Planting system

Claim 2

A planting method for a plurality of plants such as trees comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of containers each of which comprises a seedling cartridge having a base section with a horizontally extending shoulder and with spaced-apart elongated members extending upwardly from said base and with a thin plastics film disposed about said elongated members, placing a growing medium and plant seed in each of said plurality of containers and growing said plants to a seedling stage therein, thereafter transporting said plurality of seedling cartridges to an open ground planting site, removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges and inserting said seedling cartridge in a planting tool having a tubular section capable of accepting said seedling cartridge with the elongated members longitudinally therein and with the end of said tubular section abutting the upper side of said shoulder and about said base section, pushing said tubular section into the ground until said elongated members are within the ground, and withdrawing said tubular section to leave said seedling cartridge with said seedling growing therein in the ground, and thereafter repeating the foregoing steps from the step of removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges.

Claim 3

A planting method for a plurality of plants such as trees comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of containers each of which comprises a seedling cartridge having a pointed tip section with spaced-apart elongated members extending upwardly therefrom and with a thin plastics film disposed about said elongated members, placing a growing medium and plant seed in each of said plurality of containers and growing said plants to a seedling stage therein, thereafter transporting said plurality of seedling cartridges to an open ground planting site, removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges and inserting said seedling cartridge in a planting tool having a tubular section capable of accepting said seedling cartridge with the elongated members and the top growth of the seedling longitudinally therein and with the end of said tubular section abutting the rearward end of the tip section of said seedling cartridge, pushing said tubular section into the ground until said elongated members are within the ground, and withdrawing said tubular section to leave said seedling cartridge in the ground.

Claim 4

A planting method for a plurality of plants such as trees comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of containers each of which comprises a seedling cartridge having a pointed tip section with spaced-apart elongated members extending upwardly therefrom and with a thin plastics film disposed about said elongated members, placing a growing medium and plant seed in each of said plurality of containers and growing said plants to a seedling stage therein, thereafter transporting said plurality of seedling cartridges to an open ground planting site, removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges and inserting said seedling cartridge in a planting tool having a tubular section capable of accepting said seedling cartridge with the elongated members and the top growth of the seedling longitudinally therein and with the end of said tubular section abutting the rearward end of the tip section of said seedling cartridge, pushing said tubular section into the ground until said elongated members are within the ground, and withdrawing said tubular section to leave said seedling cartridge in the ground.

Claim 5

A planting method for a plurality of plants such as trees comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of containers each of which comprises a seedling cartridge having a pointed tip section with spaced-apart elongated members extending upwardly therefrom and with a thin plastics film disposed about said elongated members, placing a growing medium and plant seed in each of said plurality of containers and growing said plants to a seedling stage therein, thereafter transporting said plurality of seedling cartridges to an open ground planting site, removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges and inserting said seedling cartridge in a planting tool having a tubular section capable of accepting said seedling cartridge with the elongated members longitudinally therein and with the end of said tubular section abutting the rearward end of the tip section of said seedling cartridge, pushing said tubular section into the ground until said elongated members are within the ground, and withdrawing said tubular section to leave said seedling cartridge with said seedling growing therein in the ground, and thereafter repeating the foregoing steps from the step of removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges.

Claim 6

A planting method for a plurality of plants such as trees comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of containers each of which comprises a seedling cartridge having a pointed tip section with spaced-apart elongated members extending upwardly therefrom and with a thin plastics film disposed about said elongated members, placing a growing medium and plant seed in each of said plurality of containers and growing said plants to a seedling stage therein, thereafter transporting said plurality of seedling cartridges to an open ground planting site, removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges and inserting said seedling cartridge in a planting tool having a tubular section capable of accepting said seedling cartridge with the elongated members longitudinally therein and with the end of said tubular section abutting the rearward end of the tip section of said seedling cartridge, pushing said tubular section into the ground until said elongated members are within the ground, and withdrawing said tubular section to leave said seedling cartridge with said seedling growing therein in the ground, and thereafter repeating the foregoing steps from the step of removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges.

Claim 7

In a planting method as defined in claim 3, further providing said planting tool as an elongated member capable of convenient end-over-end rotation by a person with said tubular section at one end thereof and with a tamping plate at the other end thereof, and after the step of withdrawing said tubular section from the ground the further steps of turning said tool over and tamping the ground about the seedling cartridge in the ground, and thereafter repeating the foregoing steps from the step of removing the film from one of said seedling cartridges.

