Abstract: A ditch digging machine comprising a frame including a pair of vertical posts and a cross bar connecting the upper ends of said vertical posts, wheels supporting the lower ends of the vertical posts, a housing including a convex hood having forward and rear end plates extending downwardly from opposite ends thereof, the forward and rear end plates each having a sleeve attached thereto to engage the vertical posts, a vertical side shield extending between the opposite end plates, a motor support platform extending outwardly from the vertical side shield, an adjustable vertical lift means for raising and lowering the housing relative to the frame, a motor mounted on the motor support platform having a shaft extending through the vertical side shield, and a cutting blade assembly rotatably mounted on the shaft substantially parallel to the vertical side shield within the convex hood and the end walls; the cutting blade assembly configured to be lowered with the housing for ground engagement to cut a slit trench

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil stabilizer machine with a recycler screen. The soil stabilizer machine includes a horizontal rotor having a plurality of teeth along a periphery thereof. In operation, the machine moves along the ground and the rotor rotates to dig soil material. The soil dug by the rotor is comminuted by the rotor within a housing surrounding the rotor. Inside the housing and behind the rotor a screen is positioned to selectively permit particles of soil of less than a predetermined size to be dispensed on the ground behind the rotor and to selectively return particles of soil or rock greater than the predetermined size to the rotor to be further comminuted by the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, the screen is pivotably mounted within the housing between first and second positions.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement having an elongated frame portion which extends substantially horizontally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the implement mounts a side plate at each lateral end. The frame portion carries a row of rotary tined soil working members and the side plates can move upwardly and downwardly to cooperate with the adjacent soil working members and a rear supporting roller. In order to prevent the formation of the stream of soil produced by this cooperation into a ridge, the side plate comprises a rim having a lower substantially horizontal ground-engaging portion and also comprises a rear surface that is bent over inwardly towards the center of the implement to deflect the stream of soil towards the neighboring end of the following ground roller when the implement is in operation.

Abstract: A soil working implement has a row of soil working tools that displace soil rearwardly and laterally. A side-plate is pivoted to each side of the implement frame and positioned adjacent the outer ends of the row to arrest the lateral movement of the soil. An elongated supporting roller is located to the rear of the row to support the implement and further work the soil. Each side-plate has a lower rim that rides along the ground and a guide element is attached to the rear of the side-plate to extend inwardly towards an outer roller end. The element is preferably a blade that is inclined to displace soil arrested by the side-plate and prevent ridging. The blade can be integral or attached to the rim.

Abstract: A portable power operated cultivator includes a power unit comprising an internal combustion engine having a handle portion and being connected to one end of an elongated boom. A right angle gear drive mechanism is mounted on the opposite end of the boom and is driveably interconnected with the power unit by an elongated drive shaft disposed within the boom. An output shaft extends from opposite sides of the gear drive unit and is adapted to mount respective rotary cultivator blades on the ends thereof. A second handle is adjustably mounted on the boom to provide for a balanced weight distribution of the cultivator unit. The spaced apart cultivator blades are identical and include a plurality of radially projecting ground engaging tines. Adjacent tines on each blade have tip portions which are bent in the opposite direction with respect to each other along a bend line which provides for a positive angle of incidence or entry of the tine into the earth being worked by the cultivator.

Abstract: A walk-behind garden tiller having power driven ground wheels and a single row of tines which are driven at relatively high speed in a direction counter to that of the drive wheels, whereby the tines cut upwardly through the untilled soil at the working face with less power and in the event of contacting an obstruction tend to move the machine in a rearward direction be reason of reactive forces acting upon the machine through the tines. A drag shield is pivotably mounted rearwardly of the machine for dragging along and smoothing the soil after it is tilled and for providing a protective barrier between the operator and a rear exposure to the power driven tines.

Abstract: The low-profile, lightweight tiller of compact, uncluttered design is adapted to be rigidly mounted upon the rear, powered lifting links of a garden tractor so as to be raised and lowered by the latter between transport and ground-working positions. Driving power for the transverse rotor of the tiller is obtained by a direct drive connection with the power takeoff shaft of the tractor. A right angle gearbox located inside the open bottom housing for the rotor is supported by the rotor shaft itself and has an upwardly and forwardly directed input shaft that connects directly with a telescoping, universal joint drive line connection with the power takeoff shaft.

