NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 19 9 6 NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 19 9 6 w f e ha\'e a special name for the trees that come from our famis — ^ArcticMistJ''' When you order ArcticMist,™ you are not just buying a tree, but all of the time, attention, and care — from seedling to shipping — that goes into creating a safe, healthy, and beautiful Christmas tree. We plant from seed to achieve maximum quality control. All ArcticMist'^' trees are heavily needled and have dense conical shapes. Their lovely blue color, rich fragrance, and good needle retention make them ideal Christmas trees. Fraser, balsam, white spaice, and pine (white, scotch, and red) are available. In addition, we are introducing fralsam, a fraser-balsam cross. Wreaths are also available. Since our farms are in New Hampshire and Vermont, we harvest our trees later in the season than many other growers. We also do everything we can to minimize moisture loss after harvest and during shipping. \'ou can order the number of trees that is right for you — from 25 to a trailer load. We can arrange shipping or you may pick up the trees yourself We respect your schedule and guarantee on time delivery. Our trees arrive individually wrapped and ready for sale. All you need to do is remove the wrappers and set the trees out — no broken branches, no last minute trimming. T .0 place an order, or to receive specific information about this year's trees: Call us at 800/694-8722 or 603/237-5702. Send us a fax at 603/23 7-8439. ( )r write to us at 38 Bridge St., Colebrook, NH 03576. Our internet address is http://www.sibgotree.com SibgoTree Company V/e know what you want for Christmasl fXrcticMist Remember, you can only buy ArcticMisP^ at Sibgo Tree Company. TM ti- CALENDAR ■i^ October OCTOBER 19 FFA Horticulture Career Day, Thompson School, UNH, Durham, NH; Dave Howell at 603-862-1760 OCTOBER 19-21 The 24th Annual Conference of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, Sturbrldge, MA; information: Richard Shaw at 401-874-5996. OCTOBER 20 Agricultural Expo '96, Hartford Armory, Hartford, CT; CT Dept. of Agricultural Marketing at 860-566-4845. OCTOBER 21-23 New England Greenhouse Conference, Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, Sturbridge, MA; information: Henry Huntington at 603-435-8361. OCTOBER 27 FTDA District 1-C Meeting, 5-8pm, Searles Castle, Windham, NH; Betty Covey at 603-893-4578. November NOVEMBER 6-1 1 Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers National Trade Show & Conference, Denver Marriott Tech Center, Denver, CO; 216-774-2887 NOVEMBER 7-8 "Innovative Plant Management: Focus on Biological Control," a national conference on biological control at University of Maryland at College Park, MD; information: Maryland Cooperative Extension at 410-531-5567. NOVEMBER 10 Rhode Island Nurserymen's Association (RINA) Research Fund Fund-raiser Surprise Roast, Viking Hotel, Newport, RI: Ken Lagerquist at 508-761-9260. NOVEMBER 12-13 MNLA Business Short Course, co-sponsored by MNLA & UMASS Extension; Westboro, MA; Rena Sumner at 413-369-4731 or Kathleen Carroll at 413-545-0895. ]anuary lANUARY 8-10 Erna's Expo 97, The Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, N|; to register: 1-800-376-2463 lANUARY 14-15 Connecticut Nurserymen's Association Annual Meeting, Trade Show, & Seminars, Aqua Turf, Southington, CT; 860-872-2095. JANUARY 21 Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MeLNA) Annual Trade Show, Sheraton Tara Hotel, South Portland, Maine; Edith Ellis at 207-225-3998. *•*■* TUESDAY, lANUARY 21 New Hampshire Plant Growers Association/New Hampshire Landscape Association ]oint Winter Meeting, Old Mill Restaurant, Epsom; information Peter van Berkum at 603-463-7663. lANUARY 21-22 RINA Education Day and Trade Show, Doubletree Inn, Newport, Rl: 508-761-9260. lANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 1 New England Groifs, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; call 508-653-3009 or fax 508-653-4112. February FEBRUARY 7-8 New England Christmas Tree Conference (sponsored by the NE Christmas Tree Alliance), Sheraton Tara, Nashua, NH; Frank Crandall at 401-364-3387. FEBRUARY 7-8 Fflrm and Forest Exposition, Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn and Convention Center, Manchester, NH, 603-271-3788. FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 12 1997 Advanced Green School, Royal Plaza, Marlboro, MA; information: Kathleen Carroll (413-545-0895) or Mary Owen (508-892-0382) at UMass Extension. Application deadline: December 1, 1996.) CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS FOROM 3 NH NEWS 5 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS 7 MEMBER PROFILE Uncle Tim's 18 DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE Dr. Cheryl Smith 23 HOW ABOUT HERBS 28 FEATURES Family Business: 1 1 Opportunities and Pitfalls Thomas D. Davidow & Richard L. Narva Ozone Damage: 15 A consideration in selecting crop and landscape plants Cretchen Smith, Florence Peterson & Tom Luther So Where Is All This Leading Us? David Brock 21 Carnivorous Plants: lust in time for Halloween David Lane 25 COLUMNS Z-notes lim Zablocki 3 The Griffin Guru 5 The Green Spot Mike Cherim 12 Pioneer Pointers 22 The Plantsman Is published In early February, April, June, August, October, and December with copy deadlines being the first of each prior month. While camera-ready ads are preferred, set-up assistance Is available at a nominal fee. Free classified advertising Is offered as a mem- ber service. We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two Issues of The Plantsman. AD SIZE 6x Ix 3 3/8"w X 2 I/4'h $120 $30 3 3/8'w X 4 3/4"h $160 $40 7"w X 2 I/4'h $160 $40 7"w X 4 5/8"h $250 $50 7"w X 9 1/2 'h $400 $100 About the cover. Sarracenia flavia in its natural habitat of North Carolinia savanna. Photographed by David Lane For further Information, please contact the editor: Robert Parker at the UNH Research Greenhouses, Durham, NH 03824, 603-862-206 1 ; or PC Box 5, Newflelds, NH 03856, 603-778-8353. OCTOBER^NOVEMBER 1996 THE WHOLESALE GROWER OF BALSAM & ERASER IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE Conley Farm Come on over and see the trees. ^ Quality. All trees are basal pruned the third year in the field. They have clean handles and full skirts at harvest time. The freshness of our trees after harvest is insured by a custom designed shaded storage area. And, since we only sell trees grown on our farm, what you see is what you get Service. Our convenient location, an elevator loading system, and roads that are accessible for any size truck in any weather make for on time pick up and delivery. Reliable trucking can be arranged. limited Offer. Because we cut entire blocks of trees each year, we have some lower price trees available. These trees have good handles, good color, and straight leaders, but are one year short of reaching #1 or #2 grade. Call Marty at 603/332-9942, for more information or to schedule a visit Conley Farm 437 Meaderboro Road, Rochester, New Hampshire 03867 c>. -»-^ /::-> Plecisant View Gardens v..7rowers of Quality Liners ^& Finislned Material 7316 PLEASANT STREET LOUDON NEW HAMPSHIRE 03301 603-435-8361 OR 1-800-343-4784 FAX 603-435-6849 THE PLANTSMAN ■^- FORUM -^ Welcome, New Members! RONALD LAURENCE 135 Bow Street, Unit #8 Portsmouth, NH 03801 NEWSKY GREENHOUSE 221 Dame Road Durham, NH 03824 Re: Legislative/Policy Update On August 16, I participated in a meeting with the New Hampshire Farm Bureau concerning policy for the coming year. The issues of the definition of a "temporary" hoop house, greenhouse taxation, and greenhouse permits were dis- cussed. All are seen as important issues to address. The NHPGA is currently working on these matters with other agricultural groups, Ag. Extension, legislative representa- tives, and other key individuals within the state. Commissioner Steve Taylor has been especially helpful and enthusiastic. As The Plantsman goes to press, letters have been sent to three key representatives to "get the legislative ball rolling." At the end of September, a meeting will be held to lay out the ground work