 1 adapted to pass along a ground furrow into which plants are to be sequentially placed during a planting operation, the device including: a plant receiving tube 3 defining at least an upper portion of a tubular internal space 60 adapted to receive and hold in an upright condition a plant 8 to be planted, with a root mass plug 10 of the plant in a lower portion of said space 60 and foliage 9 of the plant in the upper portion of the space, the space being partly defined by rear internal walls 50 on laterally opposing sides of an upright rearwardly facing slot 18, 22 through which slot the plant passes when being ejected during a planting operation; and a plant pusher member 4 actuated by a drive member 12, the pusher member 4 adapted to engage both the foliage and the root mass plug of the plant 8 when the pusher member 5 is moved rearwardly and to eject the plant 8 through the slot 18, 22.

Abstract: An indexable vacuum formed nursery tray and a method of making same, the tray being formed from a sheet of plastic material and including a plurality of rows of vacuum formed cells positioned between at least two spaced rows of indexing apertures formed in the sheet and wherein the thickness of the plastic sheet at least the zones containing the indexing apertures being no less then the minimum thickness of the street of plastic material prior to forming and preferably of a thickness greater than said minimum thickness.

Abstract: The present specification discloses plant or seedling planting apparatus for planting a plant or seedling in a prepared ground position, the planting apparatus including a plant delivery chute leading to a position adjacent to the planting position, a conveyor adapted to carry sequentially a plurality of the plants and to eject same sequentially into an inlet region of the delivery chute, the conveyor also being bodily moveable between a first position adapted to receive a plurality of the plants and a second position at or adjacent the inlet region of the delivery chute, and controls for ejecting at least one plant into the delivery chute while the conveyor is moving towards or is at its second position and to sequentially eject at least one of the plants into the delivery chute while the conveyor is moving towards or is at its first position, such apparatus further including a planting shoe adapted to form the ground planting position and including a furrow forming forward end, a shell and a plant receiver

Abstract: A field planting device 1 adapted to pass along a ground furrow into which plants are to be sequentially placed during a planting operation, said device including:

Abstract: A field seedling planting machine for transplanting seedlings automatically from a tray in which they have been grown in a plurality of individual cells, and planting such seedlings in a prepared ground planting position in the field, the machine having a support for supporting trays for downward movement to an indexing mechanism and an eject mechanism for ejecting the seedlings and the attached roots mass plugs from the cells of the tray. A horizontal plant retainer conveyor receives the seedlings and plugs ejected from the trays and transports them sequentially to a transfer mechanism to a planting mechanism and in doing so reorients the seedlings so that they and the plugs are planted in a vertical position. As the seedlings are transferred a sensor detects the absence of foliage of a mature seedling and effects an adjustment of the conveyor speed to avoid irregular gaps between the planted seedlings.