Abstract: A walk-behind garden tiller having power driven ground wheels and a single row of tines which are driven at relatively high speed in a direction counter to that of the drive wheels such that during tilling the tines cut upwardly through the untilled soil at the working face with each pass of the tines penetrating and severing a relatively thin uniform layer of soil, resulting in improved power efficiency and easier control of the tiller when operating in adverse soil conditions. A tine shield overlies the tines for confining flying and turbulent soil during tilling to the immediate area about the tines. The tine shield has a forward extension which defines an extended cavity in front of the tines within which a quantity of partially tilled soil directed upwardly and forwardly by the counter-rotating tines can accumulate for re-working and more thorough pulverization by the tines as the machine proceeds along its forward movement.

Abstract: A vehicle drawn snow tiller for loosening, cutting, grinding, packing and leveling a wide path of snow for improved, more enjoyable skiing. The tiller comprises an elongate rotary snow cutter assembly with radially projecting snow cutting blades distributed over the length and about the circumference of a cutter tube directly powered by reversible hydraulic motors, one mounted upon each of its ends. The snow is cut, selectably, in or away from the direction of travel of the tiller over the snow. An elongate apron disposed over the cutter assembly collects and directs the loose cut snow onto the surface behind the cutter assembly, where it is compacted by the apron and finally leveled and smoothed by a horizontal grooming bar on the trailing edge of the apron. According to one aspect of the invention, an elongate snow splitting baffle may be disposed above the cutter to deflect a portion of the cut snow forward to fall again into the path of the reversely rotating cutter for additional cutting and grinding.

Abstract: In an attachment combination for agricultural tractors used for loosening soil in a field covered with living or dead plants or crop residue, a covering hood forms an ejection channel with a motor driven flail mower positioned under the hood. A support tube is located behind the mower and it carries at least one row of loosening elements. Motor driven rotatable tools are located rearwardly of the loosening elements. The flail mower hood can discharge in a first position where the material is directed downwardly and rearwardly in front of the support tube or in a second position where the material is directed behind the loosening elements and the rotatable tools. The mower is mounted on a rearwardly open U-shaped support frame consisting of a cross beam and two laterally spaced longitudinal beams extending perpendicularly of the cross beam. A coupling piece is located on the free end of each longitudinal beam with a counterpiece clamped on the support tube.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has an elongated frame portion that mounts a row of rotors that rotate about upwardly extending axes. At the lateral sides of the frame portion, screening plates are positioned to arrest the lateral displacement of soil being worked. Each screen is substantially vertical with its front part being linked to an overlying frame structure and rear roller that supports the frame portion. Parallelogram links arranged one above the other interconnect each plate with a support part of the structure. The links extend forwardly from the plate from pivot connections to further pivot connections. The connections define horizontal transverse axes that allow the plate to move up and down as it rides along the ground. The front connections are resilient members that allow some lateral deflection of the plate. The plate has an upper, rear bent over portion that allows entry of a supporting roller arm to a pivot connection to the supporting frame structure.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has tined, rotatable soil working implements mounted along the length of an elongated transverse frame portion that has carriers pivoted to the front of the frame by at least one pivot that defines a single axis. The rear ends of the carriers comprise stops with resilient connections that limit and bias the frame portion's position. The frame portion, together with soil working members are displaceable up and down relative to the remainder of the frame, responsive to ground conditions. Shield plates are mounted along the lengths of arms that pivotably interconnect a rear supporting roller to the front of the frame. Each working member includes a support made up of interconnected strips that are bent to form arms. The outer ends of the arms have plates and form holders that engage tine fastening portions. The strips are clamped between multi-sided plates and deflect when the tines encounter obstacles.

