Stephen : A spading machine is a PTO -driven implement designed to approximate the effect of proven smaller-scale hand double-digging ....for the purpose of deeper aeration, and effective integration of organic matter. These are built as walk-behind driven machines or to attach behind the tractor. It is like a horizontal, above-ground external crankshaft , 3 -12 ft. wide, with spades on the connecting rods (where pistons would be on an internal combustion engine) plunging rotationally, sequentially, downwards into the soil. It is claimed that their action subtly aerates/fractures the subsoil twice the depth of the stroke of the spades. This action does not homogenise the soil strata/microlife as a churning roto tiller would do. Nor does it create the hardpan condition which a ro-tiller tends to do with its uniform chafing,smearing, glazing action. Their use usually results in fewer passes over the field for questionably comparable results with conventional equipment. In some models, there is a beater bar driven at the rear which gives a finer seedbed than most chunkier results without it. But, the speed/rpm is variable for a suitable seedbed if the tractor is so equipped. An alternative is to run a tiller over afterwards, set very shallow, to make the appropriate seed bed. Most are made in Europe..... Falc, Imants, others. ........manfred
----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephen Barrow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2002 10:25 AM Subject: RE: Planting Spuds - How do you do it? By the way, what is a "spading > machine"? > > Stephen Barrow >
