Labor-Saving Technology for Setting Out Nets in the Cultivation of Cut Flowers
This leaflet describes a labor-saving way to set out flower nets. It has been used successfully for the cultivation of gentians for several years in Japan.
Holder for Net
A plastic holder was cut into short pieces. Each piece was the same size as the width of a thin wooden board (Fig. 2). Notches were cut along the top of the board, to hold firm the meshes of the flower net (Fig. 3). Two plastic holders were fixed vertically with screws to each board. A board was then put each end of the row of flowers, held in place by the plastic holders, which fitted inside strong plastic poles (Fig. 4).
Then S-shaped hooks were made from strong galvanized No. 16 wire (Fig. 5). The curves of the hook were designed to fit round the pole (Fig. 6) , and hold the net firm either side (Fig. 7).
Net to Support Flower Stems
A long net was stretched tightly between the boards at either end of the row. Poles were fixed into the ground at intervals at each side of the row. The S-shaped hooks were used to fix the net to the poles at both sides, so the net was tightly stretched over the row (Fig. 8).
Low Cost and Labor Demand
This is not an expensive technology, since most of the items are made by the growers themselves. Using this method in a field of 0.1 ha (50 x 20 m2) will take 70 pieces of plastic holder, and 1,400 S-shaped hooks. A great advantage is that only one worker is needed, whereas, the conventional method of setting out and stretching the nets needs two people.
Also, in the conventional method, each end of the net has to be strengthened by weaving it with a polythene cord reinforced with fishing line. Then each end has to be tied tightly with pieces of string to stretch the net as tightly as possible. This time-consuming work does not need to be done when the S-shaped hooks are used.
The working time required to set out flower nets over a bed 14 m in length, using the plastic holders and S-shaped hooks, is only about four minutes. This is about one-third of the working time required for the conventional method.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Flower Net Spread Over Crop of Gentians Grown for Cut Flowers
Figure 2 Plastic Holders Fixed with Screws to Wooden Board
Figure 3 Diagram of Flower Net Spread Over Notched Board at End of Row
Figure 4 Wooden Board Fixed with Plastic Holder to Strong Plastic Pole
Figure 5 S-Shaped Hook Made from Wire
Figure 6 S-Shaped Hook Fitting around Pole
Figure 7 How to Use the S-Shaped Hook
Figure 8 Field of Flowers with Nets Fixed by S-Shaped Hooks to Poles
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