Abstract: A method for treating a substrate with a volatile liquid, crop-preservative formulation includes transporting a predetermined quantity of the formulation from a reservoir to an injection device and applying the predetermined quantity to the substrate. The substrate may thereafter be in proximity to a crop to be treated by the vapor from the formulation. The substrate is most conveniently a portion of a container in which the crop is stored or shipped.

Abstract: A compacting apparatus for a light weight loose material has a chamber for receiving the material and an auger for driving the material into a compression tube. During initialization, a plug in the tube impedes the material to cause a compact material plug to form which restricts further loose material in a continuous compacting action. A spring loaded restrictor partially occludes the compression tube for impeding the compacted material in a compression action to thereby form a compressed plug of the loose material continuously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the healthy supplementary foods and the technology for making them by enabling the efficient collection of young leaves of rice plant rich in nutrition and processing without losing nutrition characteristic of young leaves of rice plant. Collection of young leaves of rice plant consists in cutting young leaves 2 of the upper side only while leaving the below part of the rice plant when rice plant has grown so old as to be in ears or just before this, allowing for cutting the remaining young leaves after they have grown again after passing a certain period of time. This step will be repeated several times. The young leaves 2 cut out will be pre-processed appropriately like cleaning before they are far infrared dried to contain a given volume of water, thus refraining, for instance, the destruction of the useful compounds- in the young leaves 2 of rice plant.

Abstract: Shown are clean bean vegetables and a method for cultivating clean, bean vegetables without using agricultural chemicals. Provision of highly electrolyzed water allows soybean sprouts to be grown faster without being rotted. The highly electrolyzed water prepared by electrolyzing inorganic salt-added water. The highly electrolyzed water can be reused, so it is economically favorable. The soybean sprouts grown with the highly electrolyzed water are rich in inorganic elements with excellent taste in addition to being of more alkalinity.

Abstract: A diet supplement improves the growth and health of humans and other animals. The supplement contains: (1) germs having a selenium level of at least about 0.2 ppm that are derived from a cereal grain grown in selenium-rich soil; and (2) plant materials having a selenium level of at least about 0.2 ppm that are from a legume grown in selenium-rich soil.

Abstract: A method of producing metal-rich plants for the production of nutritional supplements. Edible plants are placed in a growth environment containing metal, and are cultivated in a fashion which enhances the uptake of metal into edible portions of the plants. The plants are then harvested, and may be eaten directly or processed into capsule or tablet form, in order to obtain the metallic nutrients so incorporated.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to feed compositions including purslane leaves harvested at bloom. The present invention is further drawn to methods of reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides with the present feed compositions of purslane leaves, as well as methods of preventing and treating coronary heart disease with the feed compositions.

Abstract: A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

Abstract: An animal feed and water additive prepared from seaweed and a method of preparing an additive for animal consumption containing seaweed. Seaweed is dried, ground to a powder, frozen and extracted at warm temperature. A solution of elements, and an oxygen-aloe solution are added to the extract. The extract may be given to animals with their drinking water and/or food.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polysaccharide product containing units corresponding to rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose and providing, in addition, humans and animals with an increased level of plasma prolactin when administered in an effective amount, orally or by injection. The product is substantially soluble in water and substantially insoluble in ethanol and is derived from plants of the genus Gossypium sp. of the family of the Malvaceae. The molecular mass of the polysaccharide product is generally between about 10.sup.4 and 10.sup.6 daltons and preferably between 2.20.sup.4 and 10.sup.5 daltons.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polysaccharide product containing units corresponding to rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose and providing, in addition, humans and animals with an increased level of plasma prolactin when administered in an effective amount, orally or by injection. The product is substantially soluble in water and substantially insoluble in ethanol and is preferably derived from plants of the genus Gossypium sp. of the family of the Malvaceae or from plants of the species Euphorbia Hirta of the family Euphorbiaceae. The molecular mass of the polysaccharide product is generally between about 10.sup.4 and 10.sup.6 daltons and preferably between 2.10.sup.4 and 10.sup.5 daltons.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making holes in vegetable segments wherein the hole-making step is integrally connected with the steps of cutting and slicing of the segments prior to blanching, dehydrating and/or rehydrating whereby the time of processing of vegetable segments can be quite substantially reduced.

Abstract: The blossom and stem ends of a papaya are sliced off to expose the seed cavity, and the seeds therein are blown out by a jet of fluid.