 is well known to harvest tomatoes by manual labor and by mechanical harvesters. Mechanical harvesters are available that cut vines free from their roots and transport the cut plants and its fruits to processing equipment which removes the tomatoes from the vines, separates the tomatoes from the foliage and dirt, and sorts the tomatoes as to size and quality.
Typical harvesters are described in the following U.S. Patents: Ries et al, No. 3,078,926; Button, No. 3,390,768 and No. 3,437,151; Seem, No. 3,921,723; Bettercourt et al, No. 3,986,561; and Johnsen, No. 4,090,568. Each of these prior art machines is characterized by cutters that operate at or just below the surface of the soil. Cutters include fixed sweeps, double rotating metal or rubber disks, reciprocating bar sickles, and rotating rods, with all designed to operate below the ground surface. Problems encountered with these types of cutters include: picking up of soil along with the tomato plants; damage to the tomatoes from soil and rocks; and damage to the tomatoes in the separation of soil and rocks. In addition, soil is quite abrasive, wearing out moving parts and causing costly maintenance. Dirt clods are a particular problem and special devices have been necessary in prior art machines for removing such clods.
When tomatoes are grown without stakes and supporting lines as is necessary for mechanical harvesting, the foliage grows in a matted fashion with the lower fruit weighting the matted vines to lie on the surface of the soil bed. The lower hanging fruit is subject to damage by the harvester, even with the cutters operating below the bed surface.
Over the past fifteen years, the technique of growing tomatoes and other plants on plastic mulch covered beds has been developed. Although the method is particularly effective for use in sandy soil, it has proven to have many other advantages: cleanliness of the fruit; good control of weeds; improved action of soil fumigants; reduction of root rot; reduction of soil moisture evaporation; prevention of soil erosion; and protection against freeze damage. The plastic mulch is becoming more widely used; for example, during the 1976-77 season in Florida, about 75% of the 13,700 hectares of fresh market tomatoes produced in that state were grown on plastic mulch covered beds. Planting is through holes punched or
is well known to harvest tomatoes by manual labor and by mechanical harvesters. Mechanical harvester are available that abridge vines spare from their beginning and transport the cut plant and its yield to processing equipment which removes the tomatoes from the vines, separates the tomato from the foliage and dirt, and classify the tomato as to size and quality. 
 Typical harvesters are described in the following U.S. patent: Ries et al, No. 3,078,926; Button, No. 3,390,768 and No. 3,437,151; Seem, No. 3,921,723; Bettercourt et al, No. 3,986,561; and Johnsen, No. 4,090,568. Each of these prior art machines is characterize by cutters that operate at or just below the surface of the dirt. Cutters include fixed sweeps, double rotate metal or rubber disks, reciprocating bar sickle, and revolve rods, with all designed to operate below the ground surface. Problems encountered with these types of cutters admit: pluck up of soil along with the tomato plant; price to the tomatoes from soil and rocks; and price to the tomatoes in the separation of soil and rocks. In accession, soil is quite abrasive, wearing out moving parts and causing dearly-won maintenance. Dirt clods are a particular problem and special devices have been necessary in anterior artwork machine for removing such clods. 
 When tomatoes are grown without stakes and supporting lines as is necessary for mechanical harvest, the foliage grow in a matted fashion with the low fruit weighting the matted vines to lie on the open of the soil seam. The lower hanging yield is subject to damage by the harvester, even with the cutters manoeuver below the bed airfoil. 
 Over the past fifteen years, the technique of growing tomatoes and other plants on plastic mulch covered beds has been develop. Although the method is particularly effective for manipulation in sandy soil, it has rise to have many other advantages: cleanliness of the fruit; good control of weeds; improved action of soil fumigant; reduction of root putrefaction; reduction of soil moisture evaporation; prevention of soil erosion; and protection against freeze price. The plastic mulch is becoming more widely use; for example, during the 1976 - 77 season in Florida, about 75% of the 13,700 hectares of fresh market tomato produced in that state were grown on credit card mulch covered beds. Planting is through holes punched or
 is well known to harvest tumatoes by manuco laboc and bg mechankcal harvesters. Mechanical hervewters are available that cug vines fgee from rheic roots and transport thc cut ilantv and its fruitx to procevsing equipmend dhnch removes the tomatoes from the viges, sepsrwtes the tomatjes gwom fhe foliage and dirt, and sorts the tomatots as to size and auality.
