Abstract: A device for keeping a flower pot or the like raised from the bottom of a water retaining flower pot concealer or the like, whereby moisture may be supplied to the roots and soil in the flower pot by a wick extending from a water supply in the bottom of the pot concealer below the bottom level of the flower pot. The device is defined by a unitary piece, which in the outset is planar, comprising a central portion which is to support the flower pot and a number of circumferentially separated rim portions adapted to keep the central portion lifted above the bottom of the concealer. Between the lifting rim portions, which are hingedly connected to the central portion, further circumferentially separated rim portions are provided, which are also hingedly connected to the central portion for the purpose of stiffening the same. The further rim portions can be hingedly connected to or detachably connected to the lifting rim portions.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a bonding material disposed upon an inner or outer portion of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to the pot or item.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A harrow drawbar assembly is described which includes a harrow frame with depending tines and at least one spring strap. The at least one spring strap has a first end and a second end. The second end of the at least one spring strap is secured to the harrow frame. Means is provided for attaching the first end of the at least one spring strap to a drawbar. The at least one spring strap extends substantially horizontally from the drawbar and serves as means by which the harrow frame is pulled by the drawbar. The at least one spring strap exerts a downward pressure upon the harrow frame to maintain the tines of the harrow frame in contact with a ground surface. This harrow drawbar assembly is intended to restrict vertical movement and generally improve the ability of the harrow to follow ground surface contours.

Abstract: A treatment system for aerating, cooling and heating or draining a site such as a golf course green or a playing field. A mobile blower can be connected and disconnected with an underground duct network situated under the site through a suitable valving arrangement so that one blower can be used in servicing a number of sites.

Abstract: A device for improving the delivery of water, aeration and fertilizer to the root system of plants provides an open-ended, water retaining, root barrier envelope which is placed around the root system of the plant, and a plurality of root deflector ribs for delivering water, aeration and fertilizer that extend downwardly along the envelope, and which are attached to the root barrier. Water, aeration, and fertilizer which are applied to the plant in the envelope will percolate downwardly through the upper portion of the soil surface embedding the root. The water will also move downwardly through the deflector ribs and then migrate inwardly through the perforations to a sub surface portion which is below the watered portion of the upper soil surface.

Abstract: A watering device (10) for use with a cut tree (2) in a base. The waterer (10) can be shaped to resemble an ornament. The waterer has a an inlet (22) and an outlet (28). A flexible tube (30) is attached to the outlet. Thus, water poured into the inlet exits through the outlet and into the tube. The tube, typically hidden within the tree, can extend downward and into a base or reservoir. Therefore, the water can exit the tube and into the base.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to clip and collect seedlings easily and effectively from runners of a parent plant such as strawberry. To attain this object, a method for raising seedlings comprising; planting a parent plant in a plant bed disposed in a high position, growing plural runners linked mutually to hang from said parent plant in said plant bed, attaching water absorbing block to each rooting part between runners hanging in midair, supplying water to each water block to grow root and seedling from said rooting part, and clipping and collecting the resulting seedlings from runners is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for the efficient treatment of a live plant is provided. In particular, the apparatus can be used to treat a live plant before being packaged in a sealed container in which the plant can live without any of the care or maintenance that live plants normally require. The apparatus comprises a substantially sealed pressure vessel, a vacuum system, and a root treatment system. The substantially sealed pressure vessel receives the container having the rooting medium and the roots of the live plant maintained therein. The container also has a runoff opening therein. The vacuum system, which is connected to the pressure vessel, draws air through the pressure vessel and live plant and thereby removes a predetermined amount of fluid from the rooting medium via the runoff opening. The root treatment system then adds a predetermined amount of a root treatment solution to the rooting medium.

Abstract: A combination hoe and pivoting rake tool including a handle. A hoe portion is dimensioned for coupling with an end of the handle. A central rake portion is secured to the hoe portion. The central rake portion has a plurality of teeth extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the hoe portion. A pair of outer rake portions each have a plurality of teeth extending downwardly therefrom. Each of the outer rake portions are pivotally coupled with one of opposing ends of the central rake portion. A pivoting mechanism is secured to a lower end portion of the handle and pivotally coupled with the pair of outer rake portions.

