IMPROVEMENTS FLOWER POTS, TROUGHS, AND PLANT HOLDERS, AND IN THE MEANS OF SUPPLYING FLUIDS OR MOISTURE TO TREES, PLANTS, CUTTINGS, GROWING CROPS, AND SEEDS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard George, of Kentish Town, in the
IN
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
FLOWER POTS, TROUGHS, AND PLANT HOLDERS, AND IN THE MEANS OF
SUPPLYING FLUIDS OR MOISTURE TO TREES, PLANTS, CUTTINGS, GROWING
CROPS, AND SEEDS,"
Sealed the 21st September 1875, and dated the 25th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard George at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th March 1875.
I, RICHARD GEORGE, of Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FLOWER POTS, TROUGHS, AND PLANT HOLDERS, AND IN THE MEANS OF SUPPLYING
FLUIDS OR MOISTURE TO TREES, PLANTS, CUTTINGS, GROWING CROPS AND SEEDS,"
to be as follows:-

page_text: fertilizing fluid to the tree plants, cuttings, or seeds contained therein,
whereby their growth is improved and a constant and uniform supply of
moisture is ensured. For this purpose in the application of my improve-
ments to an ordinary clay flower pot I insert it in a conical or
cylindrical vessel of metal, wood, or glazed earthenware, the rim of the
pot resting upon the upper edge of the metal or other material, so that a
space for holding water is left between the bottom of the pot and the
bottom of the vessel:
The upper edge or rim of the pot may with advantage be painted or
glazed.
A piece of rope, sponge, fabric, wood, or other fibrous material which
will act by capillary attraction to raise or conduct the water from the
outer vessel to the interior of the flower pot placed therein is passed
through the hole in the bottom of the pot, one end passing down into
the water and the other passing up into the soil in the pot, by which
means whilst any water remains in the lower vessel it is gradually
supplied by capillary attraction to the tree, plant, or seed growing
therein.
It is very advantageous to place at the bottom of the pot a quantity
of broken earthenware, pumicestone, or other coarse granulated materials
to form a drain for any surplus water fed up into the pot.
It is also desirable to place a little peat or other fibrous material above
the granulated substance forming the drain to prevent the soil from
filtering down into it. Peat may also be placed with advantage on the
upper surface of the soil.
Troughs or other plant holders may also be combined with a con-
tinuous water supply by capillary attraction as previously described.
I also propose to apply the same principle of capillary attraction to
the supply of moisture to the hop plant or other plants, trees, or seeds,
either by means of pipes or reservoirs arranged adjacent thereto, so that
a constant supply of moisture or fertilizing fluids may be ensured to any
extent required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard George in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
GEORGE, of Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard George, Her
special license, that I, the said Richard George, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard George,
my executors, administrators, and 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,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOWER POTS, TROUGHS, AND PLANT HOLDERS, AND IN
THE MEANS OF SUPPLYING FUILDS OR MOISTURE TO TREES, PLANTS, CUTTINGS,
GROWING CROPS AND SEEDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Richard George, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 Richard George, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in flower pots, troughs,
and plant holders, for the purpose of supplying water, moisture, or
fertilizing fluid to the trees, plants, cuttings, or seeds contained therein,

page_text: whereby the growth is improved and a constant and uniform supply of
water or moisture is ensured, the quantity (more or less) thus supplied
being readily regulated in accordance with the requirements of particular
plants. For this purpose in the application of my improvements to an
ordinary clay flower pot, as shown in the vertical sections at Figures 1
and 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, the flower pot a is inserted in
a conical or cylindrical vessel 6 of metal, wood, glazed earthenware,
glass, or other suitable material. The rim of the part a rests upon the
upper edge of the metal or other material of which the vessel is made,
so that a space for holding water is left between the bottom of the pot a
and the bottom of the vessel b.

page_text: I find it advantageous to introduce the water into the reservoir when
required by means of a tube or funnel, pointed at the end, which is forced
into the soil, water being poured into it, which flows into the reservoir b.
through openings near the bottom of the tube or funnel.
The vessel may be painted or otherwise ornamented and if desired
may be placed in a basket or holder of ornamental wickerwork, or in
other ornamental holders, as represented in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
of the Drawings.
وو
In order to adapt ornamental vessels of glass or earthenware, such as
a "pot au fleur or a "pot de jardinier" to serve the purpose of the
vessel b for holding water. I apply a cover e of metal or other material
thereto, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, formed with an opening to receive
the pot a, the rim of which thus rests upon and is supported by the
cover e without risk of breaking or injuring the vessel b.
Troughs or other forms of plant holders may also be combined with a
continuous water supply by means of capillary attraction as previously
described and as illustrated by Figures 9 and 10 of the Drawings here-
unto annexed..
I also propose to apply the same principle of capillary attraction
particularly in dry seasons to the supply of moisture to the hop plant or
other plants, trees, or seeds, either by means of pipes or reservoirs
arranged adjacent thereto, so that a constant supply of moisture or
fertilizing fluids may be ensured to any extent required.
It is not necessary for me to illustrate the method of carrying out
this part of my Invention by means of a Drawing, as any intelligent
person aided by the previous description will readily apply my improve-
ments to plants or trees growing in the open air or under cover.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, what I claim is,—
The improved arrangement and combination of flower pots, troughs,
and other plant holders a with a vessel 6 containing water or other
fertilizing fluid which is supplied by capillary attraction to nourish the
plant growing therein, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described and represented in the Drawings hereunto
annexed;

page_text: I also claim the method of supplying water moisture or other
fertilizing fluid to the hop or other growing plants, trees, or seeds,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard George, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Vitness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, }
W.C.
R. GEORGE. (L.S.)