Abstract: A greenhouse includes a cage-like supporting structure in which an endless circulating belt is guided about upper and lower deflection pulleys and adapted for accommodating developing organisms. In order to be able to set it up easily and without foundation work by avoiding as much dead volume as possible, the deflection pulleys are arranged on longitudinal carriers that extend over the total length of the greenhouse and are movably supported on the supporting structure.

Abstract: In a plant for the continuous production of green forage from germinable seeds, the latter are mashed and then carried on trays into a germinating chamber, in which the seeds are treated to form a rootlet mat. This is then carried on revolving endless belts through successive air-conditioned chambers to form green forage. At least one germinating chamber for promoting the formation of a rootlet mat and at least one air-conditioned chamber for promoting the production of green forage or for promoting the formation of stems from the rootlet mat in masses of green forage are connected to a circulating duct for conducting gaseous reactants from one chamber to the other. The trays carrying the seeds in the germinating chamber for the formation of a rootlet mat comprise a frame and one or more carrying grids, which are welded in said frame or loosely held therein and supported to resist sagging.

Abstract: Plant cultivation units include several tiers of cultivation beds in open baskets supported on trays extending between endless chains which couple a pair of drive pulleys to a pair of idler pulleys. The beds are driven about a generally vertical endless path at a speed sufficient to cause artifical air movement and to maintain a low air temperature differential between the top and bottom of the endless path; this permits greater vertical separation between the top and bottom of the path and greater growth area to floor area ratios. Hollow pulley shafts supply and withdraw air. A pair of pipes supply water and steam. A method of growing mushrooms includes two phases in a common housing: a pasteurization phase and a growth phase.

Abstract: An installation for the cultivation of crops on water includes a box-like floatable outer housing and an inner cultivation housing supported therewithin and forming a double-walled bottom and double-wall sidewalls therewith. A transparent plate glass roof surmounts the outer housing and is in air-tight relationship therewith. A drip plate of plate glass and having a plurality of holes extending therethrough is positioned over the cultivation housing. The bottom of the installation and the region between the double-wall sidewalls are in communications with the interior of the cultivation housing through the holes in the drip plate. A plurality of ventilation tubes are mounted in the cultivation housing and extend through the drip plate and roof for communication with the outside air. One set of ventilation tubes extends beyond the roof to an elevation higher than that of a second set of the ventilation tubes. A lower portion of each ventilation tube opens into the interior of the cultivation housing.

Abstract: A plurality of perforated individual seed germinating and sprout growing bags are suspended from sets of portable racks which are placed on circular tray structures. The tray structures are supported in spaced vertical relationship by an upright mast located within an enclosed housing and adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The rack sets of each tray structure are arranged about the longitudinal axis of the mast to form circular tiers. Periodically, filtered and anti-bacterially treated irrigation water is supplied to each bag at a fast enough rate to thoroughly mix the seeds located therein. Water draining from the bags is collected in a storage tank and subsequently recycled after first being filtered and purified. Once the seeds have sprouted, artificial light is provided so that substantially all the sprouts in each bag receive a uniform amount of growing light.

Abstract: A plurality of space lattices arranged within an enclosed cultivation space, wherein one space lattice consists of plants which are arranged to move in a continuous vertical serpentine path within the space lattice. A space lattice formed of illumination means is arranged in an interstitial manner relative to the circulating plant lattice and serves to artifically illuminate the plants while they are circulating. A measurement space lattice is arranged coextensive with the illumination space lattice and serves to make measurements of selected parameters of environmental parameters within the cultivation space. An environmental factor space lattice is also arranged coextensive with the illumination space lattice and is connected to suitable sources so that moisture, nutrients and selected gases may be supplied to the plants as they circulate through the cultivation space.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for supporting plants for decorative or gardening purposes. A plurality of rotatable or fixed trays or shelves are mounted on a central support, and shelves can optionally be added on the sides of the device, such as adjustable shelves for potted plants.

Abstract: A selected number of troughs containing small plants therein are placed in a parallel relation with each other at one end of a soilless growth chamber. Tubular screw sections having helical grooves therein are employed for advancing the troughs from the loading end of the chamber to the unloading end thereof, the helical or screw pitch being considerably greater at the unloading or harvesting end in order to accommodate for the increased size of the plants as they reach maturity. In other words, the pitch of the helix is correlated with the rate at which the plants mature. Tubular screw sections having different pitches can be substituted when the growth rate differs from one species to another.

Abstract: In an installation for continuous vegetable cultivation by the hydroponic system, a plurality of identical containers provided with lateral apertures are superimposed one on the other to create at least one vertical hollow column, provided at regular intervals along its axis with equidistant coplanar apertures (levels of culture) arranged for the insertion of plants. Means are provided for raising and lowering the column and for keeping it vertical, these means being in the form of a cable which is removably fixed to each individual container, and means for spraying nutrient liquid at the top of the column and collecting said liquid at the base, to recycle it to the top.

