An Improved Method of and Means for Increasing the Produce of Orchard and other Trees, Field Crops, Garden Vegetables, and Flowers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1893-Accepted. 1st Apr.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Increasing the Produce of
Orchard and other Trees, Field Crops, Garden Vegetables, and
Flowers.
ROBERT HENELADE COURTENAY 6 Pennsbury Terrace Wandsworth Road
Clapham in the County of Surrey Telephonic Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
11
This invention has for its object an improved method of aeration and electri-
fication for increasing the growth and produce of trees and plants as herein under
described.
In promoting the growth of trees or plants in the open air the method and means
employed for aeration and generating mild currents of electricity are thoroughly
under control without the assistance of highly skilled labor; for example.-
In the case of planting an orchard the soil may be dug out the required depth
and a quantity of light substances such as old mortar rubbish intermixed with
light carbonized substances capable of allowing good ventilation by means of the
air pipes employed in the soil, or other substances may be used for certain trees
and filled in at the bottom of the beds or soil in which the fruit or other trees are
to be planted.
On the top of the light substances which are placed there with a view to
thoroughly feed and aerate the roots one or more perforated carbon tubes, or cones
of carbon, or grids or strong lattice made preferably of wood and thoroughly pro-
tected by any of the well known means to prevent decay, may be placed with the
carbon tubes or cones supported at intervals to prevent the trees sinking below the
level of the soil in which they are planted, and are embedded in the light sub-
stances above described with suitable soil placed on the top and between the
interstices of the grids or lattices on which the trees are planted, or earthen per-
forated tubes may be substituted for the carbon tubes, in either caso tubes are
required leading from the surface of the earth to the light substances below the
earth, and on which the trees are planted, which may be of earthenware when for
aeration only, and preferably zinc tubes leading from the surface of the earth,
when carbon tubes are used in the soil for the double purpose of aeration and
electrification.
It will thus be understood that the roots of trees or smaller plants when grown
on the above principle will be in touch of the outer atmosphere, subject to the will
and requirements of the grower to exclude or admit air.
The carbon aerating tubes may take the place of the ordinary earthen drain
pipes for field cultivation when it will be readily understood that the carbon tubes
in contact with each other will form an electrical conductor which will convey a
current or currents of electricity direct to the locality required to be under its
influence in a more concentrated form than is supplied by nature.
It will also be understood that the carbon tubes being perforated at their upper
sides, and the perforations protected by a slightly over projecting ledge on either
side provides a means for aerating as well as draining the soil through the bottom
part of the carbon tubes. Thus a carbon tube on either a large or a small scale
may be made to perform three important functions, drainage, aeration, and an
electrical conductor. Zinc or other suitable metal tubes either cylindrical or
flattened may be also used for the double purpose of aeration and electrification
with or without carbon tubes for pot or box culture; for example.―
Electrification and aeration combined may be applied to ordinary pots and boxes
either glazed or unglazed ornamental pots, vases, or any receptacle for plant

page_text: culture by causing the air to pass through the flattened zinc or other metal
preferably zinc tubes from the top to the bottom of the boxes or pots, placed
at the side of the boxes or pots with either a small perforated carbon tube at
the bottom of the boxes or pots, or its equivaleut in the form of carbon slabs
perforated and placed on the drainage of the pots and boxes to form a cavity
for air, or other suitable electrical element avoiding contact of the two elements
thus giving additional aeration and electrification combined by means of the zinc
and carbon employed for both purposes. It will be understood that by the above
arrangement of positive and negative elements weak currents are generated
through the moisture contained in the compost, and the current though weak is
sufficiently strong to stimulate the growth of plant life in addition to the increased
aeration as herein before described.
It will be understood also that very large numbers of pots amounting to
thousands may be under more vigorous electrical treatment by connecting small
terminal screws to the zinc or other metal cylinders or tubes used in the pots
and a source of supply of secondary currents from a suitable generator.
Provision is made to close the tubes at the surface of the earth during very low
temperature or when considered necessary.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1892
ROBERT HENELADE COURTENAY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Increasing the Produce of
Orchard and other Trees, Field Crops, Garden Vegetables, and
Flowers.
I, ROBERT HENELADE COURTENAY, 6 Pennsbury Terrace, Wandsworth Road,
Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Telephonic Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has for its object an improved method of aeration and electri-
fication for increasing the growth and produce of trees and plants as herein under
described.
In promoting the growth of trees or plants in the open air the method and
means employed for aeration and generating mild currents of electricity are
thoroughly under control without the assistance of highly skilled labor.
For example. In the case of planting an orchard the soil may be dug out the
required depth and a quantity of light substances such as old mortar rubbish inter-
mixed with light carbonized substances capable of allowing good ventilation by
means of the air pipes employed in the soil. Or other substances may be used for
certain trees and filled in at the bottom of the beds or soil in which the fruit or
other trees are to be planted.
On the top of the light substances which are placed there with a view to
thoroughly feed and aerate the roots, one or more perforated carbon tubes such as
shown in Figs. 2 & 3 or inverted carbon saucers shown in Fig. 5 or grids or
strong lattice shown in Fig. 4 made preferably of wood and thoroughly protected
by any of the well known means to prevent decay, may be placed supported at
intervals to prevent the trees sinking below the level of the soil in which they are
planted, and are embedded in the light substances above described with suitable
soil placed on the top and between the interstices of the grids or lattices on which
the trees are planted, or earthen perforated tubes may be substituted for the carbon
tubes, in either case tubes are required leading from the surface of the earth to the
light substances below the earth, and on which the trees are planted, which may be
of earthenware when for aeration only, and preferably zinc tubes from the surface
of the earth when carbon tubes are used in the soil for the double purpose of
aeration and electrification. It will thus be understood that the roots of trees or

