Abstract: A protective hood for the growing of cultivated plants to be raised on supports, such as stakes, sticks or the like, is described, said hood consisting of a sleeve provided with slit-like orifices, one end of the sleeve being optionally fastened to the support and the other end secured on or in the ground. As in the case of the known protective hoods the penetration of the water into the hood cannot be controlled, it is proposed to design the protective hood in a manner such that the sleeve (2) comprises V or scale shaped slits (7). If these slits (7) are arranged in rows and the slits (7) of adjacent rows are offset relative to each other, the slits may be opened by the plant or manually. Due to the specific layout of the protective hood, the fishplates (8) or scales remaining between the legs of the V-shaped slits are always curving to the outside. Depending on the manner in which the sleeve is being used, i.e.

Abstract: A multilayer insulating body (1) with two outer layers (2, 3) joined together over at least part of their surface, is described, the body being characterized in that between the two outer layers (2, 3) an intermediate layer (5) containing textile fibers (4) is arranged, that at least the two outer layers (2,3) are joined over at least part of their surface at joint locations (6), in particular by welding. Within the area of the joint locations (6) the entire insulating body (1) may comprise passages (7), in particular slits. An insulating body (1) is obtained in this manner, which is thermally insulating by means of its intermediate layer (5) containing the fibers (4), wherein the fibers (4) may be sealed of gas and vapor tight against the environment. On the other hand, the entire insulating body (1) may be made gas and vapor permeable in spite of the slits (7).

Abstract: A heat pack and a process for its preparation are described wherein the heat pack comprises an earth-like mass between two outer layers surrounding the mass and the two outer layers are joined together by means of holding fibers uniformly distributed over their entire surface area. The joining of the three layers may be effected by a needle bonding process known in the needle tufting process of the textile industry. Webs of the three-layer system needle bonded in this manner are cut into pieces according to their application, thereby forming the heat packs as such, and packaged into foil bags in which the heat packs may be stored and heated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a binding material comprising a longitudinally stretched oriented thermoplastic polymer having the same cross-sectional dimensions all along the longitudinal extensions thereof wherein the stretch ratio is between 5:1 and 8:1. This binding material is useful in tying of rods, wires, plant stems, etc. and it is also useful as bag closures.

Abstract: A vegetation suppressing, ground covering agronomic mulch sheet adapted for the prevention and/or control of undesirable plant growth is disclosed. The sheet is comprised of a web having a maximum light transmittance of about 60% and a minimum air permeability of about 200 1/m.sup.2 s at a pressure differential of 10 mm water.