Claim 8

A planting tool for inserting a seedling container in the ground in a planting operation wherein said seedling container comprises a bottom nose section having an annular shoulder formed on the upper end thereof and a shank section extending upwardly from said nose section radially within said shoulder and a growing plant in said container having a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said shank section of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the outer diameter of said shoulder of said nose section, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the said shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and a width substantially less than the outer diameter of said shank section of said container and a length substantially greater than the length of said shank section of said container.

Claim 9

A planting tool for inserting a seedling container in the ground in a planting operation wherein said seedling container comprises a bottom nose section having an annular shoulder formed on the upper end thereof and a shank section extending upwardly from said nose section radially within said shoulder and a growing plant in said container having a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said shank section of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the outer diameter of said shoulder of said nose section, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the said shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and a width substantially less than the outer diameter of said shank section of said container and a length substantially greater than the length of said shank section of said container.

Claim 10

In combination, a plant container and a planting tool for inserting said plant container in the ground in a planting operation, said plant container comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending shoulder and a skeletal shank section extending upwardly from said base radially within said shoulder, wherein said container is capable of holding a plant therein with a growing medium and root mass within said skeletal shank section and with a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter no less than the outer diameter of said skeletal shank section of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the radially outward end of said shoulder, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the length of said skeletal shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and substantially less than the outer diameter of said skeletal shank section of said container and a length substantially greater than the length of said skeletal shank section of said container, said skeletal shank section of said container extending within said tubular section with the extending end of said tubular section in axial abutment with said shoulder and with the stem of any plant in said container extending through said slot with the top growth exteriorly thereof.

Claim 11

In combination, a plant container and a planting tool for inserting said plant container in the ground in a planting operation, said plant container comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending shoulder and a skeletal shank section extending upwardly from said base radially within said shoulder, wherein said container is capable of holding a plant therein with a growing medium and root mass within said skeletal shank section and with a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter no less than the outer diameter of said skeletal shank section of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the radially outward end of said shoulder, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the length of said skeletal shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and substantially less than the outer diameter of said skeletal shank section of said container and a length substantially greater than the length of said skeletal shank section of said container, said skeletal shank section of said container extending within said tubular section with the extending end of said tubular section in axial abutment with said shoulder and with the stem of any plant in said container extending through said slot with the top growth exteriorly thereof.

Claim 12

In combination, a plant container and a planting tool for inserting said plant container in the ground in a planting operation, said plant container comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending shoulder and a shank section extending upwardly from said base radially within said shoulder, wherein said container is capable of growing a plant therein with a growing medium and root mass within said shank section and with a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, a ring formed on the upper end of said shank section, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter no less than the outer diameter of said shank section and said ring of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the radially outward end of said shoulder, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the length of said shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and substantially less than the outer diameter of said shank section of said container and a length substantially greater than the length of said shank section of said container, said shank section and said ring of said container extending within said tubular section with the extending end of said tubular section in axial abutment with said shoulder, and an internal projection formed within said tubular section at substantially the longitudinal position of said ring therein, said projection having a radial extent sufficient to frictionally retain said ring and said shank section within said tubular section.

Claim 13

In combination, a plant container and a planting tool for inserting said plant container in the ground in a planting operation, said plant container comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending shoulder and a shank section extending upwardly from said base radially within said shoulder, wherein said container is capable of growing a plant therein with a growing medium and root mass within said shank section and with a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, a ring formed on the upper end of said shank section, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter no less than the outer diameter of said shank section and said ring of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the radially outward end of said shoulder, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the length of said shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and substantially less than the outer diameter of said shank section of said container and a length substantially greater than the length of said shank section of said container, said shank section and said ring of said container extending within said tubular section with the extending end of said tubular section in axial abutment with said shoulder, and an internal projection formed within said tubular section at substantially the longitudinal position of said ring therein, said projection having a radial extent sufficient to frictionally retain said ring and said shank section within said tubular section.

Claim 14

In combination, a plant container and a planting tool for inserting said plant container in the ground in a planting operation, said plant container comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending shoulder and a shank section extending upwardly from said base radially within said shoulder, wherein said container is capable of growing a plant therein with a growing medium and root mass within said shank section and with a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, a ring formed on the upper end of said shank section, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter no less than the outer diameter of said shank section and said ring of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the radially outward end of said shoulder, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the length of said shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and a length substantially greater than the length of said shank section of said container, said shank section and said ring of said container extending within said tubular section with the extending end of said tubular section in axial abutment with said shoulder, and an internal projection formed within said tubular section at substantially the longitudinal position of said ring therein, said projection having a radial extent sufficient to frictionally retain said ring and said shank section within said tubular section, said ring being formed to be frangible responsive to a force directed radially inwardly thereof, and said projection extending radially inwardly sufficiently to fracture said ring.