Abstract: A tractor drawn tillage implement having a front hood, rippers, a rotary tiller and a row former, conditions tight adobe soil ready for planting in one pass. The front hood, having rock deflectors, protects the operator from airborne objects while containing dust and soil disturbed by the rippers and the tiller. The rippers fracture the soil to aid water and root penetration, to increase water retention of the subsoil and to constrain development of hard pan. The rotatary tiller, driven by an auxiliary power unit and having its axis of rotation at or submerged below the ground surface, mulches the soil and plant residue and aerates the soil commensurate with rearward airborne discharge of the soil. A row former deflects the airborne soil into rows of predetermined height and width ready for planting and provides an air tight shroud to control dust and airborne objects. A tool bar is also incorporated for supporting add ons, such as fertilizers and planters.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is arranged to be connected to a tractor so that it can be pulled over a field covered with organic material, such as live or dead plants or harvesting residues. The implement includes a main support frame followed by an auxiliary support frame. A flail-blade cylinder is dependently supported from the main frame for comminuting the organic material. Arms are mounted on the main frame rearwardly of the cylinder for loosening the soil. On the auxiliary support frame, a device is mounted for breaking up clods of loosened soil. A hood is positioned over the cylinder with a selectively adjustable rear part for directing the flow of the comminuted organic material thrown rearwardly by the cylinder. Other material directing or conveying members can be used in combination with the hood for facilitating the movement of the comminuted material rearwardly from the cylinder.

Abstract: An agricultural machine has at least one movable tool, such as a cultivating rotor, mower or raking member, spreader disc, or other driven member such as a tractor wheel or freely rotatable roller, which parts are interrupted in movement by a protective mechanism. The mechanism can be a pawl device associated with an overload coupling in the drive train that is actuated by a mechanical or electrical monitor to overload the device. The monitor can be a pivoted cover that partly overlies a rear roller or space adjacent same with projections that intercept the roller or a trip bar with contacts that opens or closes a circuit in a system that interrupts the drive to the moving parts responsive to contact with an external object. In another variation, the circuit can have sensors such as infrared or photoelectric cells to detect the presence or lack of presence of a human operator and these sensors can be placed in a tractor cab.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has groups of soil working tines that are mounted on an elongated support that is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis. The tines are mounted in spaced apart groups and guide members converge at the rear of the groups to form ridges of worked soil. Each group includes tine units that are formed by opposing bracket portions clamped to the support. Strikers can be mounted on the support between groups of tines and the strikers are pivotable about respective horizontal axes spaced from the support's axis of rotation. The strikers are positioned to excise crop leaves or emerged growth on the ridges. Hoods and a grating ensure that the top layer of worked soil is free of debris. Screening plates having obliquely upwardly and inwardly inclined inner edges are located at the lower, front, outer corners of the hood to prevent the rearwardly adjacent time groups from displacing soil too far laterally.

Abstract: A hammer plow is provided with a series of disks spaced along and rotatable with a sleeve that turns about an axle on a number of bearings located therebetween. Each of the disks has a plurality of hammers rotatably attached thereto, which are free to rotate in complete circles. The rotatable length of the hammers is shorter than the distance from the points of attachment to the disks to the sleeves or spacers therebetween. A hammer striking an obstruction in ground to be plowed will not break, but is free to counter-rotate relative to the disk to which it is attached. Numerous agricultural and construction grading operations can be performed in a single pass of the device over ground to be plowed.

Abstract: A soil working machine has spaced apart groups of soil working tines mounted along the length of an elongated carrier that is driven to rotate through the soil in the normal direction of travel and about a horizontal transverse axis. A hood partially surrounds the groups and is positioned adjacent the front segment of the paths of the tines as they move worked soil upwardly. Portions of the hood, preferably adjacent the groups, are flexible i.e. canvas, rubber or resilient steel strips, and vibrate to shed worked soil. Intervening hood portions are rigid. Side plates adjoin the side edges of the hood and the plates can have apertures covered by flexible portions located at those areas exposed to sticky soil and these flexible portions can be arcuate in configuration.

Abstract: A ground working implement comprises a frame, a rotary ground working unit supported by the frame and rotatable about a horizontal axis, a transmission for the working unit, a cover assembly covering the working unit and including a movable cover, and a holder detachably engageable with the frame and the cover to hold the cover while the cover is in contact with the ground at a position to the rear of and spaced from the peripheral portion of the working unit in contact with the ground. Thus the cover cooperates with the working unit to serve as a stand for holding the implement in its upright position. The cover is also holdable in a raised position by the holder to facilitate the maintenance of the working unit. The cover can also be shaped to have a front contact portion and a rear contact portion continuous therewith and positioned at a lower level than the front contact portion with an intermediate portion therebetween held out of contact with the ground by a space.