page_text: smaller plants when grown on the above principle will be in touch of the outer
atmosphere, subject to the will and requirements of the grower to exclude or
admit air.
The carbon aerating tubes may take the place of the ordinary earthen drain
pipes for field cultivation when it will be readily understood that the carbon tubes
in contact with each other will form an electrical conductor which will convey a
current or currents of electricity direct to the locality required to be under its
influence in a more concentrated form than is supplied by nature.
It will also be understood that the carbon tubes being perforated at their upper
sides, and the perforations protected by a slightly over projecting ledge on either
side provides a means for aerating as well as draining the soil through the bottom
part of the carbon tubes. Thus a carbon tube on either a large or small scale may
be made to perform three important functions, drainage, aeration, and an electrical
conductor.
With a view to avoid the process of perforating carbon tubes either moist or hard
the tubes or pipes may be made in two halves-the upper half being a little larger
than the lowest half to cover in part the scollopped edges of one or both halves
forming the carbon tube. This may also apply to the construction of earthen pipes
for aeration and drainage combined.
Zinc or other metal tubes such as is shown in Fig. 1. either cylindrical or
flattened may also be used for the double purpose of aeration and electrification
with or without carbon tubes for pot and box culture. For example-Electrification
and aération combined may be applied to ordinary pots and boxes, either glazed or
unglazed ornamental pots, vases, or any receptacle for plant culture, by causing the
air to pass through flattened zinc tube or other metal preferably zinc tubes from the
top to the bottom of the boxes or pots, placed at the side of the boxes or pots with
either a small carbon perforated tube at the bottom of the pots or boxes or its
equivalent in the form of carbon discs or saucers perforated, slabs perforated and
placed on the drainage of the pots and boxes to form a cavity for air. Or pots may
be made wholly of carbon perforated at the bottom and sides, and boxes built of
slabs of carbon perforated may be used, which may form one of the electrical
elements, or other suitable electrical element, avoiding contact of the two elements
thus giving additional aeration and electrification combined by means of the zinc
and carbon employed for both purposes. It will be understood that by the above
arrangement of positive and negative elements, weak currents are generated through
the moisture contained in the compost, and the current though weak is sufficiently
strong to stimulate the growth of plant life in addition to the increased aeration as
hereinbefore described. To secure the best conditions of electrical treatment it is
absolutely necessary that the electrical elements should be insulated by means of
a porous substance such as flannel forming a sheath to prevent actual contact with
the roots of trees or plants. It will be understood also that very large number_of
pots amounting to thousands may be under more vigorous electrical treatment by
connecting small terminal screws to the zinc or other metal cylinders or tubes used
in the pots and a source of supply of secondary currents from a suitable.generator.
Provision is made to close the tubes at the surface of the earth in the open field
or garden during very low temperature or when considered necessary by means of
tompions of any suitable substance such as wood or earthenware.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. I claim the use of carl on pipes for the purpose of aeration and drainage
which carbon pipes may be used as one of the elements for conveying electrical
currents to promote the growth of vegetation.
2. In combination with the features of invention defined by the claiming clauses
I claim an insulating porous sheath of any fabric or substance to protect the roots
of plants and trees from touching electrical elements during growth.

page_text: 3. I also claim the use of zinc or other metal tubes for the purpose of aerating
the roots of plants in ordinary boxes or pots which zinc or other metal tubes may
be used as one of the elements to convey currents of electricity to the plants under
cultivation in said ordinary pots and boxes as herein described and shewn in
drawings.
5
1
1000
R. H. COURTENAY.