GB2185872A - Agricultural implement and method of cropping - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of cropping by the bed system, for example for cropping sugarbeet, wherein spaced rows of crops are grown with predetermined spacings therebetween, the crops being grown in groups of a predetermined number of rows with a standard spacing between the rows and each adjacent pair of groups being separated by a further space, or tram-line, and wherein virtually all traverse of the ground by implements up to a predetermined stage avoids any contact with, or compaction of, the soil between adjacent rows of any group, and including subsequently carrying out a plant treatment or harvesting step, utilising a tractor and a drawn or pushed implement for that step, wherein the tractor wheels run in said tram-lines but the implement is at least partially supported, e.g. by wheels or skids, running on the ground between pairs of rows of the group, such that the wheels or skids traverse relatively unimpacted ground, whilst the implement is connected to the tractor by a horizontal and forwardly extending pivotal connection which permits the implement to remain relatively horizontal on the bed whilst tilting movements of the tractor occur, as necessary, due to unevenness of the tram- lines.The implement and tractor are connected by a first part 102 connectable to the tractor lower links and a second part 100 connectable to the implement, the two parts being coupled in use by a single fore-and-aft pivot pin 140. Part 100 may be connected to the upper link 82 of the tractor and a locking pin 150 locks the parts together during transport. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Agricultural implements and methods of cropping This invention relates to agricultural implements, adapting linkages arranged to be interposed between a traction vehicle such as a tractor and an implement towed or pushed by that vehicle, and to methods of cropping.

There are many occasions, particularly in agriculture, when an implement is either towed or pushed by a traction vehicle, such as a tractor, and for this purpose the implement is hitched to the traction vehicle and generally is supported partially by the traction vehicle, and partially by the ground in the region of the implement for example by wheels or skids. Connections on a tractor commonly include a so-called three point linkage which includes a pair of horizontally spaced lower linkages, and a single upper linkage positioned above and midway between the two lower linkages.

The ends of these three linkages remote from the tractor are connected in a releasable manner to any one of a variety of implements as required. It is often the case that at least the top linkage includes a hydraulically controlled ram by which the top linkage of the implement can be lifted in orderto raise the implement as a whole from the ground, for example at the ends of runs along a field, orfor conveyance along farm tracks or roads. In other instances, similar hydraulic lifting or controlling mechanisms are provided for the lower linkages, for example for adjustment of the height of part or all of the implement with respect to the ground.

In general, the three point linkage of a tractor has the three linkages mounted on the main chassis of the tractor, and this chassis usually supports rear wheels of the tractor on a rigid axle, usually with no suspension between it and the remainder of the tractor, as a resu It of which the chassis of the tractor, with the rear wheels and all parts rigidly connected to the chassis, such as the cab, engine, gear box etc., all follow any movements out of the horizontal which is applied to the chassis, for example by one of the rear wheels dropping below the other, for instance when one of the rear wheels drops into a rut in a field, so causing the rear axle to tilt from the horizontal.Consequent upon this, is a tilting movement of the three point linkage, and, since it is usual for implements being towed or pushed by the tractor to be rigidly connected to the three point linkage, the implement itself suffers from the tilting of the chassis.

In contrast, the front wheels of the tractor, whilst usually on a rigid axle, have the axle so mounted with respect to the chassis, or the remainder of the tractor, that the front axle can tilt about a horizontal fore and aft axis running down the centre line of tractor. Thus, in an instance, as outlined above, where a rear wheel on one side only of the tractor drops into a rut, the whole of the chassis, and any implement being towed or pushed by the tractor, will tend to tilt sideways, whilst the front wheels, if on relatively level ground, will remain horizontal, tilting of the remainder of the tractor and the implement occurring with respect to the horizontal front axle.

As a consequence of the above standard structure, it is not unusual for an implement being towed or pushed by a tractor to be subjected to continual tilting movements. Many agricultural implements include adjustment mechanism which attempt to cope with either variations in the crops being cultivated or cropped, orto cope with the tilting movements referred to. However there are occasions, as will be outlined in more detail later, where the tilting movements applied to the implement by the tilting of the tractor due to dropping, say, of one rear wheel, will cause the implement to be ineffective or inefficient.For example in sugarbeet topper units it is quite common for several rows of sugarbeet to be topped simultaneously by a single machine, which may carry a topping flail drum for removing the vegetation from the top of the sugarbeet, and a set of knives, one for each row of sugarbeet, and these knives are set at the requisite level to slice off the top of the sugarbeet whilst in the ground. Each knife is independently suspended from the remainder of the topper unit, and the level of the knife, at the moment of cutting, is set by a sensing mechanism, for example a set of tines, which are positioned immediately in front of the knife, and which ride on the flailed top of the sugarbeet about to be cut, in order to set the knife at the requisite level.This independent adjustment of each knife is principally incorporated in order to accomodate variations in height of sugarbeet in a row, or in adjacent rows, or in different parts of the field depending on growing conditions. It is highly desirable to remove the optimum amount of crown or top of the sugarbeet.