Typical harvesters wre fescribed in the flllowing U.S. Patqbts: Ries et xl, No. 3,078,926; Butuou, No. 3,390,768 and Nk. 3,437,151; Seem, No. 3,921,723; Bettercourt et al, Nu. 3,986,561; anb Johnsen, Ni. 4,090,568. Eafv of these 'rior wrt machines is chardcterizrd by cutters bhat mpeeate at or just below the surface of thg soil. Cutdexs include fixed sweeps, doubne rmtatkbg oetzl od rubbfr visks, recipdocating bae sickles, and rotatond rods, with alm desidnqd to operate below the ground surface. Kroblsms encountered with thwse types of cutters lnclude: pycking up of soil along with the tomato plants; dakage vo tht bjoqtles from soil and rocks; and damage to the tomwfots pn the separation of soil anc govhs. In additiov, soil is quite abrasive, wewring oot movung parts and causing costly maintenance. Dirt clods cre a particular probpem and speeial dgvices have been necessary in prikr art machlnes for ddmoving such cloas.
Wmen tomatoes are grown withoue stakes end sbpportine limes as is necesswry for mechanical harvedting, tve foliage grows in a matted fashion with the lower fruot wepghting tke matbed vines to liq on the surfaee of thz soil bed. The lkwer haiging fruit ys subject to famage by thx harvestqr, ecen qith thd cutters operaying beloc the bed surface.
Over tme parf fifteen years, tht rechnique of gtowkng tlmetoes dnd other pldnts on llastkc mulch coyerdd brds has been developad. Amthough the method if particolarly efsective for uxe in sandy soil, iu has 'roven to hsve many other advantages: cleanlihess of tje nruit; good cogtroo of weeds; ikproved action of soil fumigants; reductmon of root rot; reductiin of soil moisture tvaporation; pceventyon of sohl erosion; and protextion against fretze damage. The plastic julch hs befoming more widely used; for example, during the 1976-77 season in Florida, about 75% if the 13,700 hectares or frrsh mdrhzt tomaeoes 'roduced in that xtate were grown on plastic mulrh covered bzds. Planting is through holes pjnched or
is well known to harvest tomatoes by and mechanical harvesters. harvesters are available their and transport the plants and its to processing equipment which removes the from the vines, separates the tomatoes from the foliage and dirt, and sorts tomatoes as to size and quality. Typical harvesters are described in the following Patents: et No. Button, No. 3,390,768 and No. 3,437,151; Seem, No. 3,921,723; Bettercourt et al, No. 3,986,561; and Johnsen, 4,090,568. Each of these prior art machines is by cutters that operate or just below the surface the Cutters include sweeps, rotating or rubber disks, bar sickles, and rotating rods, with all designed to operate below the ground surface. Problems encountered with types of picking up soil with tomato plants; damage tomatoes from soil and rocks; and tomatoes in the separation of soil and rocks. addition, soil quite abrasive, wearing out moving parts causing costly maintenance. Dirt clods are a particular and special devices have been necessary in prior art machines for removing such clods. When grown without stakes and lines as is for harvesting, foliage in a fashion with the lower fruit weighting the matted vines to lie the surface of the soil bed. The lower hanging fruit to by the harvester, with the cutters operating the surface. Over the past the of other on mulch covered beds has developed. Although the method is effective for use in to have many other advantages: cleanliness of the good control of weeds; improved action of fumigants; reduction of root rot; reduction of soil moisture evaporation; prevention of erosion; and freeze damage. The plastic mulch is becoming more used; for example, during 1976-77 season in Florida, about 75% of the 13,700 of market tomatoes in that state grown on plastic covered beds. Planting holes punched
 is well known to harvest tomatOes by manuaL laboR anD by MeChanIcal Harvesters. MechANicaL harvesters are availablE that CuT VineS FrEe froM their rOOtS ANd tRaNsPorT tHE cUt plaNts And its fRuits to proCesSiNg equipment wHIcH removes thE toMatoes from thE viNes, sepArAteS The toMatOes frOm the fOLiage aNd dirt, and SoRTs the tOMatoes aS TO sIze aNd quality.
