Abstract: Cases for propagating plants are positionable on supports adjacent a rotating vertical column. Light sources on the vertical column rotate over the plants in the propagating cases so as to provide even illumination. The vertical column is hollow and includes a blower for withdrawing heated air from adjacent the propagating cases. The support structures on which the propagating cases are positioned have rows of holes through which rollers can extend. The rollers are mounted on tracks which can be tilted so that the cases will roll by gravity either toward or away from the column for installing or removing the propagating cases. The light sources are removable from the column and can be selectively removed for varying the distance between the propagating cases and the plants as the plants grow.

Abstract: Plants are hydroponically grown on rafts that float on an aqueous nutrient medium. The rafts have arrays of openings that extend from their upper surface to their lower surface for receiving plant-containing collars that dip into the aqueous medium.To provide efficient plant thinning without plant destruction, a fraction of the openings of the array of each raft is filled directly with plant-containing collars and the remaining plant collars are placed in a grid that overlies the raft and has openings aligned with a fraction of the openings of the array.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted machine for preventing frost damage to growing crops comprises an upright shell that defines a plenum chamber, having an upwardly opening air inlet in its top and having plural rearwardly extending tubular heating chambers opening from its bottom portion. A fan coaxially mounted in the front of each heating chamber draws air from the plenum chamber and propels it across a propane burner that is coaxially mounted in the heating chamber behind the fan. Discharged air, mixed with combustion gases from the burner, has a temperature of about 45.degree. F. and is emitted rearwardly downwardly and obliquely to both sides of the machine to mix with cold surface air. A field or grove protected by the machine is divided into a grid of equal-area zones, each having a high pole atop which there is a light that is turned on when a sensor near ground level detects a temperature above but near freezing. The machine moves to where it is needed, as indicated by lighting of the lights.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting maple sap that includes a molded tap having a housing containing an enclosed chamber, a spout having an inlet hole passing into the chamber and a line connector depending downwardly having an outlet hole that also communicates with the chamber. A plug having an elongated tapered stopper for closing the inlet hole is secured by a lanyard to the housing. A bracket is disposed outwardly from the top of the housing that has a hole passing therethrough for receiving the stopper of the plug therein in friction locking engagement so that the plug can be safely and securely stored when it is removed from the inlet hole.

Abstract: A vertical air-root-pruning container involving a series of vertical air gaps displaced around the sidewall of a container. The air gaps are alternately displaced outwardly or inwardly to air-prune spiral root growth in both the right and left directions or are equipped with deflecting means to make the pruning effect bidirectional. Such a container inhibits spiral growth, promotes root branching, and results in more even root distribution as well as increased root growth in the growing medium.

Abstract: A housing, which is particularly suitable as an indoor greenhouse, is provided. The housing comprises a frame which has a base with a lower surface, and a plurality of elongated parallel support members. The support members are connected to the base so as to extend therefrom perpendicular to the lower surface, and perpendicularly through respective alternate apices of a first, substantially regular polygon. The frame also has a top which is connected between a top end of each of the support members. The housing also comprises connecting means attached to the frame for connecting a pair of rectangular doors to it so that each is movable between an open and a closed position. The connecting means also connects the doors to the frame so that the pair extend between the base, the top, and a pair of adjacent support members, and perpendicularly through respective adjacent sides of the first polygon, when both doors are in the closed position.

Abstract: A frost minimization or prevention machine comprising a fan to draw air downwardly from above the crop to be protected and disperse the air horizontally over the crop. Ideally the fan draws down warmer air from above the inversion layer.

Abstract: A wall hanging including a rectangular lattice and a planter having hooks thereon cooperative with the lattice for securing the planter to the lattice with the lattice in relative positions with respect to the planter angularly related by 90.degree..

Abstract: A plant watering device comprises a receptacle for water with a tube extending downwardly from the receptacle. The tube is packed with a fibrous or particulate medium which permits water to percolate downwardly through it. The lower end of the tube is of spike form to enable it to be pushed into the ground. The upper end of the tube communicates with the receptacle so that water flows into the tube from the receptacle. Below the receptacle the tube has one or more outlets so that water percolating down the tube can escape into the surrounding earth.