Claim 15

In combination, a plant container and a planting tool for inserting said plant container in the ground in a planting operation, said plant container comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending shoulder and a shank section extending upwardly from said base radially within said shoulder, wherein said container is capable of growing a plant therein with a growing medium and root mass within said shank section and with a stem and top growth extending upwardly therefrom, a ring formed on the upper end of said shank section, said tool comprising an elongated member, one end of said elongated member comprising a tubular section having an internal diameter no less than the outer diameter of said shank section and said ring of said container and an outer diameter no greater than the radially outward end of said shoulder, said tubular section having an internal length substantially greater than the length of said shank section, one longitudinally extending portion of said tubular section having a slot extending to the extending end of said tubular section, said slot having a width greater than the diameter of the stem of said plant and a length substantially greater than the length of said shank section of said container, said shank section and said ring of said container extending within said tubular section with the extending end of said tubular section in axial abutment with said shoulder, and an internal projection formed within said tubular section at substantially the longitudinal position of said ring therein, said projection having a radial extent sufficient to frictionally retain said ring and said shank section within said tubular section, said ring being formed to be frangible responsive to a force directed radially inwardly thereof, and said projection extending radially inwardly sufficiently to fracture said ring.

Claim 16

A container for planting and growing a plant, said container comprising a frame member and a sleeve, said frame member comprising a base section, a plurality of ribs secured in a spaced-apart relationship and disposed circumferentially of said base section to upstand therefrom, said sleeve formed in a substantially tubular shape from thin flexible material, said sleeve being mounted about and supported for substantially the full length thereof by said ribs to define said container in cooperation with said frame member, the lower edge of said sleeve being spaced from the periphery of said base section to provide drainage openings in cooperation therewith, and said base section being provided with an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said ribs.

Claim 17

A container for planting and growing a plant, said container comprising a frame member and a sleeve, said frame member comprising a base section, a plurality of ribs secured in a spaced-apart relationship and disposed circumferentially of said base section to upstand therefrom, said sleeve formed in a substantially tubular shape from thin flexible material, said sleeve being mounted about and supported for substantially the full length thereof by said ribs to define said container in cooperation with said frame member, the lower edge of said sleeve being spaced from the periphery of said base section to provide drainage openings in cooperation therewith, and said base section being provided with an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said ribs.

Claim 18

A container for planting and growing a plant, said container comprising a frame member and a sleeve, said frame member comprising a base section shaped as a closed surface devoid of any openings capable of passing water therethrough, a plurality of ribs secured in a spaced-apart relationship and disposed circumferentially of said base section to upstand therefrom, said sleeve formed in a substantially tubular shape from thin flexible imperforate material, said sleeve being mounted about and supported for substantially the full length thereof by said ribs to define said container in cooperation with said frame member, the lower edge of said sleeve being spaced from the periphery of said base section to provide drainage openings in cooperation therewith.

Claim 19

A container for planting and growing a plant, said container comprising a frame member and a sleeve, said frame member comprising a base section shaped as a closed surface devoid of any openings capable of passing water therethrough, a plurality of ribs secured in a spaced-apart relationship and disposed circumferentially of said base section to upstand therefrom, said sleeve formed in a substantially tubular shape from thin flexible imperforate material, said sleeve being mounted about and supported for substantially the full length thereof by said ribs to define said container in cooperation with said frame member, the lower edge of said sleeve being spaced from the periphery of said base section to provide drainage openings in cooperation therewith.

Claim 20

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 10, wherein said closed surface of said base section is domed upwardly to define a root directing surface extending downwardly and radially outwardly toward the periphery of said base section.

Claim 21

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 11 wherein said closed surface is cone-shaped.

Claim 22

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 11, wherein said closed surface is pyramidal.

Claim 23

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 13, wherein said pyramidal surface is four-sided, said plurality of ribs being four in number, and each of said ribs being positioned on the periphery of said base section to intersect a line of intersection of two adjacent sides of said four-sided pyramidal surface.

