Abstract: A planter is designed to be positioned on top of or against an office partition wall. The planter may include brackets which support the planter on top of the partition wall, or against the partition wall. The planter may also be self-supporting by forming a groove in the bottom of the planter, the groove being designed to snugly fit over the top of the wall, or the planter may include an integral horizontal arm with a downwardly projecting component or another planter, wherein the wall friction fits between the dual planters or between the planter and the downwardly projecting component.

Abstract: A watering and feeding system for plants, comprising a container enclosing a platformed water reservoir, housing a water supply unit, a fertilizer dispensing unit, a nutrient conveying wick and a water level indicator unit, all of which are interacting to provide automatic and adequately measured amounts of nutrients to the plants, embedded in soil on top of the platformed water reservoir.

Abstract: A cover for selectively protecting a plant reproductive organ from pollination. Design features of the invention make it particularly useful in the hybridization of corn plants. The cover slips over the shoot of the corn plant when it is in the early stages of development and is left in place until the shoot is ready for pollination. The manner of construction imparts a bias to the cover towards drawing inward, assuring that it will remain in place during high winds, and allowing for expansion as the shoot increases in size. The cover is transparent to enable workers to observe developmental stages. The cover material is vapor permeable to prevent unwanted condensation from destroying transparency and to discourage the growth of mildew, fungus and bacteria.

Abstract: A sprout growing system utilizing open, wide-mouth, screened jars which receive sprout seeds and water. A support is provided having spaces to receive the jars. The jars are maintained with their mouth ends at a lower elevation than their closed ends to facilitate drainage and thereby inhibit spoilage. The jars are advanced from one space to another after a predetermined period, such as daily. When the first jar is ready for harvesting, it is removed from the support, and the remaining jars advanced through the support spaces until the sprouts thereof are also ready for harvesting on a daily basis.

Abstract: A flower merchandising display comprising three containers arranged in a vertically stacked arrangement, pump and cooling means disposed in the lower container, water contained in the middle container, flowers disposed in the upper container, and means extending upwardly from the middle container and being adapted to cool the air contained therein and allow it to fall downwardly therefrom and then upwardly around the flowers.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying plants periodically to a watering station while ensuring that said plants are uniformly exposed to light. The apparatus includes at least one conveyor in the form of an endless cable disposed about a pair of spaced drums. One of the drums is driven by a motor to cause the cable to be circulated about the drums. The cable supports a plurality of plant hangers at spaced locations there along. Each hanger is arranged so that when a plant is suspended therefrom it is in a first orientation arranged to trip a sensor at the watering station to water the plant. The hanger is also arranged to automatically assume a second orientation when no plant is suspended therefrom. In the second orientation the hanger does not trip the sensor at the watering station. The cable is arranged to be driven at a slower speed during watering operations and at a higher speed during plant loading and unloading operations.

Abstract: Plant watering apparatus comprises a trough incorporating a water reservoir, and a number of separate growing units each of which is removably received within the trough and is provided with a hollow portion which is filled with growing medium and extends into the water reservoir, when the growing unit is installed within the trough, so that water is supplied from the reservoir to the growing unit by capillary action. A ballcock is provided for controlling the water level in the reservoir.

Abstract: A tube 22 contains a liquid absorbent material 28, an end portion of which can be immersed in the liquid contained within a bag 20 positioned about a tree 30 and transfer the liquid at a rate dependant on the attitude of the tube 22 to the end 27 of the tube 22 inserted in the ground adjacent the root structure 31 of the tree 30.

Abstract: A growing chamber defined by sidewalls and a top spanning the chamber inside the walls. The top is mounted to be vertically moveable to change the chamber height. The walls and top are coated to be ninety percent reflective. A horticultural lamp is mounted on the top and a timer turns it on and off. Carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the chamber the gas being controlled to be supplied intermittently, but only while the lamp is on.

Abstract: A wire mesh basket is disclosed which features a convertible, removable handle arrangement for permitting the basket to be used either as a tote for potted plants, floral arrangements or the like or as a display stand. For displaying or toting heavy loads a carriage bottom is described, and for stacking several baskets a foldable wire mesh cover is disclosed. The basket may be used as a planter with an appropriate plastic or ceramic liner or as a window box with the use of window sill hooks.