An inadequaleiy topped sugarbeet will leave stems of the vegetation which make it unsuitable, or not ideal, for sugar refining purposes.

In contrast, a heavily or overtopped sugarbeet represents a loss of valuable beet and reduced efficiency and profit for the farmer. Therefore the separate adjustment of each cutting knife to suit each sugarbeet overcomes or alleviates this problem, so long as the range of adjustment of each knife can cope with the range of variation of height of sugarbeet which the harvester meets. In the instances where the harvester as a whole tends to tilt sideways due to movement of the tractor in a tilting way as outlined above, it is not uncommon forthesugarbeetto be topped in an inefficient manner.For example, where four rows of sugarbeet are harvested simultaneously, the tilting of the topper unit, due to tilting of the tractor chassis, can cause the knives on one side to drop and cause overtopping in one or two of the rows on that side, whilst inadequate topping will occur on one or two of the rows on the other side.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods which are capable of alleviating or overcoming some or all of the above disadvantages, the main object being to stabilise the level of an implement being towed or pushed by a traction vehicle such as a tractor in order to achieve optimum treatment by that implement.

Whilstthe invention is of particular application to the cultivation and harvesting of sugarbeet, it is believed that it will have more general application in agricultural and other fields where implements are towed behind or pushed in front of a traction vehicle, and the invention is not restricted to either the agricultural field or implements which are concerned solely with the cultivation or harvesting of agricultural products.

Nevertheless the invention does have particular application to certain agricultural processes and, in particular, sugarbeet harvesting.

Certain agricultural processes, including sugarbeet growing, now utilise what is known as the 'bed' system. Basically, this system attempts to limit the extent of impaction of the soil over a number of rows of crop, and inded in many instances there is no traverse of the gorund by any implement in engagement with the ground over the so-called bed at any time aftertheground has been initally prepared until the time of harvesting. In some instances, with appropriate soils and weather conditions, it is even possible not to traverse a field at all after it has been ploughed before seeding or planting, leaving the soil to weather, for example breaking down due to frost, without any traverse of the ground.

In those circumstances, and also in circumstances where soil is tilled after ploughing, it is now quite common practice, with certain crops, to plant in a so-called 'bed' system. For this purpose, for example for sugarbeet, sugarbeet seed is sown in blocks of four rows, the soil containing the four rows forming a bed, and the three spacings between the four rows each being 48 cm, producing a bed of effectively 144 cm in width. During sowing, the tractor wheels will be set at, say, 200 cm wheel centres, so that four rows of seed can be sown within the wheel base of the tractor.Seeders can commonly sow 12 rows simultaneously, and the seeder, in these circumstances, will be set to sow three blocks of four rows with the spacings between the rows of each block at 48 cm, and the tractor wheels running in further spaces between adjacent rows of the first and second block and the second and third blocks which spacings are each 56 cm wide. The 56 cm spaces between the blocks effectively form what are termed 'tramlines' on wihch the tractor wheels form impacted rows in the ground which are readily seen by eye and which are repeatedly used during subsequent crop treatment.

Where seeders are employed to sow three blocks of four rows at once, it will be appreciated that 56 cm tramlines are formed between not only the blocks of the rows being sown, but also between the outer rows of the two outer blocks and the next blocks on each side, but, in those circumstances, the tramlines between the three sown blocks of one pass and the three sown blocks of the next pass, are not necessarily employed during sowing, but nevertheless the spacing is predetermined and, during subsequent treatments, for example spraying or hoeing, the tractor wheels, at the same centres, can utilise any adjacent pair of tram-lines, whether or not those two tram-lines have previously been used, or whether one or both of these two tram-lines were produced by the same pass of the tractor when initial sowing took place.The result of this system is that the bed of four rows does not have tractor wheels passing through it at all, and therefore remains undisturbed and relatively level, subject, of course, to slight subsidance or weathering. This has the great advantage that the four rows of any one bed are at the same level at any transverse point and also the rows generally tend to remain at the same level or follow the general contour of the ground without any impaction or general disturbance.