Claim 24

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 14 wherein each of said ribs is formed to have two longitudinal sides which converge radially inwardly of said container substantially to an axially extending line, the lower end of which intersects said line of intersection of two adjacent sides of said four-sided pyramidal surface.

Claim 25

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 10, wherein one longitudinal strip section of said sleeve includes means for removing said sleeve from said ribs.

Claim 26

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 16, wherein said last mentioned means comprises a frangible tear strip and a finger gripping tab at one end of said frangible tear strip.

Claim 27

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 10, wherein said sleeve is formed of a heat shrinkable plastics film material and is partially heat shrunk about said ribs for embracing engagement therewith.

Claim 28

A container for planting and growing a plant as defined in claim 10, wherein said frame member in initial condition absent said sleeve is shaped with said ribs being inclined upwardly and outwardly of the longitudinal axis of said frame member to permit nesting of substantially identically formed frame members absent said sleeve.

Claim 29

A container for planting and growing a plant, said container comprising a frame member and a sleeve, said frame member comprising a base section shaped as a closed surface devoid of any openings capable of passing water therethrough, a plurality of ribs secured in a spaced-apart relationship and disposed circumferentially of said base section to upstand therefrom, said sleeve formed in a substantially tubular shape from thin flexible material, said sleeve being mounted about and supported for substantially the full length thereof by said ribs to define said container in cooperation with said frame member, the lower edge of said sleeve being spaced from the periphery of said base section to provide drainage openings in cooperation therewith, and said base section being provided with an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said ribs.

Claim 30

A container for planting and growing a plant, said container comprising a frame member and a sleeve, said frame member comprising a base section shaped as a closed surface devoid of any openings capable of passing water therethrough, a plurality of ribs secured in a spaced-apart relationship and disposed circumferentially of said base section to upstand therefrom, said sleeve formed in a substantially tubular shape from thin flexible material, said sleeve being mounted about and supported for substantially the full length thereof by said ribs to define said container in cooperation with said frame member, the lower edge of said sleeve being spaced from the periphery of said base section to provide drainage openings in cooperation therewith, and said base section being provided with an annular flange extending radially outwardly of said ribs.

Claim 31

A planting container construction comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending peripheral shoulder, means for containing the growing medium and roots of a plant on said base and radially within said peripheral shoulder with the top growth of the plant extending thereabove, said means comprising a skeletal frame secured to and upstanding from said base and a sleeve formed from a thin plastics material and encircling said skeletal frame and supported by said skeletal frame for substantially the full length of said sleeve, means on one side of said sleeve for longitudinally opening and removing said sleeve from said skeletal frame, and said shoulder having a radial width sufficient to receive the lower end of a planting tool in vertical abutment thereon and with a circumferential portion of said shoulder extending radially outwardly of the outer wall surface of said planting tool, whereby said shoulder opens a hole in the ground radially greater than said planting tool upon insertion of the planting tool into the ground with said container construction therein.

Claim 32

A planting container construction comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending peripheral shoulder, means for containing the growing medium and roots of a plant on said base and radially within said peripheral shoulder with the top growth of the plant extending thereabove, said means comprising a skeletal frame secured to and upstanding from said base and a sleeve formed from a thin plastics material and encircling said skeletal frame and supported by said skeletal frame for substantially the full length of said sleeve, means on one side of said sleeve for longitudinally opening and removing said sleeve from said skeletal frame, and said shoulder having a radial width sufficient to receive the lower end of a planting tool in vertical abutment thereon and with a circumferential portion of said shoulder extending radially outwardly of the outer wall surface of said planting tool, whereby said shoulder opens a hole in the ground radially greater than said planting tool upon insertion of the planting tool into the ground with said container construction therein.

Claim 33

A planting container construction comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending peripheral shoulder, said base shaped as a closed surface devoid of any openings capable of passing water therethrough, means for containing the growing medium and roots of a plant on said base and radially within said peripheral shoulder with the top growth of the plant extending thereabove, said means comprising a skeletal frame secured to and upstanding from the said base and a sleeve encircling said frame, and said shoulder having a radial width sufficient to receive the lower end of a planting tool in vertical abutment thereon and with a circumferential portion of said shoulder extending radially outwardly of the outer wall surface of said planting tool, whereby said shoulder opens a hole in the ground radially greater than said planting tool upon insertion of the planting tool into the ground with said container construction therein, said closed surface of said base radially within said shoulder being domed upwardly to define a root directing surface extending downwardly and radially outwardly toward said shoulder, said closed surface being pyramidal in shape, said pyramidal surface being four-sided, said skeletal frame comprising four ribs, and each of said ribs being positioned on said base adjacent the radially inward side of said shoulder and circumferentially at a position intersecting a line of intersection of two adjacent sides of said four-sided pyramidal surface.

