Abstract: A rock arrangement having a plurality of foliage. The arrangement includes a rock and a plurality of foliage. The foliage may include flowers, plants, and feathers. Each of the plurality of foliage includes a stem. A rigid polystyrene material is formed and affixed to a portion of the rock. In addition, a segment of moss material is affixed to a top portion of the rigid polystyrene material. Each stem of the foliage is embedded into the polystyrene material. The moss is used to conceal the polystyrene material, thereby providing an appearance of the plurality of foliage growing from the rock.

Abstract: A tray (2) includes a framework comprising first and second elongate side members (4, 6) and first and second end members (8, 10). The members (4, 6, 8, 10) support a rectangular floor of the tray, defined by a metal mesh (12a) or grid arrangement (12b ). A sheet (14) of woven fabric material is arranged to define a multiplicity of elongate channels (16). The sheet (14) is supported at its ends by cords (18) which releasably engage end members (8, 10). End member (8) includes a tensioning arrangement (20) for adjusting the tension in the cords. In use, the channels (16) are filled with compost and plants are grown therein. A tray (2a) may be situated in a greenhouse with other trays (2). It may be removed from the greenhouse using a carriage device which can move underneath tray (2a), lower it and then drive it out of the greenhouse by causing it to pass under adjacent trays (2b and 2c). Other trays may be moved in a similar manner.

Abstract: Compressed mixtures of blends of coconut coir pith and selected horticulturally acceptable non-coir/non-peat materials such as composted yard waste; composted bark; composted manure; sand; peat humus; composted agricultural waste; composted animal byproducts; treated sewage sludge; animal and/or vegetable-based landfill waste; wood and lignocellulose derivatives; vermiculite; perlite, glass beads; foamed plastics, and mixtures thereof are prepared in a manner such that, upon decompression, a total volume of decompressed coir pith and decompressed non-coir/non-peat material is produced which exceeds the sum of the initial volumes of coconut coir pith and non-coir/non-peat material in the blends.

Abstract: A cellular container assembly comprises collapsible linked two-layer, open-ended structure containers formed of opposed container walls. The containers are formed by weldment at opposed contacting wall portions to form multiple cells for retention of a soil mix and an associated plant. The assembly also comprises a soil drain board upon which the containers are supported. The drain board defines a fluid permeable mat having pylons and a foraminous screen resting upon the mat. The drain board is mounted in a watertight box to confine the containers and drainage board. A drain in the box recycles fluid or permits runoff.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil substitute useful in supporting plant growth. More particularly, the present invention relates to biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymer fibers for use in plant cultivation.

Abstract: A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The protective upper portion can be detached from the lower portion of the package system once the protective function of the upper portion has been completed. The sleeve may be provided without a detachable upper portion. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous soil treatment composition comprising water and, (a) a calcium compound, (b) a water-soluble anionic polymer which has intrinsic viscosity of less than 30 dl/g and is formed from water-soluble monomer or monomer blend of which less than 40% by weight is anionic monomer.

Abstract: A control system for milking parlors. The control system allows the neck rails move from an open position to a predetermined time period after the operator presses an open all gates button. The lowering of the neck rail is restricted or slowed such that the cow has time to exit the milking stall and any contact by the neck rail with the cow is gentle.

Abstract: A method of propagating Arundo is disclosed. The invention relates to Arundo plants, stems and nodes and to methods of propagating new Arundo plants by using stem material as seed cane.

Abstract: A floral sleeve initially having a flattened condition and openable therefrom for use in covering, containing or wrapping a floral grouping, botanical item, pot, or pot having a floral grouping or botanical item therein. The sleeve has a trapezoidal lower end, and may have a detachable upper portion. The sleeve may have a non-linear or linear upper edge. When having a detachable upper portion, the sleeve has a detaching element which when employed, to detach the upper portion, leaves a linear, or non-linear upper edge on the lower portion of the sleeve. The trapezoidal lower end of the sleeve may have a gusset therein.