Abstract: A hothouse has at least two elongate cultivation corridors beside each other for a series of cultivation wagons which are transversely shiftable along the cultivation corridors in order, during the cultivation cycle, to be progressively moved around in the hothouse. A plant treatment area is provided outside the extent of the cultivation corridors for the starting, care and harvesting of the plants cultivated on the cultivation wagons. Transfer wagons are provided for transfer of the cultivation wagons between the elongate cultivation corridors and also for removal of optional cultivation wagons to the plant treatment area, the transfer wagons having a corridor section for receiving the cultivation wagons during their transfer from one cultivation corridor to the other and during their transfer to and from one cultivation corridor and the plant treatment area. The transfer wagons are reciprocal along transfer corridors which extend transversely of the cultivation corridors.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the propagation and cultivation of freshwater and marine plants. These freshwater or marine plants are found naturally in underwater, floating or air-water interface habitats where sufficient illumination, nutrients and moisture are available to sustain life. A process is disclosed in which freshwater and marine macrophytes are cultivated in a water charged atmosphere, rather than in their native freshwater or marine environments, under precise control of such critical growing conditions as light, temperature, nutrient supply and disease control. Carbon dioxide, a plant nutrient is introduced into the atmosphere or into the water while other nutrients are provided through the use of controlled mists or sprays arranged to maintain a film of nutrient containing freshwater or seawater on the growing plants. Natural waters may be periodically enriched with organic or inorganic nutrients.

Abstract: A system for growing plants in spaced apart individual root support beds in elongated U-shaped channels. Each channel has guides for an elongated member to support the root beds above the bottom of the channel and at least one interior duct extending along the length of the channel above the elongated member to deliver cultivation-regulating media through longitudinally spaced outlets. Surplus liquid drains off through the space between the member and the bottom of the channel, carrying away noxious substances from the plants. The top of each channel may be closed by a pair of flexible opaque flaps which yieldingly embrace the stems of plants in the channel to reduce moisture loss and exclude light from the plant roots. The spacing between adjacent channels is varied according to the stage of plant growth, either by arranging the channels in a fixed expanding pattern and moving the plants progressively along the channels or by shifting groups of parallel channels sideways as the plants mature.

Abstract: This disclosure is of a controlled environment agriculture system in which a plurality of plant grow support racks are arranged in an array complementary to that of the lamps which provide illumination for the grow racks, so as to provide two positions for the rack array in each of which positions alternate racks are fully illuminated and the others not. The lamps then may be operated continuously and the rack array shifted between these two positions to provide alternating periods of full illumination and relative darkness for each rack. Means also are provided for improving the uniformity of air distribution to all racks within the array, and for control of humidity within the system by adjustment of the rate of moisture removal by the air conditioners to balance that of moisture addition through plant transpiration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a greenhouse, drying, storing and nursery system and entails a simple multi-purpose structure which includes the capability to effectively utilize solar energy within a greenhouse and is adapted to control temperature, humidity and other environmental parameters. The multi-purpose structure may be utilized as a drying structure wherein a crop material or some other suitable product may be placed within the greenhouse-drying structure and a curing and/or drying effect may be realized by passing a system of air through the product or material disposed therein. As a part of the curing and/or drying system, the device of the present invention is adapted to circulate a system of air through the structure and to effectively collect solar energy when available for use during the curing or drying period.

Abstract: A garden arrangement including a conveyor assembly with a plurality of longitudinally spaced mounting means supporting containers utilizing growth material, the conveyor being arranged along a predetermined path whereby the containers may be successively advanced to an accessible location for tending by a gardener.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for establishing and maintaining a controlled environment for the growth of food yielding plants. The apparatus includes an enclosure having a plurality of artificial light sources positioned over a growing region. Planting areas constitute suitable trays which are mounted for automatic or controlled movement past the light sources and to a work area where all planting, cultivating, crop management and harvesting is accomplished. The necessity of labor expense is thereby reduced.Photo periodism or the enhanced growth rate of plants with light cycling is easily optimized by controlling the speed of movement of the plants. Size and position of the lamps also is varied to optimize growth. Growth enhancement through plant movement is attained.

Abstract: A process for growing plants within a solar-heated enclosure through the use of a pool of water upon which containers are floated and moved beneath a light source. The pool of water provides support for the plants, facilitates their movement, and provides thermal mass for storage of solar heat.

Abstract: An installation for continuously growing plants which includes one or more growth chambers wherein alternate periods of lightness and darkness are provided, and the environmental conditions are controlled. The plants are individually supported, and transported through the growth chambers in such a manner as to require a minimum amount of handling. A diverging track system is provided in one of the growth chambers for handling the plants in a prescribed manner and guiding them through the chamber. As the plants are moved through such chamber, increased space is automatically provided for plant growth. The installation is well suited for growing plants hydroponically.

Abstract: A multiple-shelved unit is disclosed, the unit being adapted for use in greenhouses, for supporting growing plants on the shelves thereof, the unit including a horizontal hollow shaft mounted for rotation and means for rotating the same, hub members carried by the shaft adjacent the ends thereof with each hub member supporting a plurality of radially-projecting hollow spokes and hollow elements carried by the spokes adjacent the outer ends thereof for pivotally supporting the shelves. The unit additionally includes means for connecting the hollow interior of said shaft to a water supply, means for providing water communication between the interior of said shaft and the interiors of the spokes supported by at least one of said hubs, and means for providing water communication between the lastmentioned spokes and the shelves whereby the plants supported by the shelves may be watered at desired intervals.