Claim 34

A planting container construction comprising a base having a substantially horizontally extending peripheral shoulder, said base shaped as a closed surface devoid of any openings capable of passing water therethrough, means for containing the growing medium and roots of a plant on said base and radially within said peripheral shoulder with the top growth of the plant extending thereabove, said means comprising a skeletal frame secured to and upstanding from the said base and a sleeve encircling said frame, and said shoulder having a radial width sufficient to receive the lower end of a planting tool in vertical abutment thereon and with a circumferential portion of said shoulder extending radially outwardly of the outer wall surface of said planting tool, whereby said shoulder opens a hole in the ground radially greater than said planting tool upon insertion of the planting tool into the ground with said container construction therein, said closed surface of said base radially within said shoulder being domed upwardly to define a root directing surface extending downwardly and radially outwardly toward said shoulder, said closed surface being pyramidal in shape, said pyramidal surface being four-sided, said skeletal frame comprising four ribs, and each of said ribs being positioned on said base adjacent the radially inward side of said shoulder and circumferentially at a position intersecting a line of intersection of two adjacent sides of said four-sided pyramidal surface.

Claim 35

A planting container construction as defined in claim 22, wherein each of said ribs is formed to have two longitudinal sides which converge radially inwardly of said container construction substantially to an axially extending line, the lower end of which intersects said line of intersection of two adjacent sides of said four-sided pyramidal surface.

Claim 36

A planting container construction as defined in claim 23, wherein said sleeve includes means for removing said sleeve from said ribs.

Claim 37

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section connected to and extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section presenting a ground penetrating tip configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section comprising a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, and said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member formed of a thin flexible plastics film in encircling contact with and supported by said elongated members.

Claim 38

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section connected to and extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section presenting a ground penetrating tip configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section comprising a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, and said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member formed of a thin flexible plastics film in encircling contact with and supported by said elongated members.

Claim 39

A container as defined in claim 25, wherein said plastics film comprises a black opaque plastics film.

Claim 40

A container as defined in claim 25, wherein said tubular sleeve member is further formed of a heat shrinkable plastics film and is heat shrunk about said elongated members.

Claim 41

A container as defined in claim 25, wherein said plurality of elongated members comprise four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 42

A container as defined in claim 28, wherein each of said elongated members is curved in transverse cross section and lies within a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section.

Claim 43

A container as defined in claim 29, wherein the upper end of said nose section radially outwardly of said circle comprises an annular shoulder formed to receive a tubular planting tool thereon for inserting said container in the ground.

Claim 44

A container as defined in claim 29, and shoulders integrally formed on each side of the upper ends of said elongated members and said shoulders extending circumferentially of said circle in which said curved elongated members lie, and said shoulders having lengths such that the extending ends of adjacent shoulders are spaced-apart a predetermined distance.

Claim 45

A container as defined in claim 25, a plurality of fingers integrally formed on said elongated members intermediate the ends thereof and positioned to cooperate with the growing medium and roots of any seedling growing in said container to substantially hold said growing medium and the roots of any seedling growing in said container against movement of said growing medium and any seedling growing in said container out of the upper end of said container.

Claim 46

A container as defined in claim 25, wherein said nose section is formed to have an uninterrupted spiral slot extending from the top of said nose section to a point substantially adjacent the tip thereof.

Claim 47

A container as defined in claim 33, wherein the interior wall of said nose section is shaped to direct the tap root of a seedling growing in said container substantially downwardly and out of the lower end of said slot.

Claim 48

A container as defined in claim 33, wherein said shank section comprises a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, and said removable wall means comprises a tubular sleeve member formed of a heat shrinkable plastics film, said tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members and extending downwardly over said nose section a predetermined distance from the tip of said nose section, and said tubular sleeve member being heat shrunk about said elongated members and said nose section.

Claim 49

A container as defined in claim 33, wherein said shank section comprises a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said elongated members disposed on the upper end of said nose section and extending upwardly therefrom in a spaced-apart relationship, said elongated members further disposed on said upper end of said nose section on opposite sides of the upper end of said uninterrupted spiral slot to provide a continuous uninterrupted space between said elongated members and the opposed walls of said uninterrupted spiral slot from the upper end of said elongated members to said point substantially adjacent the tip of said nose section.

