Abstract: A seedling house for the germination and growing of seedling vegetables and flowers for the hobbyist gardener which is decorative and attractive, portable and disassemblable. In assembled relation, the seedling house includes shelves arranged in an ascending, step-wise fashion adapted with openings to receive plant pots containing the seeds or seedlings to be grown. The seedling house may be adapted with a covering and lighting to enhance the temperature/soil moisture growing conditions for the particular seeds/seedlings being grown.

Abstract: A means and method for constant, timed-release, automatic dispersion of liquid fertilizer into the soil surrounding the roots of potted plants consisting of a bottle which is pre-filled with liquid plant nutrient material or plant fertilizer. The bottle is sealed with a cap which has an indentation or score line to facilitate breaking off the end of the cap to reveal a capillary tube which provides a flow passage from the bottle and through the cap. After the end of the cap is sheared off, the bottle unit is inverted and pushed into the soil adjacent the roots of the potted plant thereby enabling the flow of plant nutrient material or plant fertilizer into the soil for absorption by the plant.

Abstract: The invention includes a block for use in landscaping and other applications. The block may have a lip on one or both sides that may function as a mowing strip. The block may have grooves on the bottom for receiving an anchoring strip or defining a conduit. Also, one or both ends of the block may be angled to create a straight, curved, or curvilinear border.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for packaging roses or other flowers (or other "botanicals"; e.g., cedar fronds) so that they are preserved in a fresh state for an extended period. A modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) machine seals the flower in a container under vacuum, and a vial which is attached to the stem of the flower includes a solution which releases preservative and rehydration materials from an absorbent medium so that the materials flow through the stem and outwardly through the pores of the flower and its leaves. An ion balanced environment stabilizes pollen and color while prolonging the shelf life of the cut flowers.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a device for use in a sap collecting system which is formed of a body of fluid impermeable composition that has a passageway for allowing sap to circulate therethrough; the composition consists of a plastics material and of a plurality of randomly distributed non corrosive hard granules. The granules have a hardness to repress rodent animals to pierce the plastics material and are so distributed in the plastic material that at least one granule will be contacted when the body is gnawed by a rodent animal.

Abstract: A quick-peelable fruit protective wrap comprises gadgets formed by folding both lateral sides of the wrap outside in, a nearly U-shaped notch portion forming a pair of strips with both sides of the opening portion in the top connected together to span over a branch, and a base portion with the gadgets also adhered in one body, and has pores on the whole surface, the pores are formed in ovals with the long diameters directed along the opening and base portions and the base portion of the wrap is of reinforced structure, thereby permitting a fruit to be taken out at a stretch from the wrap and simultaneously the wrap to be removed from the branch bearing the fruit.

Abstract: The plant container is a hollow, taper-shaped container, which has a larger top end and a smaller bottom end. A circular bottom edge is connected to the inner side rim of the bottom end of the container. A flat, round removable bottom wall is set to rest on the bottom edge to enclose the bottom end of the container. The matching plant stand is a larger hollow, cylindrical structure. A cross wall is connected horizontally to the inner side wall of the plant stand to make a shallow tray on one end and a deep bowl on the other end. An adjustable bracing post member is connected vertically to a center of the cross wall of the bowl side. For an ordinary application, the plant container can be set on the shallow tray side of the plant stand during growing and decorating a type of plant. For an ejecting and setting means, the plant container can be rearranged to set on the bracing post of the bowl side of the plant stand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the cultivation of plants, comprising the following steps:a) placing root containers (2) containing a plant on a cultivation conveyor belt (4),b) allowing the plants (3) cultivated in the root containers to grow on said cultivation conveyor belt whilst the cultivation conveyor belt is stationary,c) using the cultivation conveyor belt to transport the root containers placed on the cultivation conveyor belt to a dispensing point (14), for example when the plants have grown sufficiently or have to be given an intermediate treatment.With this method it is advantageous if the cultivation conveyor belt (4) extends through a tray (1) having raised side walls (5) so that water can be supplied to the tray during step b) without said water flowing away of its own accord. The invention also relates to an installation for application of the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transplanting seedling from a first ray to a second tray. The apparatus includes a frame, a moveable gantry connected to the frame, and a conveyor system. In the preferred embodiment, a first conveyor is used to shuttle seedlings into the operative reaches of the apparatus and a second conveyor shuttles the transplanted seedlings out of the operative reaches of the apparatus. The gantry includes a gripper assembly comprised of a plurality of grippers slidably mounted to a track. A positioning mechanism is employed to move the gantry and associated gripper assembly. The grippers includes an upright support and a pair of pivotally connected spaced apart gripper fingers. The gripper fingers are separated by a plunger mechanism preferably having a beveled surface for ease of insertion between the gripper fingers.

Abstract: An inexpensive, self-contained, hydroponic planter for various house plants automatically supplies to the plants the correct amount of water, nutrients and adequate root exposure to gases in the air. The planter includes a tank storing the mixture of water and nutrients, a drain for changing the solution and a sight glass for gauging the proper water level range. An air pump with an air line leading from above the water level to the bottom of the storage tank is attached to the intake of a riser tube. The riser tube goes from the bottom of the storage tank through a stand pipe in a pot above the storage tank to the top of the pot. Compressed air intermittently fed into the bottom of the riser tube rises inside the tube, expanding and increasing in velocity as ambient pressure decreases and creating an "air lift" that draws the water into the bottom of the tube and lifts it, along with the expanding air, to the top of the tube where it is discharged into the pot.

