Abstract:
A row planter having an improved opening means preferably used in combination with a furrow forming shoe. The opening means includes an unitary, disc means mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and the shoe is mounted so that a peripheral portion thereof overlaps and substantially abuts a peripheral portion of the disc means. The overlapping peripheral portion of the shoe serves to clean the peripheral portion of the disc means and will continue to do so even as the disc means wears down and its diameter begins to diminish. In the preferred embodiment, the overlapping peripheral portion of the shoe is proportioned and mounted so that its profile when viewed from ahead of the row planter falls within the profile of the disc means. In this manner, there is a smooth transition between the furrow opening disc means and the furrow forming shoe. Outwardly of the disc means are positioned depth gauge wheels which are eccentrically mounted relative to the horizontal axis of the disc means.