Abstract: Process and apparatus for the production of a seeded artificial growth medium comprises continuously feeding a flexible carrier sheet which may comprise a non-woven fibrous material or a sheet of foamed plastics material, applying seeds to the upper surface of the continuously moving sheet, moving a sheet of flexible foamed plastics material in synchronism with the carrier sheet, bringing the sheet of foamed plastics material into juxtaposition with the upper surface of the carrier sheet after application of the seeds and continuously adhering the sheets together, preferably by flame lamination.

Abstract: A hydroponic assembly in the form of a tray having spaced through-openings serving as growing stations, the tray being supported by a trough containing a body of nutrient solution. At each growing station there is a wafer of dry growing medium having a seed-receiving surface on its top side and having a wick communicating with its underside and extending downwardly into the nutrient solution, the growing medium being of the type capable of expanding three-dimensionally into a porous root-supporting block as the solution is fed via the wick by capillary action. The land surface surrounding each opening is formed into a well or receptacle for maintaining the porous block seated and generally aligned with the opening. A transparent cover of hollow inverted shape defines an enclosed space developing high humidity for sprouting of the seeds and growth of the resulting seedlings, the cover, tray and trough being interfitted.

Abstract: A propagator for the cultivation of plants in a controlled environment comprising upper and lower elongate containers having a common perforated wall, a plurality of plant seeds supported in spaced relation by or adjacent the common wall, means for injecting liquid in the form of vapor or droplets into an end of each of the elongate containers and means for maintaining a pressure in the elongate containers greater than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A planter adapted for small as well as large scale seed planting since the principal parts may be extruded or otherwise formed in any appropriate lengths, the planter being characterized particularly by having means for condensation and direction of the condensed soil water onto a limited area where the seeds are planted in a fertilized mulch, the planter producing hothouse conditions therewithin, base portions of the planter being self-destructing by reason of solution by soil water to prevent interference with root growth, and weed control being provided for by chemical weed retardant originally contained in aprons on each side of the planter, the lower layers of these aprons being soluble in soil water to release the chemical weed retardant.

Abstract: A peat paper used to improve the quality of the soil in connection with planting, sowing or weed-control. The paper consists of peat fibres (4), cellulose fibres (1), and a bonding agent. The disclosure also teaches the method of producing said peat paper. The peat paper is characterized in that in a lower layer the cellulose fibres (1) support the peat fibres (4) and in that the cellulose fibres and peat fibres (1,4) are bonded together by means of the bonding agent in a dry-formation process so as to form paper-like sheets or webs. The resulting peat paper is soft and owing to its method of production controlled amounts and/or layers of additives, such as fertilizers, seeds, hormones, and similar additives may be incorporated into the paper.

Abstract: A field transplant system including a machine for sequentially forming groups of polymerized soil plugs having seed receiving recesses in one end thereof and supported on a carrier, and in certain cases interconnected by strips, the carrier being used to transport the soil plugs through a seeding station and then to a germination station and then to a growing station either in the flat or on a plant turning machine in a greenhouse to grow the germinated seeds to transplant size, and then using the carrier to transport the soil plugs with the transplants growing therein to the field for transplanting by an automatic transplanter; several forms of soil plugs are disclosed, and several methods for supplying seeds to the soil plugs are disclosed, as well as an improved method of mounting a mat of soil plugs on the cylinder of a plant turning machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to seed carriers which are preferably in the form of seed-containing sheets to be laid out on the ground. The seed carriers are produced continuously on a large scale by the utilization of forming wire machines commonly used for papermaking. The seed carrier is formed in part of a peat material which is fibre-graded, in that colloids and small particles have been removed, and/or of a peat material having a degree of humidification of 1 to 3 according to von Post's scale, and in part of a fibre material interconnecting the peat fibres. The seed carrier according to the invention may be used for growing all kinds of crop, preferably in growing plants in dry districts, for instance desert areas, where it will form a cover which promotes the retention of moisture in the underlying soil.

Abstract: A plant growth media in the form of a gel which is useful for growing plants in the form of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, nursery stock, etc., is obtained by dissolving a water-soluble polyisocyanate capped prepolymer containing said growing plant in an aqueous medium optionally containing various plant growth additives such as fertilizer, agricultural modified minerals and the like. The media can be formed in a variety of shapes.

Abstract: In the production of a carpet of grass or other vegetable matter, a compost made from wood bark which is crushed and gauged, is spread onto a substantially flat surface impermeable to plant roots, the compost being mixed with seed before, during, or after, application of the flat surface. The roots of the plants formed from the seed form a fabric embedded in the compost. The carpet thus formed may be easily detached from the flat surface.

Abstract: A field transplant system including a machine for sequentially forming groups of polymerized soil plugs having seed receiving recesses in one end thereof and supported on a carrier, and in certain cases interconnected by strips, the carrier being used to transport the soil plugs through a seeding station and then to a germination station and then to a growing station either in the flat or on a plant turning machine in a greenhouse to grow the germinated seeds to transplant size, and then using the carrier to transport the soil plugs with the transplants growing therein to the field for transplanting by an automatic transplanter; several forms of soil plugs are disclosed, and several methods for supplying seeds to the soil plugs are disclosed, as well as an improved method of mounting a mat of soil plugs on the cylinder of a plant turning machine.

