A small object cassette processing station for depositing small objects into selected cells of a small object cassette. The station comprises a bulk small object bin structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of small objects of a selected type. The station additionally comprises a small object counting and parsing subsystem configured to parse a plurality of groups of small objects received from the bulk quantity of the small objects retained in the bulk small object bin. Each group of small objects comprises a number of small objects by a central control system. The station further comprise a small object distribution subsystem configured to receive each parsed group of small objects and deposit each parsed group of small objects into one of a plurality of small object cells of a small object cassette as stipulated by the central control system.

This invention relates to a coating for seeds comprising a polymeric material, a method of making and using the coating for improving the adherence of seeds to sloped surfaces, and seeds containing said coating. The invention also relates to a horticulture system for distributing the coated seeds to landscaping and/or agricultural surfaces.

Materials and methods are disclosed for conglomerating low-purity small seeds, clay-binder, and aeration media into a particle. Through this process a low purity seed does not inhibit seed flow through planting equipment because the seed and associated non-seed parts are formed into particles that have vastly improved flow and aerodynamic properties over untreated seed.

A grow plug 1 has a dimensionally stabilized dried body 3 of glued organic material as well as at least a single seed grain 5. The seed grain is present on the body and the body has a density that is such that it absorbs liquid from below up to the top side and retains an amount of water that is sufficient for having the seed grain germinate and grow into a plant.

When a plant is cultivated by means of this grow plug 1 the grow plug is put in the soil 25 or in a cultivation system and subsequently moistened by pouring water from above onto the grow plug, where the redundant water is drained by the grow plug or the grow plug is inserted into water 21 with its bottom side, and the grow plug sucks up water and some time after the germination of the seed grain the grow plug is put in the soil 25 or in the cultivation system.

A powdered lubricant composition that minimizes fugitive dust and a method of treating seeds with dry lubricant that minimizes fugitive dust. Addition of oil powder to dry lubricants is found to minimize fugitive dust created during the application of the dry lubricant. Mica coated titanium dioxide is an ideal dry lubricant for combining with oil powder.

A sowable golf ball, including a biodegradable shell to protect an interior thereof, a rubber winding disposed within at least a portion of the biodegradable shell to facilitate bouncing on an object or a surface by the biodegradable shell, and a seed compartment disposed within at least a portion of the rubber winding to store a plurality of seeds therein.

A vegetation partition wire mesh, for use in the vicinity of shores, coasts or roads, includes an outer wire mesh formed by upwardly bending left and right ends of a planar wire mesh, first partition wire meshes formed by upwardly bending front and rear ends of the planar wire mesh, and inner barriers. The first partition wire meshes are fixed inside the outer wire mesh while forming outer walls at front and rear ends thereof. Outer wire mesh nonwoven fabric along the inner surface of the outer wire mesh covers the outer wire mesh. A first partitioning nonwoven fabric along inner surfaces of the upwardly bent portions of the first partition wire meshes covers the upwardly bent portions of the first partition wire meshes. A mixture of soil and seeds is spread at high pressure to fill the inside of the outer wire mesh divided into a plurality of spaces.

A device for protecting crop plants (P) and/or sown seeds (S) against unwanted plants is provided to avoid the use of chemical weed control agents or herbicides. The device includes a ribbon or lace-shaped structure on which a plurality of annular elements are arranged at a distance from one another, in which the structure is designed to be applied to a cultivated surface (F) such that each element encloses the location (O) of a crop plant (P) or sown seed (S), and wherein each element includes a detectable means for marking the location concerned (O1, O2, . . . On) for detection by a machine for controlling mechanical weed control mechanisms. The device is thus an auxiliary or marking means which can be easily applied on the cultivated surface along the row of plants or seeds and allows reliable detection by machine of the locations of plants or seeds, zones to be protected.

A garden seed planter that displays a color for identifying the type of garden product that will be produced by a plant from a seed contained in a starch capsule of the garden seed planter. In a preferred lollipop form embodiment at least a portion of the garden seed planter starch capsule has a colored coating that is substantially the same color as the garden product produced by the plant to be grown from the seed, and there is a planter stake attached to the seed capsule having a portion that also displays substantially the same color as the garden product.

Disclosed herein are processes for direct seeding of guayule seeds into a field and fields produced by the processes.