The irregular passage of tractor wheels through the tram-lines, and sometimes not through the same tram-lines, or adjacent tram-lines, tends to produce uneven rutting in the tram-lines, not only due to different ground conditions in the tram-lines but because more passes of tractor wheels in one tram-line than in another produce greater impaction and then, if a tractor passes through a pair of unevenly impacted or rutted tram-lines, the result is that the rear wheels tend to ride unevenly, and at any one time one rear wheel may drop into a rut in its tram-line and so cause the irregular tilting of the tractor chassis and hence the cultivator or topper unit as described above. With many crops, inlcuding sugarbeet, which utilise this bed system, the topper unit is pushed in front of the tractor, on its three point linkage.The rear of the topper unit is thus supported by the bottom links of the tractor and the front of the topper unit is generally supported by a pair of wheels (or sometimes skids) and these are allowed to run, one in the space between the first and second rows, and the other in the space between the third and fourth rows, of a particular block or bed. These wheels therefore may be the first to pass along the bed at any time during the entire cultivating and harvesting of the crop. This has the great advantage that these wheels traverse uncompacted ground and can enjoy the relatively level conditions which have previously been described.

According to one aspect of the present invention an adapting linkage is provided which is arranged to be interposed between a traction vehicle and an implement being towed or pushed by the vehicle, the adapting linkage including a first part arranged to be connected to the traction vehicle and a second part arranged to be connected to the implement, the first and second parts being interconnected by a single generally horizontal pivot, the axis of which is arranged to extend in a fore and aft direction. The fore and aft axis may be arranged to extend centrally of the traction vehicle and/or the implement.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an agricultural implement which is arranged to be connected to a tractor to be towed or pushed thereby includes a connection comprising a first part for connection to the two lower, horizontally spaced, linkages of the three point linkage of the tractor, and a second part rigidly connected to the implement, one of the parts having a centrally disposed connection for connection to the upper link of the three point linkage of the tractor, the first and second parts being interconnected by a horizontal pivotal axis which extends in a fore and aft direction generally centrally of the implement, thereby permitting relative tilting movement of the tractor and implement about the pivotal axis.

According to another aspect of the present invention an agricultural assembly comprises an agricultural tractor and an implement connected to be towed or pushed by the tractor, the tractor having a standard three point linkage, which normally connects to appropriately positioned triangularly disposed connections on the implement, and an adapting connection disposed between the tractor and the implement and comprising a first part connected to the lower, horizontally spaced, linkages of the three point linkage of the tractor, and a second part rigidly connected to the implement and having a centrally disposed connection for connection to the upper link of the three point linkage of the tractor, the first and second parts being interconnected by a horizontal pivotal axis which extends in a fore and aft direction generally centrally of the implement, thereby permitting relative tilting movement of the tractor and implement about the pivotal axis.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention a method of cropping by the bed system, for example for cropping sugarbeet comprises growing spaced rows of crops with predetermined spacings therebetween, the crops being grown in groups of a predetermined number of rows with a standard spacing between the rows and each adjacent pair of groups being separated by a further space, hereinafter referred to as a tram-line, and wherein virtually all traverse of the ground by implements up to a predetermined stage avoids any contact with, or compaction of, the soil between adjacent rows of any group, and including the subsequent step of carrying out a plant treatment step, or harvesting step, utilising a tractor and a drawn or pushed implement for that step, wherein the tractor wheels run in said tram-lines but the implement is at least partially supported, e.g. by wheels or skids, running on the ground between pairs of rows of the group, such that the wheels or skids traverse relatively unimpacted ground, whilst the implement is connected to the tractor by a horizontal and forwardly extending pivotal connection which permits the implement to remain relatively horizontal on the bed whilst tilting movements of the tractor occur, as necessary, due to unevenness of the tram-lines.