Abstract: A method of wrapping a floral grouping, preferably an orchid, with a wrapper which may be a sheet of material, a sleeve or a preformed pot cover. The wrapper is preferably constructed from a laminated material made up of at least a waxy layer and a support layer which are superposed upon each other and connected or laminated to each other. A second waxy layer may be connected or laminated to the other surface of the support surface. The waxy layer is made from a waxed paper or waxed tissue. The wrapped floral grouping may also contain a shredded material for cushioning the blooms of the floral grouping.

Abstract: An improved container for growing a plant intended to be transplanted is provided. In one embodiment, the sidewall of the container includes an outer sidewall portion and at least one inset sidewall portion. The outer sidewall portion has a plurality of upwardly facing internal ledges positioned in spaced relationship one above the other. Each internal ledge serves to direct laterally growing roots to grow along the internal ledges. The inset sidewall portions of the sidewall are connected to and displaced inwardly from the outer sidewall portion, defining a plurality of root-pruning openings between the inset sidewall portion and the outer sidewall portion. Each root-pruning opening is aligned with an internal ledge so that roots growing along the internal ledges are directed to the root-pruning openings for air-root pruning. In an alternative embodiment, the sidewall of the container comprises a plurality of connected, rectangular sidewall sections disposed one above the other.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical body is adapted to holding a liquid, such as water, herbicide, pesticide, or the like, and has a cap removably secured thereto for removing and disposing the liquid therein. Another generally cylindrical dispensing body is adapted to slidably fit over the end of the body opposite the cap. The dispensing body has a top with holes disposed therein wherethrough the liquid may be passed. Another generally cylindrical cap body has a top formed of a cellulosic material which is adapted to absorbing liquids such as water, pesticide, etc, and a valve assembly is situated in the end of the body opposite the cap for gravitatively passing liquid therethrough when the valve release is depressed. The valve release member is depressed by the action of the dispensing body sliding towards the cylindrical body and pressing the valve release. A spring maintains spring bias against the body to prevent the valve release from being continually pressed or opened.

Abstract: Apparatus and method involves lifting at least the top 75 mm of soil from the ground, heating the raised soil to a temperature in the range of 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., and discharging the heated soil onto the ground and into the soil.

Abstract: A protective cover for surrounding and protecting a container of substances for treatment of wood perennial plants, such as trees and the like, having a main body of flexible plastic material with a top and a continuous peripheral wall extending downwardly therefrom to a bottom tree contact edge to define a chamber for receiving said container. A plurality of integral securement tabs extend outward from opposing side walls of the cover so that special screws can be inserted therethrough to firmly secure the housing to the associated tree. The tabs can be reversely folded and anchored to securely cover and protect the attachment screws.

Abstract: A fluid distribution panel (A) is illustrated, especially for use in a growth chamber, utilizing a plurality of spaced conical surfaces (B) which taper outwardly from a plenum into an enlarged fluid discharge opening for controlling the distribution of air across the plenum with minimal pressure drop or variation.

Abstract: A drainage system for a closed-bottom tiltable flower pot employs a reservoir on the bottom of one side of the pot. A straight drain tube extends from the upper inner edge of the reservoir to the upper edge of the other or tilt-down side of the pot. An opening in the bottom of the reservoir only on the one or tilt-up side of the pot admits excess percolation water into the reservoir and allows trapping it on minimal tilting of the reservoir for flow out the drain tube. An air vent tube may be employed to free drainage from the reservoir on tilting. The drain tube may be utilized to water the flower pot by capillary action should surface watering be undesirable. A template or plastic strip may be incorporated for non-flat-bottomed odd-shaped and round-shaped pots, respectively.

Abstract: An adjustable collar apparatus and method to encircle a post or botanical item at its base, which collar apparatus comprises a plurality of at least three separate, identical, flat sheet panel elements. Each panel element has a generally arcuate, involute curved inner edge, a generally arcuate outer edge, a top and bottom surface, and first and second side edges, and is characterized by a dimple means positioned toward the first side edge and an elongated depressed area positioned toward the second side edge. The flat panel sheet elements are adjustably arranged in a side-edge, overlapping relationship, with the dimple means of one flat panel sheet element aligned with the elongated depressed area of an adjacent flat panel sheet element to form a collar apparatus about a post or the base of a botanical item. The dimple means is fastened in a snap-fit manner into the elongated depressed area by means of a blister edge formed at the bottom portion of the protruding area of the dimple and depressed area.

Abstract: An article forming system for forming at least one sheet of material into an article, such as a decorative flower pot cover for example, and a novel article formed utilizing such a system. The article forming system includes a male die, a female die and a platform having a support surface and an opening extending through the support surface. The female die is disposed generally within the opening in the platform with the upper end of the female die being disposed near the support surface. The article forming system includes means for slidingly holding portions of the sheet of material generally against portions of the support surface while permitting such held portions to slide on the support surface during the forming of the article for cooperating in forming a decorative border on the decorative flower pot cover type of article which flares generally away from the flower pot object when the decorative flower pot cover article is applied to the flower pot.

Abstract: A vine cane pruner has a frame with four hedgers mounted on the frame. First and third hedgers are mounted on opposite sides of the frame with cutting teeth extending forwardly. Gathering mechanisms mounted on the first and third hedgers engage vertical canes on opposite sides of the vine and draw the engaged vertical canes into the cutting teeth of the first and third hedgers. Second and fourth hedgers are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and rearwardly of the first and third hedgers with cutting teeth extending forwardly. Gathering mechanisms mounted on the second and fourth hedgers engage the horizontal canes on opposite sides of the vine and draw the engaged horizontal canes into the cutting teeth of the second and fourth hedgers. A telescoping mast connected between the frame and a transport vehicle supports the frame and permits it to be selectively raised and lowered.