Agricultural device having air-water-soil strata

Claim 1

An agricultural device which comprises (a) a reservoir having a base and sides adapted to receive a strata of water; (b) a soil bed having a fluid permeable floor and walls defining a stratum of soil and defining between the soil stratum and the water stratum an air stratum, each distinct from the other; (c) a sheath-like cylindrical column, the lower end thereof being fluid permeable and received in the base of the reservoir, the column including a flange secured thereto and supportingly engaging the floor, the column extending through the floor and into the soil bed, the column including an open upper end lying in a plane substantially parallel to the floor a removable porous walled cartridge member received in the column in non-sealing engagement therewith, the cartridge member comprising hydrophilic material and extending from the bottom of the column to beyond the upper end of the column whereby water is transferred through the cartridge member at a rate and amount dependent upon the material in the cartridge member into the soil bed.