Abstract: A harrow has an elongated frame beam supporting a row of rotatable soil-working members mounted side-by-side on upwardly extending shafts. The frame beam and row of soil-working members extend transverse to the direction of travel of the harrow. At each lateral end of the row, a screening plate is positioned and pivoted to the frame beam. Each screening plate extends in a substantially vertical plane in the general direction of travel. Also, each plate has a lower support portion that rides over the ground and side edges that are inclined upwardly. The screening plates are supported on arms that can be pivoted to relocate the plates 180 degrees so they can rest in inverted positions on top of the frame beam during transport. A roller is pivoted to the frame and positioned to the rear of the soil working members and the screening plates are located between the roller and the members, when seen from the side.

Abstract: A harrow has an elongated frame beam supporting a row of rotatable soil-working members mounted side-by-side on upwardly extending shafts. The frame beam and row of soil-working members extend transverse to the direction of travel of the harrow. At each lateral end of the row, a screening plate is positioned and pivoted to the frame beam. Each screening plate extends in a substantially vertical plane in the general direction of travel. Also, each plate has a lower support portion that rides over the ground and side edges that are inclined upwardly. The screening plates are supported on arms that can be pivoted to relocate the plates 180 degrees so they can rest in inverted positions on top of the frame beam during transport.

Abstract: A cultivator-material dispensing combination includes a soil-working member that rotates about a horizontal axis forwardly, relative to the direction of travel, to displace soil over the top of that member to a screening at the rear thereof. A seed dispensing hopper has conduits that are supported on a hood that overlies the member and extends to the rear thereof. Material is metered from the hopper through outlets at the conduits' lower rear sides. Drive to the hopper is via a one-way transmission that is driven by a rear roller only when the combination moves forwardly. A further roller can be positioned to the rear of the first mentioned roller and a fertilizer hopper feed also driven to dispense material to the worked soil.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has tines mounted on an elongated horizontal support that is driven to move the tines forwardly through the soil towards the normal direction of travel. The tines are in groups along the length of the support and each group has a number of pairs of opposing units. Each unit includes bracket portions having two rims and a tine is fastened to each rim. Opposing portions are bolted together to form a whole bracket that mounts four tines around the support. Each tine is a strip-shaped member that is hook-like in configuration with an inner straight portion and an outer soil working portion having a pointed tip. The inner portion has a series of holes along its length which can be releasably fastened to a respective rim in any one of a plurality of positions that change the working length of the tine. A front hood partially surrounds the tines and support and a rod grating is positioned at the rear of the tines. A rear hood is connected to the machine and located behind the grating.

Abstract: A lawn perforating machine for forming rows of holes in the ground comprises a perforating roller which is adapted to roll on the ground and whose peripheral surface carries perforating tubes mounted for pivotal movement about axes extending parallel to the axis of the roller so that from the beginning to the end of their contact with the ground their axes remain substantially perpendicular to the ground. Part of the periphery of the roller is enclosed by a guide plate to intercept plugs of earth formed by the perforating tubes. In one embodiment a spring comb is disposed behind the roller to produce clean holes even in wet ground.

Abstract: A hand-held, power driven cultivator includes a housing and cultivator blades which rotate about axes oblique to the vertical axis of the cultivator, the blades extending generally in planes which converge beneath the housing. The cultivator is driven by an electrical motor and has a power train which includes a speed reduction gear arrangement. The cultivator blades may overlap slightly as they rotate and may be formed of hardened metal or plastic. The housing of the cultivator is provided with a skirt which extends outwardly and downwardly about the sides and rear of the housing. The skirt is provided with lower depending side shield portions and a rear rake or spreading portion. The rear rake or spreading portion is formed with notches or teeth to smooth and spread cultivated dirt.

Abstract: An agricultural implement has a driven rotor with cultivator blades and a hood that overlies the rotor. The hood extends down to the rear and the lower hood portion is a guide that has a row of teeth. The teeth are extensions that furrow the worked soil and each tooth corresponds to a material delivery duct that communicates material, such as seeds, from a hopper to the furrows. A ground engaging trough-like levelling member is adjustably connected to side plates of the hood and the openings of the ducts are positioned near the levelling member to prevent clogging of the openings. One or more rear rollers are arranged behind the levelling member with driving connections to a rotatable mechanism in the hopper.

