Some Special Plants

The products of horticulture and agriculture suffer severely at the hands of comedy writers. Here are some favourite gags.

Wilting flowers

A single plastic bloom fastened to a flexible tube can be made to wilt if a stiff wire, previously inserted in the tube, is slowly withdrawn from below. It is possible to reverse the action if the wire has a rounded end and the flower-stem does not kink in the wilted mode.

Falling blooms

A bloom that has to fall from a tree or plant can be electrically released if the bloom (as light as possible) is fitted with a tiny bar magnet. The branch from which it has to fall terminates in a soft-iron core (a nail will do) wound with 30 or 85 turns of insulated copper wire.

The bloom is offered up to the nail where it will remain in magnetic contact. However, when a low-voltage, high-amperage current is applied to the coil, the bloom falls. The polarity should, of course, oppose the magnet.

A reasonable number of blooms may be released in this way, but the supply leads must be of heavy-gauge copper wire.

Falling fruit

If a large number of items have to fall from a tree they can be released in the following manner: The fruit (real varieties may be used) have wire hooks inserted into their bodies. They are then hung on nylon threads secreted along the branches. The threads, passed through staples are tied off at the branch ends and at the point where they meet the trunk. They can be freed by cutting or by using a plastic detonator (bullet hit, page 112) buried under the main knot.

With this technique it is necessary to use only a few lines as each thread supports several clusters of fruit.

Leaping flowers

Sometimes a flower is required to leap from its stem. This effect can be produced by fitting the bloom with a small hollow cap which slides easily over an appropriate metal tube. Soft copper is useful here. A quick burst of compressed air causes the flower to fly off the stalk.

This system is not recommended for multiple effects unless each tube is independently fed.

SOME SPECIAL PLANTS

Plastic blooms and leaves can generally be used, but for some effects (such as the leaping flower 3) blooms must be made from tissue paper.

1. Wilting flowers
A stiff wire in a plastic tube provides this comical effect, a, Plastic tubing, b, Stiff wire.

2. Falling bloom
Held by a magnet the bloom fails when the polarity is reserved, a, Electromagnetic. bf Magnet.

3. Leaping flower
The lightweight bloom has a hollow cap fitting over a metal tube through which compressed air can be fed.

4. Wilting Aspidistra
Operated from below with nylon line.