Abstract: An environmentally controlled greenhouse is located near a landfill site and uses the landfill gas to both heat the greenhouse and furnish a clean carbon dioxide enriched product gas to enhance plant growth. The clean CO2 system product gas is used to regenerate adsorber beds which remove undesirable constituents from the landfill gas. A portion of the landfill gas may also power an extraction steam turbine which heats the greenhouse with extraction steam. The system is controlled to enhance plant growth by adjusting the temperature and CO2 levels.

Abstract: A plant tie for securing a plant limb of a plant to a supporting member, for example, a plant stake, comprises a soft flexible, elastic loop; more especially the loop is of knitted material and is in particular formed from a toe clip remnant of knitted hosiery manufacture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically milking animals which include a milking compartment or compartments which have a milking unit comprising an automatic milking machine secured to a robot arm which extends from under the teats of the animal being milked to outside of the milking compartment. The robot arm outside the milking compartment is supported by a sidewardly pivotal portion which includes a piston and cylinder member for raising and lowering the milking unit and a further piston and cylinder movement for pivoting sidewardly a carrier included in the portion. A rail is disposed over the milking compartment either centrally or to one side, or if there is more than one milking compartment which are disposed side-by-side, then the rail extends longitudinally between the milking compartments.