Abstract: The combination of watering apparatus and a plastics bag containing a growing medium (hereinafter referred to as “grow bag”). The watering apparatus comprises an open topped vessel (1) formed with an opening (2) positioned towards its base through which water present in the vessel (1) can leave. The grow bag (4) is formed with a lengthwise extending sleeve (6) of generally inverted channel shape and is closed at each end. The sleeve (6) overlies a substantially linear array of holes (5) formed in the upper surface of the grow bag (4). In use, the opening (2) of the vessel (1) is positioned adjacent to a pierced end of the sleeve (6) so that water leaving the vessel opening (2) enters the sleeve (6) and passes through the holes (5) formed in the bag surface to water the growing medium of the grow bag (4).

Abstract: A tubular sleeve for covering a floral container such as a flower pot, the tubular sleeve having a lower portion constructed from an elastic material which can be stretched about the bottom of a floral container, to secure the sleeve about the floral container.

Abstract: A plant support cage apparatus is set forth wherein two or more panels of rectangular shape are joined on the vertical edges by a series of coil cavity and corresponding rod connections alternated by hook restraints. Unit thus formed when the plurality of the panels is fully joined together is a cylindrical cage. All connections made at the vertical edges of the panels are formed from and are part of the panel lattice. The unit is rigid as a separate unit and stable when pressed in the ground by the stakes that are extensions also part of the vertical members of the lattice. The cage can be enlarged or contracted by the addition of panel units. It is easily assembled and dissembled without special tools and compactly stacked by nesting of the sections.

Abstract: For more than thirty-two years, extensive research studies involving various concepts of total vineyard mechanization have been carried out at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station under the direction of Justin R. Morris (22). Tommy Oldridge was one of the first growers in the region to commercially test, implement and improve upon the findings of these research studies. These studies at the University of Arkansas have involved the evaluation of trellising and training systems suitable for total vineyard mechanization, mechanical shoot positioning, mechanical pruning, mechanical thinning, mechanical harvesting, and the post-harvest handling and utilization of mechanically harvested grapes (2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 35). The success of this approach to vineyard mechanization has been the fact that it has concentrated on minimizing or eliminating all limiting factors impacting the system while maintaining, or in some cases improving, fruit quality.

Abstract: The invention relates to disposing of unwanted waste waters produced from purifying water. The methods of the present invention include applying waste water containing 0.15% by weight of the salts of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cl, SO4, and CO3 and mixtures thereof to soil to control dust, effect soil stabilization, seal ponds, inhibit root rot, and irrigate soil. The invention also relates to the utilization of waste waters within cooling towers and for laundry applications.

Abstract: A self-watering vertical supporting planter includes a growing medium cavity formed by the combination of outer and inner walls fixed to a bottom. The inner walls are fixed to a top and bottom forming a water reservoir with a centrally located sleeve to support a vertical telescopic support pole and pole cap fixed at its upper end. The reservoir is fixed to the bottom of the growing medium cavity. The reservoir has a filler hole and wick ports for self-watering of the growing medium. A plurality of strings are attached to the pole cap and the outer walls by means of hook-like elements fixed to the outer edges of the pole cap and the outer walls. The strings inclined with respect to the vertical form individual supports for vine type plants such as beans, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Abstract: Photosynthetic organisms are grown in a tube having a gas inlet at one end and a gas outlet at the other. The tube containing a rotor having vanes adapted to wipe the inside surface, the tube being disposed at an angle to the horizontal in a bath containing liquid, the gas inlet being lowermost.

Abstract: An irrigation apparatus is disclosed herein which comprises: a tubular injector having an outwardly and radially extending peripheral shoulder, an upper portion extending above the shoulder to an upper inlet, and a lower portion having a plurality of outlet holes and extending below the shoulder to a lower end so that at least a lowermost section of the lower portion is tapered; and a reservoir having an open top and a substantially closed bottom with an opening sized to exteriorly and removably mate with the upper portion of the tubular injector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the field of dipteran pest control in the commercial production of mushrooms. The present invention is directed to preparations comprising mushroom spawn, compost, and casing mixed with thermophilic, spore forming bacteria and supplement, as well as methods for the use of such preparations for the control of Dipteran pests and the production of improved mushroom crops.

Abstract: A plant packaging and covering system comprising a floral sleeve having a base portion and skirt portion. The sleeve may have an upper protective sleeve portion for enclosing a plant disposed in a pot and which can be detached once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed. The sleeve has an expansion element comprising a plurality of expandable folds for allowing portions of the base portion to expand to conform to the shape of a pot when a pot is disposed within the sleeve.