Abstract: The harvesting machine includes a mobile chassis (1) having front and rear ends. At least two mutually spaced rows of grippers move along a picking path (22) which extends in a front-to-rear direction. The speed with which the rows of grippers move along the picking path (22) is closely matched to the speed at which the mobile chassis (1) travels in the forward direction (F). Two foliage deflectors (4) at the beginning of the picking path (22) are positioned on opposite sides of the selected plant (P). A foliage shield (40, 41) is mounted rearward of each foliage deflector to be interposed between the selected plant and the adjacent row of grippers and separate the grippers from the selected plant until they reach a gripping location where actuating means move the grippers towards each other to grip a selected plant. At the end of the picking path (22), the rows of grippers move along an upwardly inclined path (23) to carry the selected plant clear of the ground.

Abstract: A hovermower is comprises a motor for driving a cutter about a substantially vertical axis beneath a protective deck, a mechanism generating a cushion of pressurized air beneath the deck, and a handle for maneuvering the deck over the ground, the deck being pivotable relative to the handle about a first substantially horizontal axis, characterised in that the deck is further pivotable relative to the handle about a second horizontal axis transverse to the first axis.