The invention may be carried into practice in a number of ways but one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic plan view of a bed system for the cultivation of sugarbeet, and showing a tractor and beet topper unit diagrammatically positioned thereon; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, part sectional, elevation of a sugarbeet topper unit coupled to a tractor, for propulsion thereby, by apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the parts of a linkage in accordance with the present invention which is employed between the tractor and the sugarbeet topper unit; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic scrap view showing the level at which a sugarbeet is topped by the topper unit;; Figure 5 is a scrap perspective view of part of the sugarbeet topper unit showing one of the topping blades and its sensing mechanism, and Figure 6 is a front elevation of the linkage of Figure 3.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, this illustrates the 'bed' system for sugarbeet which has been outlined above. Thus it shows in a diagrammatic manner five blocks A, B, C, D, E, each of four rows of growing sugarbeet, or rows of seeded sugarbeet. For convenience the four rows of each block may have been numbered A1-A4, and Bl-B4, etc. The three spaces, for example between the rows A1-A4, which for convenience are identified as a1, a2, a3, are each usually 48 cm wide so that the so-called bed formed by the four rows Al, A2, A3, A4 represents a bed generally of 144 cm in width.

Between adjacent blocks there is a larger spacing.

Thus, for example, between block A and block B the space A/B is generally 56 cm wide and similar comments apply to the spacings B/C, C/D, D/E. The spacings between the blocks form what will hereinafter be referred to as the tram-lines and, as shown in Figure 1, a 1,a diagrammatic tractor and pushed topper unit for the sugarbeet is shown with the rear wheels 10 and the front wheels 12 of the tractor running mid-way along the tram-lines A/B and B/C. For this purpose therefore the wheels 10 and the wheels 12 are set at 200 cm centres. The topper unit 14, which is diagrammatically shown, has a pair of front wheels 16, which in this instance are shown running in the spaces bl and b3, between the rows B1 and B2 on the one hand, and B3 and B4 on the other hand.As previously discussed, the wheels 16 will normally be the first wheels ever to have passed down the spaces between the rows of a block.

During seeding, where the same tractor may be employed with a seeder capable of sowing three blocks at once, it will be appreciated that blocks B, C, D could all be sown simultaneously, at which time the wheels 10 and 12 of the tractor will for the first time be delineating the tram-lines B/C and C/D. On the next pass of the tractor during sowing, for example where the left hand of the three blocks being sown at that time is block E, it will be appreciated that the wheels of the tractor will not run at all in the delineated tram-lines C/D and D/E and therefore, after seeding, one pair of tram-lines which have been formed and delineated by the wheels of a tractor will be separated from the next tram-lines, on which wheels have passed, bytwo tram-lines on which no wheels have passed.

Immediately, therefore, there tends to be an unevenness in compaction as between one tram line and the next. Equally, on further passes of the field during subsequent cultivation processes, such as hoeing or spraying, the tractor may pass down a different pair of tram-lines, causing a general unevenness between different tram-lines with the consequent difficulties outlined above.

Referring again to Figure 1, as has been discussed in the introduction to this specification, the rear wheels 10 are mounted on a rigid axle 20 which is also rigid with the main parts of the tractor, including the cabin 22 and the engine and gearbox 24. The front axle 26, on the other hand, for the front wheels 12 is so mounted with respect to the remainder of the tractor that it can tilt about a fore and aft axis indicated diagrammatically at 28.

Referring now to Figures 2,4 and 5, these show various aspects of the topper unit for sugarbeet which is diagrammatically shown in Figure 1. The topper unit, which is of well known form, incorporates a horinzontal-axis flail drum 32 having sets of flails 34 extended outwardly therefrom. The flaim drum is mounted with respect to a frame, not shown, of the beet topper, the frame being supported at its front end by the two wheels 16, which are capable of adjustment with respect to the frame by adjustment mechanism 36 in order to determine the height at which flailing takes place.

The flail drum 32 is located within a hood 40 and the motion of the flails directs the foilage removed from the sugarbeet to a screw conveyor 42, by which the vegetation is conveyed laterally, either to form a wind-row, or to be discharghed into a hopper or other container. In Figure 2, one of the four rows of the bed of sugarbeet being simultaneously topped is diagrammatically shown and it is to be noted that the sugarbeet, as naturally tends to occur, grow to different extends, and therefore the level at which the vegetation sprouts from the sugarbeet at its crown, tends to vary with respect to the general ground level 46.Nevertheless, the first topping operation by the flail drum 32, which removes the vegetation, does this at a set level determined by the height of the topper unit as a whole, as a consequence of which it will be seen that the four sugarbeet generally indicated at 50, 51, 52 and 53, which have already been topped by the flail drum, tend to have varying amounts of vegetable 'stubble' 54 remaining thereon. It is however important that the amount of crown of the sugarbeet which is now removed in order to cut off the 'stubble' 54 is determined accurately for each individual sugarbeet in order to remove the optimum amount of the beet itself.

