The potential of leading tines to produce a finer tilth and allow operations at moisture contents \ Q higher than previously possible without producing smearing could possibly be exploited in implements for the renovation of pennanent beds or retained hills and mechanical weed control. The leading tine concept could be adapted to the maintenance of permanent beds. Several operations, not necessarily including 'deep tillage', can possibly be performed in a single pass with similar power and fuel consumption to only one of the operations. One pass with such a machine could perhaps replace several mechanical operations and the growing of one or more rotation crops 'for the repair of soil damage