IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GROWING CROPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Brown, of the City of Carlisle, Merchant, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GROWING CROPS."
Sealed the 17th April 1860, and dated the 31st October 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st October 1859.
I, ISAAC BROWN, of the City of Carlisle, Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GROWING
CROPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved system or mode of irrigating and
applying warmth to growing crops, whereby a regular and full supply of
moisture is imparted to plants in dry weather, and a certain degree of
atmospheric heat in cold weather, thereby insuring a supply of moisture and
food in the proper portion for the daily nutriment of the plants, and suited to
every stage of their growth, thus increasing the abundance of the crops. In
carrying out this Invention, it is proposed to irrigate the land by means of
river and other water liquid manure. The sewage of towns or any other
liquid impregnated with fertilising matter, suitable arrangements being
adopted for dissolving guano and artificial manures, and for conveying them
through the same channel, and distributing them to a certain extent by a self-

page_text: acting system in combination with such moisture over the surface of the land
in the form of showers, the irrigation being effected either by day or by night
without the aid of manual or other labor, or the use of hose pipes. This self-
acting system of irrigation and manuring consists in making available the
surplus water of rivers or other sources, by erecting a tank or tanks at a
proper elevation, into which tank or tanks the water to be used for irrigation
is to be pumped. In connection with this tank or tanks there is laid a main
or mains extending over the farm either above or below the surface, and to
this main or mains are connected branch pipes, which are raised a convenient
distance above the ground, and are perforated in order that the liquid may be
applied to the ground in the form of showers. Suitable stop-cocks or sluices
are used for shutting off any one or more of the perforated branch pipes from
the main or mains. When manures are employed they are dissolved in
water, and this solution is mixed in greater or less proportions, according to
the requirements of the crop, with the water in the supply tank. This system
also affords facility for changing the nature of the fertilizing agent to suit the
peculiar requirements of the plant at different stages of its growth. It is
further proposed to use, in combination or not with the herein-before-referred
to system of irrigation, a process for generating heat or steam, and applying the
same as an atmospheric agent in frosty weather, or when the temperature is
below that necessary for promoting the steady growth during winter, and as a
means of maintaining such development until the advent of more genial
weather, which latter process is more particularly applicable to market gardens
and horticulture. This warmth may be applied in the form of steam through
the perforated pipes herein-before referred to, the crops being in this case
covered by a suitable roofing or covering to prevent the escape or loss of
heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Isaac Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
BROWN, of the City of Carlisle, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Isaac Brown, Her special license that I, the said Isaac Brown,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Isaac Brown, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GROWING CROPS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Isaac Brown, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Brown, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to an improved system or mode of irrigating and
applying warmth to growing crops, whereby a regular and full supply of
moisture is imparted to plants in dry weather, and a certain degree of
atmospheric heat in cold weather, thereby ensuring a supply of moisture and
food in the proper proportion for the daily nutriment of the plants, and suited
to every stage of their growth, and consequently increasing the abundance of
the crop.
According to this Invention I propose to irrigate the land by means of river
or other water, liquid manure, the sewage of towns, or any other liquid
impregnated with fertilising matter, suitable arrangements being adopted for
dissolving guano and artificial manures, and for conveying them in this liquid
state through the same channel, and distributing them to a certain extent by
a self-acting system, in combination with such moisture, over the surface of
the land in the form of showers. The irrigation may be effected either by
day or by night, without the aid of manual or other labor, or the; use of.
hose pipes.
In putting my self-acting system of irrigation and manuring into .actuall
practice, I make available the surplus water of rivers or other convenient
sources, by erecting a tank or tanks at a suitable elevation, and I pump into.
them the water which I intend to use for irrigation.. In connection with the
tank or tanks I lay one or more mains, which should extend over the farm or

page_text: land to be operated upon, either above or below the surface, to which main or
mains I connect branch pipes, placed on the surface or elevated at a con-
venient height above the ground, to suit the various crops for which the
irrigations is intended. In order that the liquid, whether pure water or liquid
manure, may be applied to the ground in the form of showers, I propose to
have these pipes perforated, and to provide them also with stop-cocks or sluice
valves, whereby the supply of liquid may be turned on or shut off through or
from any one or more of the branch pipes or mains. By this means facility is
afforded for irrigating or manuring either the entire surface or any particular
portion of a farm or enclosure, as desired. When manures are employed the
solid fertilizing agent is to be dissolved in water in a separate tank, and this
solution is to be mixed in greater or less proportions according to the require-
ments of the crop, with the water contained in the main supply tank
connected with the system of distributing mains and perforated branch pipes.
This system of manuring affords facility for changing at pleasure the nature of
the fertilizing agent, so that it may suit the peculiar requirements of the
plants at different stages of their growth.
Another part of my Invention, and which may be employed either separately
or in combination with my improved system of irrigation and manuring,
consists of a peculiar mode of applying an artificially warmed and humid
atmosphere to growing crops in frosty weather, or when the temperature falls
below the point necessary for promoting the steady growth of the plants
during winter, whereby the devolopment also of the plants may be maintained
until the advent of more genial weather. In carrying out this portion of my
Invention, which is more particularly applicable to market gardens and
horticulture, I propose to enclose and cover in the crops by any suitable
roofing, which will prevent the escape or loss of heat, and convey the necessary
warmth to them in the form of steam supplied from a convenient generator,
and directed through the perforated pipes herein-before referred to when not
in use for irrigation, or through a separate and 'distinct system of steam pipes
specially adapted for that purpose. The crops may thus be surrounded at any
time by a genial and humid atmosphère, which will not only effectually
protect them from frost, but will assist the plants materially in arriving at
maturity.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel·
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-

page_text: First, the general system or mode of irrigating and supplying liquid manure
to growing crops, as herein-before described.
Second, the supplying of water and liquid manure to growing crops, in the
form of showers, by the aid of perforated pipes in connection with mains and
reservoirs or tanks, as herein-before described.
Third, the enveloping of growing crops in an artificially warmed and humid
atmosphere, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
ISAAC BROWN. (L.S.)