Abstract: There is provided an elevated plant holder which is supported entirely from an ordinary plant or flower pot having a tapered interior surface. The plant holder includes an upstanding pole having a lower end near the bottom of the plant pot and an upper end. A pair of horizontally extending cross arms is provided for securing the pole at a point intermediate its ends and within the plant pot to the tapered interior surface of the plant pot. The upstanding pole passes through a central orifice in each cross arm. The opposite ends of the cross arms are disposed against the tapered interior surface of the plant pot. The longitudinal axes of the cross arms are disposed substantially perpendicularly to one another and lie in substantially adjacent planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole. A wire basket is attached to the upper end of the pole for holding the plant. In an alternative embodiment, a wire frame is provided for securing the pole to the interior surface of the plant pot.

Abstract: A single watering stake with a tree dual support; providing a sustainable level of saturation for root growth through one staking point and an upper geometric design allowing a tree to obtain optimum dual support.The watering stake, made of polyvinylchloride driven into the ground, with the use of a pounding cap to prevent blossoming of the stake, penetration of the ground provided through a molded pointed iron piercing end with two anchor fins. Six egress holes will be connected to inner hollow shaft leading to hose or drip coupling.Furthermore the ground stake is connected to above-ground stake segments by means of straight open ended junctions. The double staking capabilities are achieved through the use of a one-hundred-eighty degree tubular lateral arc connected to the main support by means of a ninety degree open ended junction. The tubular arc will be inserted into said junction directly above the approximate `whip point` of the tree.

Abstract: A floral container having a water-impermeable external layer for a floral grouping comprising a holding material and having a water-impermeable external surface layer. The holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping, botanical item or propagule and supporting the botanical item, floral grouping or propagule. A sheet of material may be extended about a portion of the holding material and a crimped portion or bonded portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion or the bonded portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the holding material to provide a decorative cover. A bond or other tying device may also be used to bond the sheet of material to the flower pot.

Abstract: A hydroponic nutrient solution control system capable of performing the nutrient solution control automatically, accurately, effectively, and efficiently. In the system, the supplies of the acid nutrient ion ingredient solutions and the alkali nutrient ion ingredient solutions from the acid solution tanks and the alkali solution tanks to the nutrient solution tank are controlled according to the pH measured by the pH meter and the ion concentrations measured by the ion analyzer. The system may also controls the supplies of the high concentration nutrient solutions and the water from the high concentration nutrient solution tanks and the water supply according to the electrolytic conductivity measured by the electrolytic conductivity meter.

Abstract: The invention provides a soil irrigation solar still system of the type hng a material transparent to solar radiation, supported in a non-planar, arched or sloped roof configuration above a darkened channel containing an impure liquid in such a manner as to allow radiant energy to heat and vaporize the impure water, to provide purified water for irrigation purposes, as the result of purified water which condenses on the underside of the transparent material due to the evaporation of the impure water in the channel rolling down along the underside of the transparent material, characterized in that the channel is suspended above an excavated area in the soil, the excavated area having side wall rims spaced apart from outer edges of the channel, forming an open chamber therearound, and the roof is provided with outer edges extending beyond and terminating adjacent the respective side wall rims of the open chamber, whereby a portion of the vaporized water circulates through the space between the side wall rims an

Abstract: A system for treating the soil and turf having a prescribed subsoil profile that includes a duct network located in the subsoil region having openings that are in communication with the subsoil profile. A supply line is arranged to connect the duct network with a blower that provides low pressure, high volume air to the duct network so that the air is pushed upwardly through the subsoil profile to provide either heating or cooling to the soil and turf. A ground surface heat exchanger is positioned between the blower and the supply line for transferring energy between the earth and the air moving into the duct network. Other materials for treating the soil may be added to the air flow by a pressurized system. The blower flow is reversible whereby excess moisture can be removed from the green.

Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a double acting hydraulic cylinder for suitably supporting a snow wing on an articulated motor grader in a fixed roading position. The hydraulic system is provided with a pressure relief circuit that permits the motor grader to be articulated without manual adjustment of the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: Improved turf units for assembling a natural turf playing surface in a stadium or the like. Natural turf units are provided which are transportable between first and second locations, the second location being for the growth and maintenance of the turf unit; the first location being a location for the performance of the desired activity. A fence section hingeably connected to the growing pan of the turf unit provides for maintenance of the top level of the plant growing medium at a significant height above the top of the side walls of the growing pan. A turf unit in accordance with the invention is used to assemble such a playing surface without removable parts. Also, the outer periphery of the fence extends outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the side walls of the growing pans such that, when the turf units are assembled adjacent each other to create the playing surface, large areas exist beneath the playing surface to provide adequate space for drainage of the field.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.