Abstract: A garden tool for extracting a plant having roots in the earth. The garden tool basically comprises a housing and a prong assembly connected to the housing. The prong assembly includes a prong holder and at least three prongs with each prong being connected to the prong holder disposed generally near the outer peripheral surface of the prong holder. About one-fourth of a prong length of each of the prongs is disposed in the prong holder whereby the prong holder cooperates with the portions of the prongs disposed in the prong holder to provide sufficient strength for substantially reducing the tendency of the prongs to bend when disposed in the earth and rotated. The garden tool also includes a handle assembly which is connected to the upper end of the housing.

Abstract: A flame retardant plant, having flame retardant material substantially uniformly distributed within the plant. The method of producing such plant involves systemic infusion by contacting a freshly exposed plant surface or cut stem or trunk with an aqueous solution, which contains at least the flame retardant material, for a sufficient period of time. The plant may also contain, along with the flame retardant material, a preservative alone or in combination with a dye, produced by the above method.

Abstract: A flame retardant plant, having flame retardant material substantially uniformly distributed within the plant. The method of producing such plant involves systemic infusion by contacting a freshly exposed plant surface or cut stem or trunk with an aqueous solution, which contains at least the flame retardant material, for a sufficient period of time. The plant may also contain, along with the flame retardant material, a preservative alone or in combination with a dye, produced by the above method.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of preserving plants which achieves reduced bleeding of the preservative material when the plants are subjected to elevated humidity conditions. The method comprises perfusing the plants with an aqueous preservative composition in which the preservative is primarily an alkylene oxide oligomer, 1,3-butanediol, or 1,4-butanediol. Preferred alkylene oxide oligomers are di- and polyethylene glycols in the molecular weight range of about 200-1500 and di- and polypropylene glycols with an average molecular weight below about 450. The preferred materials may be used with lesser amounts of secondary humectant materials selected from glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride or magnesium bromide hexahydrate, and water soluble cycle phosphonate esters. Plants are conventionally treated by perfusing an aqeous treatment solution into the vascular system through a cut stem or other incision which exposes the xylem.

Abstract: A process for treating wood panels is disclosed where the panels are placed in a closed treatment chamber and the chamber then evacuated. This removes free formaldehyde from panel pores and produces a subatmospheric pressure within the pores. The chamber is then pressurized with an ammonia and air mixture with ammonia in the mixture permeating the panel pores and reacting with free formaldehyde. The chamber is then evacuated to recover unreacted ammonia.