GB2191925A

GB2191925A - Pre-spaced seed carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2191925A
Application number: GB08714936A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Steven Dominski Ogilvy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-26
Filing date: 1987-06-25
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Also published as: GB8714936D0; GB8615591D0

Abstract

A pre-spaced seed carrier comprises an elongate member (1) having seeds (2) disposed at predetermined intervals therealong. The elongate member may be a biodegradable thin paper ribbon, the seeds being attached by a water soluble paste (3) which will dissolve after the seed carrier is located in the soil. Alternatively, the seeds may be held in pockets formed in and spaced along the ribbon, or held between two opposing faces of ribbon.The ribbon need not be biodegradable, but may have a very small cross-sectional area thereby minimizing hindrance of the growing plants. In the preferred embodiment, the seeds are interspaced at half the regular intervals compatible to the growth of healthy plants to give a minimum need for thinning. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pre-spaced seed carrier In the horticultural and agricultural industry the precision sowing of seeds is normal practice to avoid seed wastage, and the problems arising from both overcrowding and expensive thinning ofthecrops.

However, the equipment used for such precision sowing is not only intricate and expensive, but is also only suitable for large scale commercial sowing. To attain an equivalent accuracy, the home gardener would have to sow each seed individually by hand, and therefore often resorts to sprinkling the seeds along the drills from a packet or dispenser. This results in a heavy wastage of seeds and subsequenttime- consuming thinning. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to estimate the amount of seeds required to sow any given plot of land.

It is an object ofthis invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a pre-spaced seed carried comprising an elongate member having seeds disposed at predetermined intervals therealong.

Preferably, the elongate member is biodegradable and preferably also, it is in the form of a thin ribbon.

It is further preferred that the seeds are attached on the elongate member, preferably by a water soluble paste which will dissolve aftertheseedcarrier is located in the soil.

Alternatively, the seeds may be contained in pockets or held between opposing faces of ribbon.

In a further alternative, the ribbon is not biodegradable, but has a very small cross-sectional area.

An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a top perspective view of the seed carrier.

Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes a ribbon formed from paper having seeds 2 spaced therealong and attached to the ribbon 1 by a water soluble paste 3.

In use, the ribbon 1 will be placed into a drill in which, after a time, the paste 3 will dissolve and the paper ribbon 1 will biodegrade thereby leaving the seeds 2 to grow relatively unhindered at a convenient predetermined spacing.

Use ofthe ribbon assists in giving the seeds a substantially constant depth, thus providing an automatic depth control.

As well as, or as an alternative to, attaching the seeds to the ribbon by a water soluble paste, they may be held in pockets formed in and spaced along the ribbon, or held between two opposing faces of ribbon.

Just before planting, the ribbon may be soaked in orderto more readily release the seeds in the soil.

The ribbon need not essentially be biodegradable: alternatively it may have a very small cross-sectional area thereby minimizing hinderence ofthe growing plants. Furthermore, the elongate member may consist of length pieces or be in the form of a roll.

In the preferred embodiment, the seeds are interspaced at halfthe normal intervals compatible to the growth of healthy plants so that thinning out is kept to a minimum. Alternatively two or three seeds may be grouped together at the normal intervals to allow for natural selection ofthe strongest plant in each group.

In a further alternative, the seeds are interspaced at intervals compatible to the growth of healthy plants withoutthe need for thinning.

As the seed-carriers are sold in lengths, a gardener should be able to estimate accuratelythe length of ribbon required for any given plot of land.

1. A pre-spaced seed carrier comprising an elongate member having seeds disposed therealong at predetermined intervals.

2. A seed carrier as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate member is biodegradable.

3. Aseed carrier as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the seeds are attached to the elongate member.

4. A seed carrier as claimed in claim 3, in which the seeds are attached by a watersoluble paste which will dissolve afterthe seed carrier is located in soil.

5. Aseed carrieras claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the seeds are held in pockets formed in and spaced along the elongate member.

6. Aseed carrier as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the seeds are held between two opposing faces ofthe elongate member.

7. A pre-spaced seed carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Pre-spaced seed carrier In the horticultural and agricultural industry the precision sowing of seeds is normal practice to avoid seed wastage, and the problems arising from both overcrowding and expensive thinning ofthecrops. However, the equipment used for such precision sowing is not only intricate and expensive, but is also only suitable for large scale commercial sowing. To attain an equivalent accuracy, the home gardener would have to sow each seed individually by hand, and therefore often resorts to sprinkling the seeds along the drills from a packet or dispenser. This results in a heavy wastage of seeds and subsequenttime- consuming thinning. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to estimate the amount of seeds required to sow any given plot of land. It is an object ofthis invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a pre-spaced seed carried comprising an elongate member having seeds disposed at predetermined intervals therealong. Preferably, the elongate member is biodegradable and preferably also, it is in the form of a thin ribbon. It is further preferred that the seeds are attached on the elongate member, preferably by a water soluble paste which will dissolve aftertheseedcarrier is located in the soil. Alternatively, the seeds may be contained in pockets or held between opposing faces of ribbon. In a further alternative, the ribbon is not biodegradable, but has a very small cross-sectional area. An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a top perspective view of the seed carrier. Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes a ribbon formed from paper having seeds 2 spaced therealong and attached to the ribbon 1 by a water soluble paste 3. In use, the ribbon 1 will be placed into a drill in which, after a time, the paste 3 will dissolve and the paper ribbon 1 will biodegrade thereby leaving the seeds 2 to grow relatively unhindered at a convenient predetermined spacing. Use ofthe ribbon assists in giving the seeds a substantially constant depth, thus providing an automatic depth control. As well as, or as an alternative to, attaching the seeds to the ribbon by a water soluble paste, they may be held in pockets formed in and spaced along the ribbon, or held between two opposing faces of ribbon. Just before planting, the ribbon may be soaked in orderto more readily release the seeds in the soil. The ribbon need not essentially be biodegradable: alternatively it may have a very small cross-sectional area thereby minimizing hinderence ofthe growing plants. Furthermore, the elongate member may consist of length pieces or be in the form of a roll. In the preferred embodiment, the seeds are interspaced at halfthe normal intervals compatible to the growth of healthy plants so that thinning out is kept to a minimum. Alternatively two or three seeds may be grouped together at the normal intervals to allow for natural selection ofthe strongest plant in each group. In a further alternative, the seeds are interspaced at intervals compatible to the growth of healthy plants withoutthe need for thinning. As the seed-carriers are sold in lengths, a gardener should be able to estimate accuratelythe length of ribbon required for any given plot of land. CLAIMS