Abstract: An apparatus for a wheeled vehicle for slashing pine trees to enhance the production by natural means of terpenoid materials, and comprising a tree slashing device pivotally mounted at the end of an arm extending from the vehicle, and irritant applicator also carried on said tree slashing device for applying an irritant material to the freshly slashed wound in the stem of the tree.

Abstract: A fluid suction device is disclosed. The device comprises a cylinder, a piston mounted for sliding movement into the cylinder, a shaft secured to the piston at one end and having a longitudinal bore therein communicating with the cylinder, a suction head secured to the outer end of the shaft and having a longitudinal bore in communication with the bore in the shaft spring means surrounding the shaft for biasing the suction head away from the cylinder, and means for moving the shaft into the cylinder against the action of the spring to create a vacuum at the tip of the suction head to draw fluid into the suction head.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating trees includes at least one cutting element having a fluid passageway therethrough, facilities for positioning the cutting element around the periphery of a tree, and facilities for driving said cutting element through the bark of a tree to expose the sapwood therein and for ejecting a predetermined quantity of fluid through the passageway in the cutting element onto the sapwood of a tree. In addition, the invention includes a method for the chemical treatment of trees.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating trees includes at least one cutting element having a concave cutting edge and a flat surface containing a cavity for ejectment of a treating solution onto the surface of a frill made during impact of the cutting element with a tree, and facilities for positioning and moving the cutting element from tree to tree.

Abstract: An injector blade for injecting liquid into a tree wherein the blade has a concave cutting edge, a flat non-beveled first surface containing a cavity for ejectment of a treating solution onto the surface of a frill made during impact of the blade with a tree and a beveled second surface.

Abstract: Hydroponic nutrient solution is fed to a growing bed by means of a pump withdrawing liquid nutrient solution from a supply reservoir located below the bed. The nutrient solution is rapidly drained from the bed when the pump is de-energized through a dump valve having no moving parts which bypasses the solution draining from the bed directly into the supply reservoir. The dump valve consists of a hollow body having at least one drain aperture. A stream of nutrient solution under pressure passes through a nozzle in the inlet of the valve body and is discharged into the outlet of the valve body. When the pump is de-energized, a major portion of the solution draining from the growing bed passes through the aperture and drains directly into the reservoir.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for hydroponic growth of plants which includes an elongated chamber having an inlet door, an outlet door, and an interior designed to support vertically spaced trays which are arranged to be advanced one tray-length each day from the inlet door toward the outlet door. The trays are illuminated with light adapted to promote photosynthesis after advancing three tray-lengths through the chamber. The chamber is at least seven tray-lengths long and is provided with sprays above the top row of trays. The trays have corrugated bottoms with drain holes in the lowermost portion of each corrugation.

Abstract: A method of cultivating epiphytically or semi-epiphytically living plants, comprises the steps of individually attaching the plants to a non-native substrate in their seeding stage when they already have recognizable leaves and roots; throughout their cultivation, maintaining the plants in a dry condition at daytime; and throughout their cultivation, maintaining the plants in a wet condition from nightfall until daybreak by thorough watering.

Abstract: The invention concerns an accessory unit for plant receptacles for hydroponics, this accessory unit forming the water-level gauge-channel and the pouring-in-and emptying-channel, both of the channels being placed close to each other, rigidly connected together but separated along their whole height by a partition wall.

Abstract: Starch-containing polymer compositions are prepared which absorb amounts of water equaling up to more than 1000 times their own weight. The compositions find many applications including their incorporation into products such as disposable diapers, surgical pads and sheets, and paper towels.

Abstract: A plant growth accelerating apparatus for increasing plant yields by effectively removing the growing plants from the constraints of gravity and increasing the plant yield per unit of space when the light intensity incident on the apparatus varies, and including a plant bed mounted for turning about the longitudinal axis thereof and a drive structure for periodically tilting the longitudinal axis of the plant bed while relatively low light intensities are incident thereon to impart thereto a slope from about 0.01 to about 0.25 to decrease the respiration rate of plants growing on the plant bed; there also is disclosed a structure applying the tilting structure to a multiple plant bed machine, as well as gravitational watering structure for multiple plant beds while turning the same, and improved plant bed structures and novel forms and compositions of rooting media and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Germinating apparatus for sprouting seeds such as bean sprouts or the like. The apparatus is comprised of a vertical arrangement of alternately stacked base members and dish members with base members forming the top and bottom members of the arrangement. The base members are formed having an imperforate top wall with a recessed portion for retaining water, and a downturned peripheral side wall flaring outwardly and terminating below the top wall. The dish members are formed having a foraminous bottom wall on which the beans are dispersed, and an upturned peripheral side wall flaring outwardly and terminating above the bottom wall. Support means are provided for maintaining the foraminous bottom wall of each dish member a preselected distance above the recessed portion of the base member immediately therebelow so that the beans can be maintained in spaced relation to the surface of the water in the recessed portion of the base member.

Abstract: A tree bark scoring apparatus adapted for transport and for operation aboard a moving, dirigible and speed controllable prime mover.

Abstract: Plant cells are grown continuously in a tubular transparent plastic structure through which water containing nutrients and carbon dioxide are passed. A suspension of plant cells in the water grow on exposure to light and can be harvested as a food material.

Abstract: Apparatus providing a controlled environment for intensive cultivation of vegetable matter, e.g. bean sprouts is disclosed. A valve regulates the supply of water from a reservoir to a water-spray inlet in the roof of a cultivation chamber having an air vent and a water drainage outlet. A timing device, operatively connected to a valve actuating mechanism, opens the valve for a predetermined length of time at predetermined intervals. The water supplied to the spray inlet is heated by a thermostatically controlled heater. The chamber may be thermally insulated and its interior may be heated by a thermostatically controlled heater.

Abstract: A technique for forcing the growth of Belgium endive in which roots grown in the field are placed in sterile growing media in pallet boxes stacked one above the other within a controlled-environment chamber whose available volume is fully utilized. In a production cycle, the growth of shoots from the roots is initiated by a start-up temperature in the range of 70.degree. to 80.degree.F, the temperature thereafter being reduced to the range of 52.degree. to 56.degree.F for the remainder of the forcing cycle. The relative humidity is maintained in the range of 70 percent to 85 percent. The roots are planted in a clean, sterile growing media so that in harvesting, when the shoot is cut from the root, it is clean and requires no washing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing plants using artificial light wherein pulsed fluorescent lamps are placed among the plants themselves below the plant tops and are pulsed on and off at a rate such that the plant can utilize the light photons in a chemically useful way with regard to that rate which maintains the lamp bulb temperature below a level that would be harmful to the plants. This technique significantly enhances growth and enables the lamps to be used as a supplemental lighting system in combination with natural light. To increase the life and overall yield of the plants an arrangement is also provided which includes a compartment containing a nutrient solution and a movable belt or the like to which the roots of a plant attach.