Forthis purpose, each sugarbeet is topped individually by a blade 60 mounted on an arm 62 which is pivoted at 64 to a frame 66 at the rear of the topper unit, and the level at which the blade 60 acts is determined by a feeler mechanism 68, which, as shown diagrammatically in more detail in Figure 5, in this instance comprises a set of five laterally disposed teeth or tines which are also connected to the arm 62. The arm 62 is capable of adopting an equilibrium lower position, under the action of a spring 70. In practice the teeth or tines 68 can ride through the 'stubble' 54 of the sugarbeetjust above the crown of the beet itself, so that the level of the blade 60 is determined, at the instant of cutting, for the individual sugarbeet.Thus the four blades and sets of sensing tines or teeth 68 positioned across the rear of the beet topper are each individually operable to rise or fall with respect to the remainder of the topper unit, so as to cope with the individual beet in the four rows of the bed being harvested.

The construction of the beet topper so far described is conventional, although it can vary as to detail. The topper unit shown in Figure 2 incorporates a top link 80, positioned centrally at the rear of the top of the hood 40 and, prior to adaption with the incorporation of the present invention, the top telescopic link 82 of the tractor would normally be connected at the rear end 84 of the link 80 which is appropriately forked for this purpose and provided with a connecting pin 86. Likewise, the topper unit incorporates a pair of rearwardly extending, laterally spaced, lower links 90 which extend from the frame 66 and which, prior to the adaption in accordance with the present invention would be connected, by connecting pins 92, to the spaced lower links 94 of the three point linkage of the tractor.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 6, in conjunction with Figure 2, these show the adaptation which is incorporated in accordance with the present invention.

The adaption generally includes two main parts comprising a triangular forward frame 100 for connection rigidly to the beet topper, and a rear part 102 which comprises a generally horizontal bar of connection to the lower links 94 of the three point linkage of the tractor. Thus, referring to these parts in more detail, the triangular frame 100 includes a lower horizontal bar 104, a pair of sloping bars 106 and a vertical reinforcing bar 108. Extending forwardly from the outer ends of the horizontal bar 104 are a pair of connecting lugs 110 and, as shown in Figure 2, these are connected, via the pins 92 to the lower links 90 of the beet topper unit. Rigidly connected to the upper ends of the sloping bars 106, and the reinforcing bar 108, are a pair of spaced connecting elements 120 having forward apertures 122 for connection, via the pins 84 to the top link 80 of the topper unit.The elements 120 also have rear apertures 126 forming a fork between which the front end of the telescopic upper link 82 of the tractor can be connected via a further pin 130. In this way, as far as the upper link 82 of the three point linkage of the tractor is concerned, this is shifted rearwardly with respect to the topper unit from the pin 84 to the pin 130, and slight adjustment of the length of the telescopic link 82 may be necessary for this purpose.

The second or rear part 102 of the adaptation according to the present invention also comprises a generally rectangular section horizontal bar which, at each of its rear ends has a pair of spaced plates 132 to form a pair of forks for receiving the front ends of the lower links 94 of the tractor to which the forks formed by the plates 132 are connected by pins 136 shown in Figure 2. In this way, the front ends of the lower links 94 of the three point linkage of the tractor are shifted rearwardly from the pin 92 to the pin 136. Since the distance between the pins 92 and 136 is slightly greater than the distance between the pins 84 and 130, the adjustment of the telescopic top linkage 82 referred to above, is required.

The two parts 100,102 of the adaptation in accordance with the present invention are interconnected by a horizontally and forwardly extending pivot pin 140 which is disposed on the centre line of the system. The pin 140 is rigidly connected at 142 to the centre of the bar 104, and the free end of the pin 140 passes through a horizontal bore 144 in the middie of the bar 104 immediately below the vertical supporting bar 108.

