Abstract: An underground system for supplying water to and removing water from an athletic facility having a surface which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness. The system includes a plurality of substantially level watering grids positioned in a layer of aggregate material below the surface of the athletic facility. The watering grids provide an arrangement of consecutive watering zones which extend across the athletic facility from one end thereof to the other. Each of the plurality of watering grids includes a plurality of parallel perforated lateral pipes which are connected at opposite ends thereof to header pipes. The plurality of substantially level watering grids are positioned at a substantially equal level below the surface of the athletic facility, regardless of the slope thereof. The system may be installed into existing athletic facilities without excessive damage or disruption to their surfaces.

Abstract: An underground system for supplying water to and removing water from an athletic facility having a surface which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness. The system includes a plurality of substantially level watering grids which provide an arrangement of consecutive watering zones which extend across the athletic facility from one end thereof to the other. Each of the plurality of watering grids includes a plurality of parallel perforated lateral pipes which are connected at opposite ends thereof to header pipes. The plurality of substantially level watering grids are positioned at a substantially equal level below the surface of the athletic facility, regardless of the slope thereof. The system may be installed into existing athletic facilities without excessive damage or disruption to their surfaces.

Abstract: An underground system for supplying water to and removing water from an athletic facility having a surface which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness. The system includes an array of pipes which are positioned within rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms. Water is supplied to and removed from the array of pipes by a water control system at ambient pressures. The system may be installed into existing athletic facilities without excessive damage or disruption to their surfaces.

Abstract: A plant flat handling system for handling floatable plant flats employs a horizontally extending main channel which can be flooded from either a water tank or a nutrient containing tank with a plurality of branch channels extending outwardly from the main channel. Gate valve means between the branch channel and the main channel can be opened to permit the main channel to fill the branch channel or to drain the branch channel when the main channel is drained. Plural wires extend along the length of the branch channels and support floating plant flats when the branch channels are drained. Periodic flooding and draining of the branch channels is effected until plants in the flats have matured and can be harvested. Harvesting is effected by maintaining light pressure against the outermost plant flats in the branch channel to urge the body of plant flats toward a main work area overlying the main channel. A power conveyor extends downwardly into the branch channel and lifts the flats therefrom for harvesting.

Abstract: A plant flat handling system for handling floatable plant flats employs a horizontally extending main channel which can be flooded from either a water tank or a nutrient containing tank with a plurality of branch channels extending outwardly from the main channel. Gate valve means between the branch channel and the main channel can be opened to permit the main channel to fill the branch channel or to drain the branch channel when the main channel is drained. Plural wires extend along the length of the branch channels and support floating plant flats when the branch channels are drained. Periodic flooding and draining of the branch channels is effected until plants in the flats have matured and can be harvested. Harvesting is effected by maintaining light pressure against the outermost plant flats in the branch channel to urge the body of plant flats toward a main work area overlying the main channel. A power conveyor extends downwardly into the branch channel and lifts the flats therefrom for harvesting.