Abstract: A laminated mat for growing lawns or other vegetation on soil comprises a base sheet of water pervious, bio-degradable web material. Joined to the base sheet by an adhesive binder is a bed of seeds and dried, compressed peat particles. Secured to the bed of seeds and peat particles is an upper laminate comprising a fibrous, porous veil which protects and retains the bed therebelow. The upper veil is water pervious to pass water therethrough to the bed of peat particles and seeds. The bio-degradable veil also easily expands to retain the wet, expanded peat particles and the seeds entrained by the peat particles and the veil.

Abstract: An earth working implement is disclosed for installing plastic netting under seeded earth for the growth of grass sod. The implement may be drawn by a tractor and is configured to continuously lay netting on the ground and automatically cover the netting with an appropriate layer of earth containing seed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a laminar seed carrier in which a support comprising an unsized or lightly sized paper web of tangled short, smooth individual fibres is provided with one or more patches of an adhesive substance, seeds are applied to the patch or patches of adhesive substance, an upper paper web comprising a porous web having a lower weight than the support paper web is placed over the seeds and bonded to the support paper web and is treated with one or more powdered water-storing substances to incorporate the powdered water-storing substances within the pores of the upper paper web.

Abstract: A toy which can be used to instruct people and preferably children, on how to grow seeds and care for the same after they germinate as well as a device which can be used as a novelty item, such as a greeting card whose image will change upon the germination of the seed associated therewith.

Abstract: A field transplant system including a machine for sequentially forming groups of polymerized soil plugs having seed receiving recesses in one end thereof and supported on a carrier, and in certain cases interconnected by strips, the carrier being used to transport the soil plugs through a seeding station and then to a germination station and then to a growing station either in the flat or on a plant turning machine in a greenhouse to grow the germinated seeds to transplant size, and then using the carrier to transport the soil plugs with the transplants growing therein to the field for transplanting by an automatic transplanter; several forms of soil plugs are disclosed, and several methods for supplying seeds to the soil plugs are disclosed, as well as an improved method of mounting a mat of soil plugs on the cylinder of a plant turning machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermoplastic, multiphase copolymers selected from the group consisting of copolymers represented by graft copolymers having the general formula ##STR1## AND BLOCK COPOLYMERS HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA XB--[AB].sub.n --yA wherein n is an integer .gtoreq. 1, m is > 1, x and y are 0 or 1, and y is 1 when n is 1, A is a thermoplastic, hydrophobic polymer block having a softening point (i.e., a glass transition or cyrstalline melting point) of at least 35.degree. C and a molecular weight of at least 2,000, and B is a thermoplastic, hydrophilic polymer block having a softening point of at least about 35.degree. C and a molecular weight of at least about 6,000, which comprises from about 30-97 wt % of said copolymer. The novel polymers of this invention are useful for making water containing gels. Preferably, the thermoplastic multiphase copolymer is a styrene-ethylene oxide copolymer.

Abstract: In the production of turf, a growing medium including particulate lignite is mixed with grass seed and is then spread out on a water-impervious bed between two parallel kerbs. The bed may comprise flexible plastics sheeting which serves as a backing when the turf is removed from between the kerbs and rolled up.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for planting seed tape wherein a seed tape planter is pulled through the field during a planting operation, and planting seed tape is accomplished by forming a seed bed, dispensing seed tape onto or into the formed seed bed, opening furrows or cavities on each side of said formed seed bed, dispensing a covering material over said formed seed bed and the dispensed seed tape, urging the edges of said covering material into the open furrows or cavities, and closing the furrows or cavities by back filling the same with the displaced dirt or soil from the furrows or cavities so as to cover the edges of said covering material such that the back filled dirt or soil acts to hold the covering material about said formed seed bed.

Abstract: A grass product that is substantially protected against or free from insect infestation as by certain soil grubs or the like and method for manufacturing the same. The grass product may be manufactured as sod or grassland and cut into suitable units to be transported and used as a covering for lawns, terraces and the like previously prepared to accept them. Alternately, the grass product may be manufactured on top of existing sod such as in a lawn. The grass product comprises an upper layer of rooting material, a lower layer of sod or rooting material containing grass roots and/or seeds, and a nondegradable screen of a predetermined mesh size interposed between the upper and lower layers. The screen has a predetermined mesh size which prevents insects larger than the mesh from passing from the upper layer into the lower layer and vice versa.

Abstract: A plant marker which serves not only to facilitate the implant of seeds at the proper depth, but also functioning to encourage the upward growth of the seedlings. The marker is constituted by a tab which is insertable in soil to a depth determined by a ground line which divides the front face of the tab into a short lower section and a longer upper section. Mounted across the lower section is a piece of bio-degradable tape encapsulating the seeds to be planted. The upper section is coated with a light-reflecting layer whereby when the marker is buried in soil, the resultant seedlings will intercept the rays of the sun advancing toward the upper section and will be directly exposed to incident rays on one side, the other side of the seedlings being exposed to reflected radiation, whereby the seedlings will not elongate and incline toward the source of the rays but will grow upwardly.