Abstract: A plant support in which a wire loop plant support is adjustably supported in cantelever fashion from a post at fixed positions on the post by a post coupling structure including at least one terminal end of the wire being formed as a projection integral with the wire loop for piercing or otherwise entering the post and a reaction bearing member also integral with the wire loop but at a lower level than the integral projection so that downward acting plant loads on the cantelever plant support urge the reaction bearing member against the post and the projection into the post. The spacing between the sharp tip of the projection and the bearing member is sufficient to permit the integral post coupling structure to slide down the post to any selected position and, pivot to a horizontal loop position about the reaction bearing member.

Abstract: A plant tissue culture device is disclosed for the culturing of a plurality of plant cell tissue cultures or callus cultures on a liquid medium. The cultures are maintained in culture wells on a culture plate and a porous wick is used to transport nutrient medium to the cultures from a supply of medium in a medium vessel underneath the culture plate.

Abstract: A receptacle usable as a flower vase, and especially adapted to present the illusion of being filled with a liquid to a level called the "illusion line." The vase has an inner tubular insert sealed to an outer receptacle at the common rim of the outer receptacle and tubular insert. The outer receptacle and tubular insert define between them a cavity or space which can be filled with a transparent fluid. In use, artificial flowers or any decorative material that one might wish to store dry can be placed within the inner tubular insert, and the liquid within the cavity will present the illusion of the receptacle being completely filled with liquid, and the decorative material being immersed in this liquid.

Abstract: An ornamental bracket for suspendingly supporting potted plants or the like alongside the vertical extending surface of a wall, fence or the like. The bracket includes a loop portion for mounting to the wall, fence or the like and includes means for abutting the vertical surface so as to position the bracket to extend in an outwardly projecting manner from the vertical surface, and includes hook means positioned outwardly of and remote from the loop portion for receiving thereon a potted plant or the like so that the potted plant would be suspendingly supported alongside the vertical surface of the wall, fence or the like.

Abstract: A retainer for attaching a lid to a container in which a floral bouquet is arranged comprises a rigid shaft coupled to a flexible crossbar to form generally a T-shaped assembly. The crossbar is deformed and pushed into a groove on the underside of the lid. After that, the shaft is inserted into florist's foam containing the floral arrangement so that the lid becomes a decorative and integral part of the arrangement. When the flowers have died, the retainer is removed from the lid and discarded. The empty container may be used with the lid to hold a variety of objects and things.

Abstract: A tree brace unit for maintaining young trees in an upright posture has a circular ground-mounted base and a plurality of legs extending upwardly therefrom to a collar which encircles the tree trunk at an elevated level. The brace portion is formed from a pair of identical members formed from a single piece of metal rod. Each piece is bent to form a pair of parallel legs which are connected by a collar segment. When mounted in opposing position on the base, the two collar segments are clamped together to form a collar which extends completely around the tree trunk.

Abstract: The layers of ink formulations of different colors are transferred from a plurality of ink ductors onto predetermined areas of the outer periphery of a single ink form roller, and the body of a cylindrical container is pressed against said ink form roller and rotated as many times as the number of said ink ductors.

Abstract: A toy including apparatus for producing a desired sequence of sounds and chordic keyboard apparatus for operating same. The desired sequence of sounds may be human speech, music or any other desired sequence of sounds. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a talking doll is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the propagation of plant cuttings under aeroponic conditions. An aqueous plant growth nutrient and hormone composition is applied as an intermittent hydro-atomized mist to plant cuttings suspended in an enclosed chamber. The aqueous composition is formed by mixing tap water at standard pressure, and a concentrated hormone, nutrient or other plant growth composition in a suction venturi, and directing the aqueous composition through a distributing manifold to mist nozzles. The venturi and distributing manifold are periodically drained to allow subsequent venturi suction and mixing. Timer controlled solenoid valves regulate the water flow and drain. Excess aqueous composition may be recirculated or discarded.

Abstract: A cell comprising one or more stands in which crop containers are arranged in a plurality of layers one above the other and light sources are arranged between the containers, whereby between a light source (or light sources) and a container located above said light source(s) there is arranged a plate of insulating material, at least the side of the plate facing light source(s) being reflecting.