Abstract: A rotary harrow has a frame for attachment to a prime mover, a portion of the frame having generally vertical shafts with soil-working members journalled therein and arranged side-by-side in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. Each soil-working member includes a generally horizontal support, the inner end of which is connected to its respective shaft and the outer end extends radially from the shaft with a tine holder for retaining a single upright tine. Adjacent soil-working members are driven in opposite directions and the working members can be arranged in groups which are positioned out of phase with respect to one another.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has one or more forward cultivating rotors that are driven to work the top soil. During this working, stones and debris are unearthed. At the rear of the cultivating members, one or more rows of soil working members are moved through the soil and these members are soil engaging members with edges that contact the stones and push the stones down into the subsoil. The soil engaging members can be discs with edges having projections and the discs can be driven to rotate in the same or opposite direction as the rotor. Alternatively, the soil engaging members can be bars that extend down into the soil. In either case, a sieve of rods or bars can be positioned behind the rotor to allow fine soil to pass while stones are guided downwardly in front of the fine soil. The lower ends of the soil engaging members can be interconnected with a horizontal shaft on which the discs are mounted. A protective hood overlies the rotor as well as the soil engaging discs or bars.

Abstract: A cultivator having rotatable soil-working tines on supports has a screening element pivotally connected to the front of the frame to extend downwardly near the supports. Springs bias the screening element to a position adjacent the tines to prevent damage by stones encountered during operation. Adjustment members permit the vertical adjustment of the screening element relative to the tines.

Abstract: A tractor drawn cultivator comprises a frame extending transversely to the direction of movement of the tractor. A plurality of spaced apart vertical axis rotary driven cultivator members comprising downwardly extending tines are supported from the frame. Surrounding each cultivating member and suspended from the frame is a screen having two spaced apart side walls and an interconnecting rear wall. The side walls have forwardly and outwardly diverging front parts with rearwardly and downwardly extending leading edges. At least a portion of the rear wall is vertically adjustable to control the rate of soil release from the screen. A tool bar to the rear of the main frame may support a plurality of ridging bodies, one behind each cultivator member.

Abstract: A device in the nature of a rotary tiller equipped for traveling through fields as well as uneven terrain, for effectively chopping up encountered clods, vegetation and debris, and mixing same with the soil. We utilize a framework in which either of two different types of bladed, couner-rotating rotors may be effectively mounted, with one type of rotor having a number of outwardly extending teeth that are adapted for penetrating the ground as the tiller device moves thereover. The outermost portion of each tooth is provided with a novel cutting blade, which may interact with a stationary shear bar, with this type of blade being well adapted for chopping up encountered vegetation and for mixing it thoroughly with the soil.

Abstract: A self-propelled soil stabilizer machine employs a heavy-duty single horizontal rotor for pulverizing and mixing soil it passes over. The rotor is driven by hydraulic motors which are mounted at the rotor ends and operated by a hydraulic pump (engine driven) which is hydraulically coupled to a hydraulic traction pump (also engine driven) which propels the machine. Each hydraulic motor is mounted for rapid removal and replacement thereof. Toward this goal, each end of the rotor is hollow, whereby the drive shaft of each hydraulic motor can be releasably accepted in one of the ends of the rotor in a spline connection therebetween. Overloads on the rotor system are automatically sensed by a closed-loop hydrostatic system and result in a direction in the speed of machine travel until the load on the rotor diminishes. A hydraulic rotary servo-valve and mechanical feed back system automatically controls the rotor to maintain it at a preset depth and provides a visual read-out of depth.

Abstract: A rotary harrow has soil-working members that are protected and, to some extent, supported from the ground by an elongated transverse beam that is pivoted to the front of the frame. The beam is spring biased to an operative location adjacent the soil-working member connections and vertically adjustable with respect to those members. The beam is rounded off at its lower surfaces to level the ground and ride along the ground. If debris becomes lodged between the beam and soil-working members, the beam can pivot forwardly against spring opposition to release the debris. The pivot axis for the beam is substantially directly above the beam itself.

Abstract: A rotary harrow has a ground engaging supporting member mounted in front of soil working members. The supporting member can be an elongated cylinder that is rotatable or a non rotatable generally cylindrical member that has its largest cross section dimension extending generally parallel to the normal direction of travel. The supporting member can be secured to a frame portion with arms that hold the member close to the soil working member connections with the frame portion. The supporting member can be pivoted or moved within limits responsive to ground irregularities and affords protection to tine connections and associated parts from stones and the like due to its close proximity to these elements.