The free end of the pin then receives a locking collar or nut 146. If appropriate, bearings can be provided between the pin and the bore 144 and a thrust bearing may be provided between the parts. The effect of this mechanism is that the triangular frame 100, which is rigidly connected to the rear end of the beet topper unit, is linked for propulsion by the tractor via the pin 140 and the horizontal bar 102, the latter being connected to the lower links of the three point linkage of the tractor. Instead of the rear of the beet topper being rigidly connected to the tractor chassis, it is now connected, via the bore 144 and pin 140, and any intermediate bearings, by what is effectively a horzointal fore and aft pivotal axis, which alilows relative tilting between the tractor and the topper unit.Thus, during the topping operation, as outlined above, where the tractor may tend to tilt due to its wheels running in differently rutted tramlies, but the wheels 16 at the forward end of the beet topper, running on fresh ground, maintain the front end of the topper on an even keel. By virtue of the connection formed by the pivot pin 140, the bar 102 of the adapting linkage can tilt, as the tractor tiits, without transmitting the same tilting movement through to the beet topper, as a result of which the beet topper can remain generally horizontal and so avoid the uneven cutting or topping of the crowns of the beet in different rows which has previously arisen due to tilting of the beet topper in sympathy with tilting of the tractor.

As shown in Figure 3, the bar 102, at one end, carries a retractable locking pin 150, which can be engaged with a socket 152 on the frame 100 in order to lock the parts together for transport.

Various modifications may be made to the mechanism described. For example in some instances it may be desirable to restrict the movement by the use of springs, or hydraulic or air cylinders, or a combination thereof.

A further variation would be to connect the two parts by means of a cross journal type joint, thus providing full movement in both planes, without reliance on the vehicle attachment, to provide the hinge point for vertical movement.

Claims (10)

1. An adapting linkage arranged to be interposed between a traction vehicle and an implement being towed or pushed by the vehicie, the adapting linkage including a first part arranged to be connected to the traction vehicle and a second part arranged to be connected to the implement, the first and second parts being interconnected by a single generally horizontal pivot, the axis of which is arranged to extend in a fore and aft direction.

2. An adapting linkage as claimed in claim 1 in which the fore and aft axis is arranged to extend centrally of the traction vehicle and/or the implement.

3. An adapting linkage as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first part has a pair of connecting elements located to receive the lower linkages of a three point linkage of a tractor, and either the first or the second part, has a centrally disposed connecting element positioned at a higher level than the first two connecting elements, and adapted to be connected to the top linkage of a three point linkage of the tractor.

4. An adapting linkage as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including locking means for connecting the first and second parts one to the other for transport purposes.

5. An agricultural implement which is arranged to be connected to a tractor to be towed or pushed thereby, the implement including a connection comprising a first part for connection to the two lower, horizontally spaced, linkages of the three point linkage of the tractor, and a second part rigidly connected to the implement, one of the parts having a centrally disposed connection for connection to the upper link of the three point linkage of the tractor, the first and second parts being interconnected by a horizontal pivotal axis which extends in a fore and aft direction generally centrally of the implement, thereby permitting relative tilting movement of the tractor and implement about the pivotal axis.

6. An agricultural assembly comprising an agricultural tractor and an implement connected to be towed or pushed by the tractor, the tractor having a standard three point linkage, which normally connects to appropriately positioned triangularly disposed connections on the implement and an adapting connection disposed between the tractor and the implement and comprising a first part connected to the lower, horizontally spaced, linkages of the three point linkage of the tractor, and a second part rigidly connected to the implement and having a centrally disposed connection for connection to the upper link of the three point linkage of the tractor, the first and second parts being interconnected by a horizontal pivotal axis which extends in a fore and aft direction generally centrally of the implement, thereby permitting relative tilting movement of the tractor and implementaboutthe pivotal axis.

7. A method of cropping by the bed system, for example for cropping sugarbeet, wherein spaced rows of crops are grown with predetermined spacings therebetween, the crops being grown in groups of a predetermined number or rows with a standard spacing between the rows and each adjacent pair of groups being separated by a further space, hereinafter referred to as a tram-line, and wherein virtually all traverse of the ground by implements up to a predetermined stage avoids any contact with, or compaction of, the soil between adjacent rows of any group, and including the subsequent step of carrying out a plant treatment step, or harvesting step, utilising a tractor and a drawn or pushed implement for that step, wherein the tractor wheels run in said tram-lines but the implement is at least partially supported, e.g. by wheels or skids, running on the ground between pairs of rows of the group, such that the wheels or skids traverse relatively unimpacted ground, whilst the implement is connected to the tractor by a horizontal and forwardly extending pivotal connection which permits the implement to remain relatively horizontal on the bed whilst tilting movements of the tractor occur, as necessary, due to unevenness of the tram-lines.

8. An adapting linkage substantially as specifically described herein with reference to Figures 3 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An agricultural assembly substantially as specifically described here with reference to Figures 2,3 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of cropping by the bed system substantially as specifically described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.