Abstract: A growing system, comprising a container for liquid, a container for growing medium and a wick for transporting water between them, provides a low maintenance, low water usage, self-watering planter. The wick, cut from an extended, continuously manufactured length, may comprise a plastic net and omni-directional, long-fiber sphagnum moss.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for harvesting a crop, for example, blueberries. The apparatus includes a plurality of groups of channels arranged side-by-side to create a plurality of picking heads with stripping gaps. The picking heads are connected to a frame. As a motive force, such as a tractor, moves the frame through a field of plants, the ends of the channels are moved below the crop. The gaps between the channels strip the crop from the plants, and the crop falls into the channels, where the crop may move along the channels for collecting.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting a crop, such as cranberries, includes a frame movable through a field of plants, a revolvable surface carried by the movable structure and supported to revolve about a horizontal axis, and resilient, rubbery fingers mounted rigidly on the revolvable surface and projecting outwardly therefrom. The revolvable surface and fingers are arranged to bring the fingers into contact with the crop plants. In addition, a method for harvesting berries includes the steps of moving a frame through a field, revolving a drum on the frame in a forward direction about a horizontal axis, with the drum having a plurality of semi-rigid, rubbery fingers rigidly mounted thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom, such that as the revolving drum moves through the field, the fingers dislodge and sweep berries from plants onto an apron that leads to a conveyor or auger and to a container for further shipment.

Abstract: A process for increasing the surface area yield of a tanned hide while improving the surface characteristics of leather resulting from the hide, the invention includes the method steps of freezing the tanned hide or splits from the hide followed by mechanical compression of the hide or splits, such as by biaxial rolling or the like, to substantially increase the yield from a given hide. A hide may be frozen in a planar configuration before splitting, the present process contemplating splitting of the frozen hide prior to mechanical compression to increase useable yield. Alternatively, the hide can be conventionally split followed by optional shaving of the splits with the splits then being frozen and subsequently subjected to mechanical compression according to the invention. The present process also includes apparatus for practice of the process and methodology relating to preconditioning of a hide and to the drying of the compressed splits.

Abstract: A stand-alone machine and a process for forming crosswise filaments for non-woven fabric comprises two sets of non-traversing edge spacing pins, each set with a gripper, and a traversing set of slider pins. The sets of pins are placed close together. Crosswise filament yarns are engaged by these sets of pins. The slider pins then traverse and pull the filaments to their full length. The crosswise filaments are cut and fixed to edge elements, which preferably may including adhering the crosswise filaments to selvage filaments. The edge elements are then separated to draw the crosswise filaments to their full width. The invention provides increased speed, precision, and flexibility in making crosswise filaments for non-woven fabrics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming a succession of individual, full width, weft yarns by means of a turret rotating in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis and carrying a plurality of weft yarn packages. The weft yarns are drawn off the packages to full width by two pairs of belts, carrying spaced pairs of pins, advancing along a generally horizontal path parallel to the plane of the turret and parallel to the plane in which the weft strands travel, then cut off at full width and spread out by clamp belts and cables to extend laterally and horizontally across the machine. A plurality of warp yarns, each carrying adhesive are laid on the weft yarns and the resulting skrim unitized on a heated drum with the assistance of heated air from a blower.

Abstract: A flexible, opaque mulch carpet for inhibiting weed growth while promoting plant growth has a central backing layer of non-rotting, synthetic, open mesh, fabric of relatively high tensile strength sandwiched between an upper layer and a lower layer formed of ground bark particles unified by, and each encapsulated in, a resin binder, preferably PVC. The thin coating of resin binder on the particles bonds the particles together, and bonds the layers together through the mesh, but the particles are uncompressed and water can percolate through the interstices between the coated particles. Iron oxide in the mix makes fast the color of the particles.