Abstract: A rotor and cutting line for flexible-line vegetation cutters such as lawn trimmers, include a disc-shaped body having a central portion thereof connected with the drive shaft of the trimmer for bodily rotating the head. At least one entry and one exit opening are in the head with the exit opening positioned substantially radially through a peripheral portion of the body, and the openings are communicatively joined by an elongate passageway which extends within the body and has curvilinear or non-linear portion for engaging the cutting line. A flexible cutting line having a free end and another end portion having a portion larger than the entrance opening, is threaded through the openings and the elongate passageway, such that the enlarged end portion of the flexible line is disposed adjacent to and outwardly of the entrance opening, abuttingly engages the body and cooperates with the engagement of the line and passageway surfaces to removably secure the same within the rotor head.

Abstract: The preservation of metabolically active matter such as fruit, vegetables, meat, fowl, shrimp, fish, other food, cut flowers, cuttings, foliage plants and the like is disclosed, characterized by storage at controlled and correlated conditions of hypobaric pressure, temperature, humidity, air circulation and air exchange. A non-deleterious gas such as air is humidified by contacting it with heated water from a supply, and then the humid air is passed through, and when advisable, recirculated and/or rehumidified within a storage chamber containing the metabolically active matter. The relative humidity is maintained within the range of about 80 to 100 percent and the pressure is maintained continuously or intermittently at a selected value at least slightly higher than the vapor pressure of the water in the stored commodity.

Abstract: The preservation of metabolically active matter such as fruit, vegetables, meat, fowl, shrimp, fish, other food, cut flowers, cuttings, foliage plants and the like is disclosed, characterized by storage at controlled and correlated conditions of hypobaric pressure, temperature, humidity, air circulation and air exchange. A non-deleterious gas such as air is humidified by contacting it with heated water from a supply, and then the humid air is passed through, and when advisable, recirculated and/or rehumidified within a storage chamber containing the metabolically active matter. The relative humidity is maintained within the range of about 80 to 100% and the pressure is maintained continuously or intermittently at a selected value at least slightly higher than the vapor pressure of the water in the stored commodity.

Abstract: A gravity blender that discharges particulate material into a pressurized conveying system is provided with a conduit to substantially alleviate differential pressures between the blend chamber and the interior of the blender supply bin.

Abstract: 1. The method of preserving mature, but less than fully ripe, fruit .Iadd.which produces ethylene and is ripened thereby, .Iaddend.comprising enhancing the rate of diffusion of ethylene from the fruit by storing the fruit at a subatmospheric pressure in the range of 100-400 mm. Hg-.Iadd.absolute .Iaddend.in a continuously moving stream of water saturated air having a normal 21% O.sub.2 content, said stream continuously flushing ethylene, as it is diffused, away from the vicinity of the fruit.