Abstract: Material for drying cut plants includes a drying agent providing a basic pH of at least 11 and becoming at least partially insoluble at a pH no greater than approximately 13.4. Such agent saponifies the wax on the stems as the plant dries and as the pH of the drying agent accordingly increases. Such agent is selected from a group consisting of the carbonates, phosphates and silicates, and a combination of the hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates, of at least one of sodium and potassium. The drying agent may have a concentration of about 3 to 6 pounds per ton of dried cut plants. The material also includes a mold inhibiting agent having properties of remaining inactive until the occurrence in the plant of conditions inducing molding and of then reacting with the moisture to inhibit mold formation. Such agent may be selected from a group consisting of acids and acid salts of at least one of propionic, acetic, sorbic, carboxylic and other fatty acids.

Abstract: Drying agents for cut plants provide a basic pH in a solution between approximately 12.4 and 13.2 when the drying is to be provided primarily on the stems of the cut plants. The drying agents include a first material which provides a pH of at least 12.4 in the solution. The first drying agent may constitute an alkaline metasilicate such as sodium metasilicate. The drying agents may also include a second material such as an alkaline carbonate. Sodium or potassium carbonate are preferable. The second drying agent constitutes a buffer to limit the pH in the solution to a value of approximately 13.2.The metasilicate is in the form of a colloid of silicon dioxide and this colloid tends to act primarily on the waxes on the stems to saponify the waxes on the surfaces of the stems. The drying agents form a chemical complex which serves as a protective coating to prevent water from entering into the stems of the plants.

Abstract: A drying agent for cut plants provides a basic pH of at least 11 in a solution and has properties of becoming at least partially insoluble at a pH no greater than approximately 13.4 in the solution. A mold-inhibiting agent is mixed with the drying agent and is provided with properties of remaining inactive until the occurrence of conditions inducing molding of the plant. The mold-inhibiting agent has properties of reacting with moisture under such conditions inducing molding to inhibit such molding.A waterproofing agent is mixed with the drying and mold-inhibiting agents and is provided with properties, at the pH of the drying agent in the solution, for providing for a passage of moisture from the plants while preventing drops or droplets of water from being reabsorbed on the plants. The waterproofing agent may be sodium methyl siliconate.A surface active agent may also be included.

Abstract: Material is provided for drying cut plants. The material includes a drying agent providing a basic pH in a solution of at least 11 and having properties of becoming at least partially insoluble at a pH no greater than approximately 13.4. The drying agent has properties of saponifying the wax on the stems as the plant dries and as the pH of the drying agent accordingly increases. The drying agent is selected from a group consisting of the carbonates, phosphates and silicates of at least one of sodium and potassium and a combination of the hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates of at least one of sodium and potassium. The drying agent may have a concentration of about 3 to 6 pounds per ton of dried cut plants.

Abstract: Apparatus for playing out information recorded on a side of a wafer-like rotary data-storage element, which element is deformable into a non-planar body of revolution. The apparatus includes a turntable for receiving and rotating such an element, and, according to the particular embodiment, either a positive or a negative pressurizing system for effecting element deformation on the turntable. Also included is a reading head mounted for tracking along a radial path which parallels the recorded side of an element deformed on the turntable.