Patent GB-355278-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the production of composite material suitable for promoting the growth of plants
IPC: C05G3/00
Filed: 1930-04-17
Abstract: A method of producing composite material suitable for promoting the growth of plants consists in intimately mixing base material of a calcareous or of both a calcareous and aluminous nature, with plant food, moistening or wetting the mixture with water, and imparting a cellular or blown condition thereto by generating gas therein or by blowing air therethrough, or by both these methods.  In order to generate gas, substances which do this when wet may be added, such as aluminium powder, with or without sodium hyposulphite, or yeast and flour.  The base material may comprise fibrous material such as vegetable fibre, or consist of asbestos cement, or potting fibre or chopped straw or both and Portland cement, or asbestos cement, vegetable fibre, and Portland cement.  The cement should be as little caustic as possible.  Old Portland cement, or waste asbestos cement from the manufacture of roofing sheets or pipes may be used.  The plant food may consist of basic slag, alkaline salt such as sodium nitrate, an ammonia salt, animal manure, or a mixture of two or more of such substances.  The plant food in a dry powdered condition is thoroughly mixed with base material and the mixture immersed in water and finally allowed to harden in a warm atmosphere. Gas-generating substances are added at the dry stage.  Air may be blown through the substance when it is immersed.  The product is formed into tablets, blocks, discs, or irregular pieces, which may be placed at the bottom of plant pots, and, in large masses, used for rockeries.  The cellular material may also be used for making pots or other receptacles as described in Specification 355,655. According to the Provisional Specification, the plant food may contain agricultural lime.ALSO:A method of producing composite material suitable for promoting the growth of plants consists in intimately mixing base material of a calcareous, or of both a calcareous and aluminous nature, with plant food, moistening or wetting the mixture with water, and imparting a cellular or blown condition thereto by generating gas therein or by blowing air therethrough, or by both these methods.  In order to generate gas, substances which do this when wet may be added, such as aluminium powder, with or without sodium hyposulphite or yeast and flour.  The base material may comprise fibrous material such as vegetable fibre, or consist of asbestos cement, or potting fibre or chopped straw or both and Portland cement, or asbestos cement, vegetable fibre, and Portland cement.  The cement should be as little caustic as possible.  Old Portland cement, or waste asbestos cement from the manufacture of roofing sheets or pipes may be used.  The plant food may consist of basic slag, alkali salt such as sodium nitrate, an ammonia salt, animal manure, or a mixture of two or more of such substances.  The plant food in a dry powdered condition is thoroughly mixed with base material and the mixture immersed in water and finally allowed to harden in a warm atmosphere.  Gas generating substances are added at the dry stage.  Air may be blown through the substance when it is immersed.  The cellular material may also be used for making pots or other receptacles as described in Specification 355,655.  According to the Provisional Specification, the plant food may contain agricultural lime.