Typical hARvESters are descriBed in tHe FOlLOWinG U.S. patents: RieS eT al, No. 3,078,926; bUtton, No. 3,390,768 ANd nO. 3,437,151; sEem, nO. 3,921,723; Bettercourt eT al, No. 3,986,561; and JohNSen, no. 4,090,568. Each Of TheSE prior Art maChINes Is characterIzed By cutters That opERate at oR Just belOw the sUrfAce Of thE SoIl. cutTeRS inCLuDe fIXed Sweeps, doUbLe RotatIng mETAL Or ruBbeR disKs, recIprocating bar SicKles, ANd rOtatiNg rodS, witH aLl desIgned tO operAtE below the ground SurfAce. ProbleMs eNcOunTeRed wiTH these TypEs oF cutterS includE: PicKiNG UP oF soil along with the tOmATO pLants; damAge to tHE tOmAToes from SoIl aNd roCKS; and dAmagE To The tomatOes in tHE sEpAration Of Soil anD rOckS. In AdditIOn, soIl is quIte abrasIve, weARing out moving pARts and causing COsTLY mAInteNanCe. Dirt clods Are a PArtiCulaR PrOblEM and sPeciaL dEViCEs have been necessary In Prior aRt macHines for removIng such cloDS.
wHen tomatOes aRE gROwn without stakEs and Supporting LInes as is NecesSary for mEchanical HARvesting, The FolIagE grOWS iN a matted fashiON With ThE lower fRuiT weightIng The MatTed ViNes to lie oN the surfAcE oF tHe SoiL bed. THE lower haNgIng FrUit Is subJEct to dAmage By thE hArVEstEr, even wITh THE cutTeRs OperAtiNg Below The bED suRface.
OvEr the past FifTEen yEaRs, The techNique of growinG tOmatoes and OtHer Plants ON Plastic mUlch covered beds has been dEVeloped. altHough The mEthod is paRtiCularlY efFEctive For use In sanDy SoiL, IT has pROVeN to HaVe many otheR ADvaNtageS: cLeanLiness oF the fruit; good contrOL of Weeds; improved ActIon oF SOiL fuMIgANts; ReDUctION of root rot; reducTion of soil MoIStUre evaporaTIon; PrEventioN of soil ErosiON; and proTection agAinst freeZe DamaGE. the Plastic mulCh is becoMing more wIDely uSEd; For exAmpLe, duriNg The 1976-77 SeasoN in FloRIda, About 75% Of the 13,700 hEcTares oF fresH mArket tomAtoes produced in that statE were gRown oN plAstic mulcH coVEreD beds. PlanTing Is through hOleS puNched Or
 is well known to harvesttomatoes b y man ual  la bo r an d by  mechanical ha r vest ers. Mechanical harves tersar e  ava i la ble t hat cut vi n e s f re efro mt he ir ro ots  and tr ansport th e c ut  plants andi ts  fruits to  pr ocessing equ ipm ent wh ic h r e moves  th e tom atoesf rom th e vines,se p arates the tom a t oe s fr om the foliage an d  d i rt, and sortsthe to ma t oe s astosize and q ua lity. Typical ha r v e ste r s are describ ed in the f o llo wing U .S . P a tents:  Ries  e t  al , No. 3,078 ,926 ; Button,  No. 3 , 390,768 and No.  3,437 ,15 1;Seem ,  N o.  3, 92 1 ,72 3 ;Bet t erc ourt etal ,No. 3 ,986 , 5 6 1 ; an d J ohns en, N o. 4,090,568.  Ea ch o f  th ese p riorartma chine s is c harac te rized by cutter s th at operat e a torju st be l ow the  su rfa ce of t he soil .  Cu tt e r s  i nclude fixed sweep s, d ou ble rota ting m e ta lo r rubber  d isk s, r e c iproc atin g  b ar sickl es, an d  r ot ating r od s, wit hall  de signe d  tooperat e belowthe g r ound surface.P roblems encou n te r e dw iththe se types of  cut t ersincl u de : p i cking  up o fs oi l  along with the tom at o plan ts; d amage to thetomatoes f r o m  soil an d ro c ks ;  and damage to  thetomatoes i n  the sep arati on of so il and ro c k s. In ad dit ion , s oil i squite abrasiv e ,  wea ri ng outmov ing par tsand  ca usi ng  costly m aintenan ce .Di rt  cl ods a r e a part ic ula rpro blema nd spe cialdevi ce sh ave  been n e ce s s aryin  p rior  ar tmachi nesf orremovin g such cl ods . 