Abstract: A lawn nursery strip is provided by apparatus employing regenerated cotton to form a strip with a raised nap on a front side. The rear of the strip is sequentially fertilized, bonded, and strengthened; then the napped front of the strip is sequentially seeded, fertilized, bonded, and covered. The strip is rolled compactly by the apparatus described for transport or storage until needed for use.This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 520,985, filed Nov. 5, 1974, now abandoned.

Abstract: Sod is removed from the field in standard width strips and the strips are cut into equal length sections. Excess moisture, when present, is removed from the sod prior to delivering the sod sections to an apparatus which removes excess soil from the bottom of the sod to reduce weight and form a product of uniform thickness. The sod sections are then delivered soil side up to a scoring and trimming apparatus which trims each section to an accurate length and scores the sod partly through the root structure longitudinally and transversely to form a plurality of equally-sized rectangular plugs in each sod section which can be easily separated by a user. Prior to the second scoring operation, pairs of sod sections are placed on moisture-absorbing trays and following the second scoring, plural layers of processed sod sections and intervening trays are placed in superposed relation in a shipping carton having a moisture-impermeable liner.

Abstract: A sod piece for sodding a soil area is formed to have the root portion thereof substantially free of soil for facilitated transportation and improved transplanting. The soil-free sod piece may be provided in a compact configuration, such as a roll or folded configuration. The soil may be removed from the sod roots by a washing operation. The washed sod may be subsequently dried. The sod piece may be cooled to maintain viability of the sod such as during storage and transportation to the area to be sodded therewith.

Abstract: A high density merchandise display comprisesA. a base and a support rod extending upwardly from the base, andB. multiple display units for said merchandise fanning outwardly from and spaced circularly about the rod, the units having stacked relation.The units may include cards with items of merchandise thereon located near the periphery of the display, to be seen, and the cards may have overlap limited by containers for the merchandise on the cards. Also, a simple rack design is provided for the display.

Abstract: A system and process is disclosed for providing a durability enhanced area that is particularly well suited for use as an athletic playing field. A vegetative crop has one or more layers of netting associated therewith so that each layer of netting has portions of the vegetative crop extending therethrough. With grass utilized as the vegetative crop and the growing points of the grass within a rooting medium, the blades of the grass extend upwardly through a top layer of netting contiguous to and above the rooting medium to protect the growing points of the grass and to prevent excessive divoting when the area is used as an athletic playing field. A second layer of netting is positioned below the rooting medium so that the roots of the grass extend therethrough to give the turf the support strength that is particularly required where the area is used as an athletic playing field for playing a game such as football. Additional layers of netting may be utilized where needed or desired.

Abstract: A foam body, for example in the form of a mat, strip, square or the like, consisting of pieces of polyurethane foam held together by a bonding agent, which may be foamed, e.g. porous polyurethane, characterized in that plant seeds are contained in the foam body.

Abstract: Very thin coatings are applied to irregularly surfaced seeds to enable handling by seed-tape machines and other seed singulators. Improved adhesion of the coating to the seed and retention of the coating thereon is obtained by a spray process carried on while rotating a bed of seeds in a drum.

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 method for preparing a soil surface for grass growing wherein soil is continuously scraped from the surface in advance of a travelling reel carrying mesh sheet. The reel is continuously unwound during travel and the mesh sheet is laid on the scraped surface while the scraped soil is continuously conveyed to the rear of the reel and deposited on the laid mesh sheet. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an agricultural mulch in sheet form pierced by a recurring, closely spaced slit pattern which provides normally closed passage points between the open air and ground at any random point in the growing area for germinating plants and rain water. The slit pattern can provide structural integrity for the sheet laterally, longitudinally, diagonally or various combinations thereof, and can additionally provide flaps which can be oriented to protect the emergent plants from cold winds.

Abstract: A first frame capable of holding humus in which seeds of a plant are embedded to obtain the rapid germination of the seeds, with the first frame being supported on a second frame in which fertile soil is contained. The seedlings resulting from the germination of the seeds have roots that extend downwardly into the soil in the second frame. The first frame has manually operable means mounted thereon for severing the seedling roots in the first frame from those in the second frame to permit the two frames to be separated. The sod seedlings are removed from the first frame and the sod then planted in the field. The apparatus is particularly well adapted for producing sod seeding plantings.

Abstract: A seed planting unit carries a seed planter that dispenses a predetermined amount of seed into the ground at predetermined intervals in response to the coupling between a ground engaging wheel supporting the unit and the drive means of the seed planter. A film dispenser is also carried by the unit for laying film on the ground over the planted seeds; and a transmission is provided for synchronizing the perforating of the film before it is laid with the dispensing of the seeds by the seed planter so that the apertures in the film are aligned with the seeds deposited in the ground.

Abstract: An elongated bed for growing mushrooms and the like is longitudinally displaceable by being supported on an open-weave fabric slidable on a second open-weave fabric which in turn is supported on a floor.