Abstract: This invention is concerning a machine for rock removal and soil cultivation of newly broken or established farming areas. The machine picks up soil and rocks to a significant depth, and by a mixing and grinding process, breaks up sod, roots, and lumps of soil and by a classification process returns the size reduced material and small rocks to the ground, and retains the larger rocks.

Abstract: An attachment for fitting onto existing snow blowers commonly used by home owners which converts the snow blower to a lawn sweeper with a minimum of expense and time in change over, and thus provides means for utilizing the power source of the snow blower during summer months to get dual usage from the unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to earth processing equipment and, more particularly, to a scarifier or plow apparatus capable of deep soil penetration which has an attached earth fragmentation assembly. The apparatus comprises a frame mounting on its forward end, a scarifier assembly which is adjustable from the frame to provide varying soil penetration. An earth fragmentation assembly is permanently affixed to the frame immediately behind the scarifier and comprises a scoop bucket with internal, shaft-mounted rotatable arms or cudgelers for fragmentizing earth passing interiorly of the fragmentation assembly and with a fixed bottom support for the soil within the scoop bucket. This apparatus is particularly useful for the single pass processing of compacted agricultural beds.

Abstract: A cultivator has soil working blade members mounted on a horizontal shaft which is driven to rotate the members forwardly through the soil in the normal direction of travel. A baffle comprised of screen segments are mounted on the cultivator frame to partially surround the blade members. The screen segments are biased about respective pivots and a rod grating is connected to the baffle to extend downardly immediately to the rear of the blade members. The rear screen segment has V-shaped guides to ridge the soil. A hopper communicates with dosing outlets, each outlet being a nozzle device that extends between a pair of guides. Each nozzle device is pivotable to either one of two positions for planting tubers deep or shallow. A pair of rear wheels is connected to the rear of the frame and the wheels are drivenly connected to dosing conveyors leading to the outlets. An adjusting device is associated with each wheel to raise and lower the soil working blade members.

Abstract: A support device is mounted on the center frame of a garden tiller and extends beyond the opposite sides of the garden tiller. The support device is adjustable in the dimension corresponding to the width of the garden tiller. Adjustable mounting devices are adjustably affixed to the opposite ends of the support devices and are adjustable in position relative to the support devices. Each of a pair of shield plates is removably mounted in a corresponding one of the adjustable mounting devices. The shield plates are mounted substantially vertically in spaced parallel relation each at a corresponding side of the garden tiller and substantially perpendicular to the support device.

Abstract: An elongated downwardly opening housing is provided for lengthwise advancement over the ground and includes mounting structure for dependingly supporting the housing from a farm implement tool bar. The housing includes front and rear transverse journaled horizontal shafts each having a pair of axially spaced circumferentially spiked wheels mounted thereon for rotation therewith. Corresponding ends of the shafts project outwardly through opposite sides of the housing and have aligned sprocket wheels mounted thereon. The sprocket wheel carried by the forward shaft is at least slightly greater in diameter than the sprocket wheel carried by the rear shaft and an endless chain is trained over the sprocket wheels drivingly connecting the forward shaft or front shaft to the rear shaft.

Abstract: A tine mounting for a cultivator includes an elongated horizontal support with passages at each end thereof to receive a tine. The passages are enlarged and have securing surfaces at each side thereof to interfit with the fastening portions of tines and prevent same from being displaced.

Abstract: A cultivator has two elongated rotors rotatably mounted on horizontal axes and in driving engagement with driving means to work the soil at different depths. A forward rotor is secured to the frame and a ground engaging roller is mounted in front of the rotor. A rear rotor has a central multi-sided support on which spacer rings and soil working plates are slideably received. The rear rotor is vertically adjustable with respect to the forward rotor so that the soil can be worked at different layers in one pass.

Abstract: A cultivator has an elongated frame and a plurality of rotary soil working members mounted side-by-side in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The soil working members have depending tines that rotate about upwardly extending shafts which are connected to horizontal supports for the tines. A screening element extends along the front of the frame and is displaceable relative to the frame via a pivoted arm and spring arrangement that biases the element to a position closely adjacent to the connections between the tines and their supports. The elements are connected to arms that are jack-knifed and pivoted to turn about an axis located above the frame. A rotary soil compressing member may be attached to the rear of the frame.