Claim 50

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section being formed to present a ground penetrating outer configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section further including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members, said plurality of elongated members comprising four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship with the radially outward sides of said members lying on a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section and substantially equal in diameter to the internal diameter of said tubular sleeve member, and the upper surface of said nose section within said circle comprising an upwardly domed closed surface.

Claim 51

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section being formed to present a ground penetrating outer configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section further including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members, said plurality of elongated members comprising four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship with the radially outward sides of said members lying on a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section and substantially equal in diameter to the internal diameter of said tubular sleeve member, and the upper surface of said nose section within said circle comprising an upwardly domed closed surface.

Claim 52

A container as defined in claim 37, wherein said tubular sleeve member terminates at the lower end thereof a certain distance above the upper end of said nose section to provide drainage openings between the lower end of said tubular sleeve member and the upper end of said nose section and between the lower ends of said four elongated members.

Claim 53

A container as defined in claim 38, a ring on the upper ends of said elongated members, and the upper end of said tubular sleeve member extending circumferentially about said ring.

Claim 54

A container as defined in claim 39, said tubular sleeve member being formed of a heat shrinkable plastics film, and said sleeve being heat shrunk about radially inward portions of said ring.

Claim 55

A container as defined in claim 40, said sleeve being heat shrunk about said elongated member with portions thereof disposed radially inwardly of said circle.

Claim 56

A container as defined in claim 37, wherein said upwardly domed closed surface is cone-shaped, and the inner surfaces of said four elongated members are each tapered downwardly and radially inwardly to substantially a point on the surface of said cone-shaped surface.

Claim 57

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section being formed to present a ground penetrating outer configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section further including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members, said plurality of elongated members comprising four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship with the radially outward sides of said members lying on a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section, the upper surface of said nose section within said circle comprising an upwardly domed closed surface, and said upwardly domed closed surface being substantially pyramidal-shaped with the lines of intersection of the sides of the pyramidal-shaped surface radially intersecting the radially inward surfaces of said elongated members.

Claim 58

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section being formed to present a ground penetrating outer configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section further including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members, said plurality of elongated members comprising four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship with the radially outward sides of said members lying on a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section, the upper surface of said nose section within said circle comprising an upwardly domed closed surface, and said upwardly domed closed surface being substantially pyramidal-shaped with the lines of intersection of the sides of the pyramidal-shaped surface radially intersecting the radially inward surfaces of said elongated members.

Claim 59

A container as defined in claim 43, wherein said elongated members are substantially triangular in transverse cross section with two adjacent sides of each of said elongated members meeting on a vertical line in a vertical plane through one of the lines of intersection of the sides of the pyramidal-shaped surface.

Claim 60

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section being formed to present a ground penetrating outer configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section further including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members, said plurality of elongated members comprising four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship with the radially outward sides of said members lying on a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section, and the upper surface of said nose section within said circle comprising an upwardly domed closed surface, said tubular sleeve member terminating at the lower end thereof a certain distance above the upper end of said nose section to provide drainage openings between the lower end of said tubular sleeve member and the upper end of said nose section and between the lower ends of said four elongated members, a ring on the upper ends of said elongated members, the upper end of said tubular sleeve member extending circumferentially about said ring, and said ring being a split ring.

Claim 61

A container for growing a seedling and for insertion in the ground in a planting operation, said container comprising a bottom nose section and a hollow shank section extending upwardly therefrom, said nose section being formed to present a ground penetrating outer configuration, and said shank section including removable wall means for laterally exposing a substantial area of the growing medium and root area of any seedling growing in said container immediately prior to any insertion of said container in the ground in a planting operation, said shank section further including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members extending longitudinally of said shank section, said removable wall means comprising a tubular sleeve member encircling said elongated members, said plurality of elongated members comprising four elongated members disposed about and extending upwardly from the upper end of said nose section in a substantially parallel equally spaced-apart relationship with the radially outward sides of said members lying on a circle smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the upper end of said nose section, and the upper surface of said nose section within said circle comprising an upwardly domed closed surface, said tubular sleeve member terminating at the lower end thereof a certain distance above the upper end of said nose section to provide drainage openings between the lower end of said tubular sleeve member and the upper end of said nose section and between the lower ends of said four elongated members, a ring on the upper ends of said elongated members, the upper end of said tubular sleeve member extending circumferentially about said ring, and said ring being a split ring.