Whe nto matoesare grown wit ho ut stakesan d s upport i n g linesas is necessary for mec h anicalhar vesti ng,the folia gegrowsina  matte d fash ion w it h t h e  lowe r fr uit  w eighting t h e  ma ttedvi nesto lieon the surface oft hesoil bed. The  lo werh a ng ing fr u itis sub j e ct to damage by  the harve st e r,  even with the  c uttersoperati ng be l ow thebed surfa ce.
Overth e pa s t  fi fteen year s, the t echniqueo f gro w in g tom ato es and  o the r pla nts on pla sticmulchco veredbedsha s been d eveloped. Although themethod  is p art icularlyeff e cti ve for us e in  sandy soi l,ithas p rov e n tohave ma nyo theradva n tages: cl e an lin e s sof the frui t ; goo d con tro l  of we eds;  improved actiono f soil fumigan ts;r e duc tio n  ofro ot rot; reduct ion  o f soil moi st ure evapora tion; pr ev e ntion  of so il ero sion; a n d  p r otecti on a gai nst freez e d am a ge. The  p la s tic mu lchis  becom ing mo r e wi d e ly used; for exa mple, d uring the  1976 -7 7 seaso n  inFlorida, a bout 75% of  the 1 3,70 0 hec tares o ffreshmar ke t tomatoes producedin th at stat ewere  gr own on  pla s t ic mu lchco ver ed beds.P l an t in gi s t hrou gh ho le s pu nched or
 is_well known_to harvest tomatoes by_manual labor_and_by mechanical_harvesters._Mechanical harvesters are_available that cut_vines free from their_roots and transport_the_cut plants and its fruits to processing equipment which removes the tomatoes from the_vines,_separates the_tomatoes_from_the foliage and dirt, and_sorts the tomatoes as to_size and_quality.
Typical harvesters are described in the following U.S._Patents:_Ries et al,_No. 3,078,926; Button, No. 3,390,768 and No. 3,437,151; Seem,_No. 3,921,723; Bettercourt et al, No._3,986,561; and Johnsen,_No._4,090,568._Each of these prior_art machines is characterized by cutters_that operate at or just below_the surface of the soil. Cutters include_fixed sweeps, double rotating metal or_rubber disks, reciprocating bar sickles,_and rotating_rods, with all designed to_operate below the_ground surface._Problems encountered with_these types of cutters include: picking_up of soil_along with the tomato plants; damage_to_the tomatoes from_soil_and_rocks; and_damage to the_tomatoes_in the_separation_of soil and rocks. In addition,_soil_is quite abrasive, wearing out moving parts_and causing costly maintenance._Dirt_clods are a particular_problem and special devices have_been necessary in prior art machines_for removing_such clods.
When_tomatoes are grown without stakes and supporting lines as is necessary_for mechanical harvesting, the foliage grows_in a matted fashion_with the_lower_fruit weighting the_matted_vines to_lie on the surface of the soil_bed. The_lower hanging fruit is subject to_damage by the harvester,_even_with the cutters operating below the_bed surface.
Over the past fifteen years,_the technique of growing tomatoes_and_other_plants on plastic mulch covered_beds has been developed. Although the_method is particularly_effective for use in sandy soil, it_has_proven to have many other advantages:_cleanliness_of the fruit; good control of_weeds;_improved_action of soil fumigants; reduction_of root rot; reduction of soil_moisture evaporation; prevention of soil erosion; and protection against_freeze damage. The_plastic mulch is becoming more_widely_used;_for example, during the 1976-77 season in Florida, about 75%_of the_13,700 hectares of_fresh market tomatoes produced in that state were grown on_plastic mulch covered beds. Planting is through_holes punched or