GB2064934A - Seed strips - Google Patents

Abstract

A seed encased in a pocket of paper or similar substance of such weight as to enable the seed to germinate and grow. The pockets may be single, in a strip or in a sheet. The pockets may also be spaced at intervals in the strip or sheet. The paper or similar substance forming the spacing between pockets may cover the entire area of such spacing or form a tongue or tongues between pockets and/or rows. Alternatively the pockets may be formed over string rope or a stick at intervals. The area of paper or similar substance which covers the seed may be finely perforated. The paper or similar substance may be coated with a suitable adhesive on that part of the casing on which the seeds will be placed so that they remain in position, and the seeds encased in an unpocketed strip or sheet.

Description

SPECIFICATION Seed strips This invention is to enable seeds to be easily handled and the distance apart at which they are sewn to be controlled.

Each seed is encased in a pocket of paper or similar substance of such suitable weight as to enable it to readily pulp or partially split or disintegrate when the paper becomes damp or for the growth from the seed to push its way through. These pockets are sealed round all edges and may be made in a strip of pockets or as a sheet of individually pocketed seeds, or as single pockets. The pockets containing the seeds are placed unopened in the ground.

The pockets may adjoin each other on the strip or sheet so that they may be sewn close together, in for example an indoor propogator, or the pockets may be spaced in the strip or sheet in accordance with the distance apart at which the enclosed seeds are normally sewn, thus enabling the gardener simply to sew his seeds by laying the strip of seeds in the drill.

Drawing 1 shows the seed in the pocket, marked A, with the spacing paper or similar substance in which no seed is encased marked B. The latter may be of an area which covers the entire space between pockets as indicated by B in drawing 1, or may be by way of a tongue - as shown by A in drawing 2 - or tongues.

An alternative method of spacing the pockets on the strip or sheet is to form the pockets over a thin rope string or stick at appropriate intervals such rope string or stick being used on one or more edges of the pockets.

Alternatively the pockets may be joined by the string etc being fastened on the outside of the pockets.

Drawing 3 illustrates the method of construction of a sheet of pockets where the spacing is obtained by forming the pockets at intervals over string. (Pockets A string network B).

The area of paper which covers the seed may also be finely perforated (the size of such perforations depending on the size of the enclosed seed, but being smaller than the seed) to asist in the disintegration or partial disintegration or splitting of the paper when the seed begins to germinate.

The paper or other similar substance from which the seed pocket is formed may be coated with a suitable adhesive on that part of the casing on which the seeds will be placed in the course of manufacture so that, as the seeds drop onto the base of the pocket, they remain in position. In this event it is not essential to form the strip from individual pockets since the seeds will be held in place by the adhesive.

Instead a single strip or sheet may be made.

My own experiments were carried out with varying weights of paper.

This invention differs from what has been done before in that, to the best of my knowledge, the only method known of encasing seeds singly has been to put them in a pellet of what is called "soluble coating" which seems to be some type of earth, but I understand conditions must be right for the pellet to dissolve. Too wet or too dry and the seed can fail to germinate.

1. A seed encased in a pocket of paper or similar substance of such suitable weight as to enable it to readily pulp or partially split or disintegrate when the paper or similar substance becomes damp or for the growth from the seed to push its way through.

2. An item as described in Claim 1 with the pockets adjoining each other and formed into a single strip.

3. An item as described in any preceding claim with the strips formed into a sheet of strips.

4. An item as claimed in any preceding claim but with the pockets spaced at intervals apart in a strip or sheet.

5. An item as claimed in any preceding claim with the area of paper or similar substance which covers the seed being finely perforated.

6. An item as claimed in any preceding claim but with the paper or similar substance being coated with a suitable adhesive so that when the seed is placed onto the paper or similar substance it stays in position.

7. An item as claimed in any preceding claim but with the seeds encased in an unpocketed strip.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seed strips This invention is to enable seeds to be easily handled and the distance apart at which they are sewn to be controlled. Each seed is encased in a pocket of paper or similar substance of such suitable weight as to enable it to readily pulp or partially split or disintegrate when the paper becomes damp or for the growth from the seed to push its way through. These pockets are sealed round all edges and may be made in a strip of pockets or as a sheet of individually pocketed seeds, or as single pockets. The pockets containing the seeds are placed unopened in the ground. The pockets may adjoin each other on the strip or sheet so that they may be sewn close together, in for example an indoor propogator, or the pockets may be spaced in the strip or sheet in accordance with the distance apart at which the enclosed seeds are normally sewn, thus enabling the gardener simply to sew his seeds by laying the strip of seeds in the drill. Drawing 1 shows the seed in the pocket, marked A, with the spacing paper or similar substance in which no seed is encased marked B. The latter may be of an area which covers the entire space between pockets as indicated by B in drawing 1, or may be by way of a tongue - as shown by A in drawing 2 - or tongues. An alternative method of spacing the pockets on the strip or sheet is to form the pockets over a thin rope string or stick at appropriate intervals such rope string or stick being used on one or more edges of the pockets. Alternatively the pockets may be joined by the string etc being fastened on the outside of the pockets. Drawing 3 illustrates the method of construction of a sheet of pockets where the spacing is obtained by forming the pockets at intervals over string. (Pockets A string network B). The area of paper which covers the seed may also be finely perforated (the size of such perforations depending on the size of the enclosed seed, but being smaller than the seed) to asist in the disintegration or partial disintegration or splitting of the paper when the seed begins to germinate. The paper or other similar substance from which the seed pocket is formed may be coated with a suitable adhesive on that part of the casing on which the seeds will be placed in the course of manufacture so that, as the seeds drop onto the base of the pocket, they remain in position. In this event it is not essential to form the strip from individual pockets since the seeds will be held in place by the adhesive. Instead a single strip or sheet may be made. My own experiments were carried out with varying weights of paper. This invention differs from what has been done before in that, to the best of my knowledge, the only method known of encasing seeds singly has been to put them in a pellet of what is called "soluble coating" which seems to be some type of earth, but I understand conditions must be right for the pellet to dissolve. Too wet or too dry and the seed can fail to germinate. CLAIMS

1. A seed encased in a pocket of paper or similar substance of such suitable weight as to enable it to readily pulp or partially split or disintegrate when the paper or similar substance becomes damp or for the growth from the seed to push its way through.

2. An item as described in Claim 1 with the pockets adjoining each other and formed into a single strip.

3. An item as described in any preceding claim with the strips formed into a sheet of strips.

4. An item as claimed in any preceding claim but with the pockets spaced at intervals apart in a strip or sheet.

5. An item as claimed in any preceding claim with the area of paper or similar substance which covers the seed being finely perforated.

6. An item as claimed in any preceding claim but with the paper or similar substance being coated with a suitable adhesive so that when the seed is placed onto the paper or similar substance it stays in position.

7. An item as claimed in any preceding claim but with the seeds encased in an unpocketed strip.