Abstract: A vertical air-root-pruning container involving a series of vertical offsets or air gaps displaced around the sidewall of a container. The offsets or air gaps are alternately displaced outwardly or inwardly to air-prune spiral root growth in both right and left directions. Such a container inhibits spiral growth, promotes root branching, and results in more even root distribution as well as increased root growth in the growing medium.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for growing plants having a floor with a plurality of raised projections defining trough regions therebetween and being adapted to hold plant watering fluid at a level relative to the upper periphery of the projections. An insert for the pan is also provided, having a plurality of spaced, downwardly extending cells, each cell including a bottom defining an opening. The insert is shiftable between a first position and a second position. The first position is one in which the bottoms are disposed in the trough regions below the level of the watering fluid so that the fluid can enter the openings. In the second position, at least some of the bottoms rest upon the projections so that the openings are less than fully obstructed by the projections and so that fluid within the cells can drain therefrom. Another aspect of the invention is a method for germinating plant seeds.

Abstract: A method of maintaining vegetation above frost damage levels in which the roots, stems, trunks or foliage of the vegetation is surrounded by a phase change material having a melting point in excess of the frost damage level, which phase change material is encased in a plurality of bags or in an elongated tubular member. In the case of use of an elongated tubular member, it may be coiled directly about the vegetation or coiled in stacks positioned above the vegetation or laid below ground in rows or coiled within the interior of an automotive tire proximate the vegetation which serves to directly collect solar energy. A fluid path is provided through the center of the tubular member which is coupled to a solar collector. The solar thermal energy collected thereby is transfered via fluid recirculating in this path to the phase change material such that the phase change material melts.

Abstract: A contact roller herbicide applicator apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical roller applicator including an internally gravity fed hollow cylindrical roller reservoir having a plurality of feed apertures formed therein in combination with a multiple-ply herbicide applicator member including intermediate porous pad and an outer applicator member in surrounding relationship relative to the hollow cylindrical roller reservoir to apply herbicide in direct contact with weeds or other undesired foliage.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing and harvesting living organisms, including plants such as vegetable produce. The method and apparatus have particular utility in the hydroponics industry in which plants are grown in a nutrient solution.

Abstract: A wiper bar system, transversing a tractor's path, comprises a fluid housing with open fluid channel therein, a wiper blade and a moisture absorbent wick surrounding the wiper blade. The fluid housing is mounted to the rear face of the wiper blade with a portion of the wick interposed therebetween. The spatial relationship between the fluid housing and wiper blade is adjustable by the user to control the amount of fluid/herbicide flowing from the fluid channel to the interposed wick and ultimately the amount of fluid/herbicide delivered to the portion of the wick surrounding the weed-contacting surface of the wiper blade.

Abstract: A plant stake and clasp is provided in which one or more clasps molded from plastic resin are provided at the top of the stake, each clasp including a pair of cooperating resilient arms and a mouth through which the stem of the plant can be introduced.

Abstract: A container for use in growing plants--a flowerpot--can be effectively utilized to hide things or objects such as keys, notes, money and the like so that such things or objects can be retrieved as desired by modifying such container structures so as to include within their bottoms downwardly opening water impervious recesses. A holder or holding structure is preferably utilized in association with the recess in such a flowerpot for the purpose of supporting things or objects above the bottom of the receptacle so that such things or objects will not be damaged by water contacting the bottom of the pot.

Abstract: A support apparatus for supporting a cantilevered beam from a T-shaped post. A bracket having a cross-shaped aperture therein composed of a pair of spaced horizontal plates joined along one edge by vertical center plates is attached to an end of the cantilevered beam for sliding registry with the post. A bolt is threaded through a hole in the center plate to bear against the post, and an alternate method utilizes two bolts. The first embodiment disclosed uses a first collar portion attached to a free end of the beam and a second collar portion to form a cylindrical collar for a plant support. The second embodiment utilizes a flat plate on the cantilevered beam for supporting a mailbox or the like. A third embodiment has a pair of hooks attached to the cantilevered beam for hanging support of a sign.

Abstract: Plants are supported, positioned, and transported in a hydroponic growing system by notched spacer bars riding on wheeled rails and interlocking with external ribs on elongated troughs in which the plants are grown. The apparatus permits easy and efficient movement of large arrays of plants by one worker, while maintaining the troughs in precise parallel relation to one another. The apparatus also provides automatic locating of the troughs with individual liquid nutrient feed points and alignment with a spent nutrient collecting system. Plant spacing in troughs transferred from one growing stage to the next is increased by alternating filled troughs with empty troughs on the spacer bars and transferring alternate plants from a filled trough to an adjacent empty trough.

Abstract: A new apparatus which dispenses liquid agricultural chemicals upon physical contact with foliage and recovers excess chemical for reuse is disclosed. A hollow horizontal cylindrical chamber with an opened section forms a mounting means. An expanded metal section with an external fabric covering is affixed over the opening. Means is provided for spraying agricultural chemical onto the fabric, recovering and recirculating the excess chemical for reuse, and moving the saturated fabric into contact with foliage or plants.