a method and apparatus for cleaning and topping a swath of at least partially cut flattened leafy green sugar cane wherein the apparatus , towed behind a propelling vehicle , is passed over the swath of cane for successively performing the steps of gathering the swath , lifting it from the bround on which it lies , pulling the individual canes top first from the swath , supporting the stalk of each cane as it is pulled from the swath , accelerating the cane rearwardly of the direction of travel of the vehicle , and restraining the top of each cane while continuing to move the stalk rearwardly to cause the top to break away from the stalk .