Abstract: A ribbon cutting apparatus which solves the problems of lateral shifting, stretching and shrinking of a printed web of material by providing a plurality of blade carrying blocks each of which may be independently positioned with respect to a travelling web. Each blade carrying block supports between 2 and 9 circular blades. Each of the blades in turn is connected to a small pneumatic cylinder which presses the blades against a platen roller so as to crush cut the web of material passing through. An electric eye detects the location of a registration line that is located substantially near the center of the web. The blade carrying blocks are normally located symmetrically on opposite sides of the registration line. If the web is out of registration the take-off roll is driven horizontally to compensate for the mis-positioning. Each of the blade carrying blocks is independently positionable by a manual adjustment mechanism, such as a wheel connected through a gearing mechanism to each blade carrying blocks.

Abstract: It has been found that plant viruses and viroids can be inhibited by treating plants infected with or exposed to viruses or viroids with a virus-inhibiting amount of a maleic acid, maleic anhydride or fumaric acid copolymer.