needed for this process to begin. NHPGA is trying to be proactive in these areas before more problems escalate. One thing to keep in mind is that it is easier to kill a bill than pass a bill. There's a lot of work to be done in order to work out details. If you have ques- tions or input — or would like to become involved, call me. Bob Rimol, at Rimol Greenhouse Sys- tems at 603-425-6563. CLASSIFIEDS FREE Hundreds of old clay pots, sizes 2 I/2-, 3-, 3 I/2-, and 4-inch. Woodlawn Cemetery, Nashua, 603- 594-3354, ask for Howard or Dave. Call BUSINESS FOR SALE Plymouth area. Two complete greenhouses — one 80-foot, one 100-foot plus extension (they'll need to be moved). Many, many extras — pal- lets, Metro-Mix 510, seeders, dosatron, benches, displays, etc. All perennial and nursery stock included. Only serious buyers need respond. Call 603-786-9979, 6:30-8 am. Ask for Bob or leave message. JOB OPENINGS van Berkum Nursery is a family-run wholesale perennial nursery with a 'team' staff of about 10 people. We are seeking quality-conscious work- ers with good people skills.' lobs start March-April. Assistant Propagator: Needs quick hands for cuttings, division, seeding, potting; Truck Driver. Needs great personality to deliver in our box truck around New England. Knowledge of pe- rennials helpful. Our driver is our ambassador. Field Crew. Needs hustle and en- thusiasm working on orders, maintaining plants, potting, and helping customers. Please call Peter or Leslie van Berkum at 603-463-7663. V^NOTES We're soon approaching the point at which perennial growers must begin overwintering procedures. Though some plants stay vegetative throughout the winter months, most will drop their leaves with the onset of cooler temperatures. It's important that a plant go into complete dormancy before it's placed in any overwintering struc- ture. The temptation for inexperienced growers is to cover their plants too early. If the plants have not hardened off entirely, they may begin to grow again in the overwintering structure. This, along with a sudden drop in temperature, call spell disaster for certain sensitive plants. Thorough watering before overwintering will prevent the plants from drying out. In conjunction with the watering, a soil-drench fungi- cide (e.g., Banrot) should be considered to reduce disease and rot problems that may develop during those cool moist months that follow. In late winter (end of February, beginning of March), be prepared to vent in order to keep your structures cool and to reduce the mois- ture and humidity that can build up inside. Fertilization with a product like Osmocote can be done in the fall, provided that temperatures in your structures remain constant and — if they do heat up to 70F or more — you're prepared to water. But remem- ber— when roots break dormancy (about three weeks before the foli- age), if a high level of salts is present, injury can occur. The three biggest factors contributing to overwintering losses are age (younger plants have a tougher time than older); moisture (either too dry or too wet); and disease (usually related to things being too wet). \im Zablocki, Territory Manager, The Scoffs Company, Northeast, can be reached at 603-224-5583. OCTOBER't'NOVEMBER 1996 When reliable service is just as important as ttie quality of evergreen seedlings and transplants you order, call i -800-447-4745 WE ALSO OFFER: • contract growin9 of conifers singly-wrapped p4u9 seedlings for promotional events Homes • Bams • Livestock Machinery • Farmer's Liability Livestock Health &. Mortality Workers Compensations • Auto Insure u-ith New Hampshire's largest independent agriculniral agency. 1-800-439-2451 will pu: vou in touch with an agricuicuial insurance protessionai. WHOLESALE SUPPLIER OF NUKSERY & VVTTLAND STOCK TO THE TRADE. I NURSERIES, INC. HERBACEOUS & WOODY WETLAND PLANTS -OR.NAME.NT.ALS -GROCM)CO\-ERS -PERENMALS -\TSES DEALER FOR BON TERRA WTTLAND FABRICS CONTRACT GROWING AVAILABLE 24 BUZZELL RD, BDDDEFORD, MAINE 04005 (207) 499-2994 (207)282-7235 FAX: (207) 499-2912 CALL FOR A QUOTATION OR A COPY OF OUR CATALOG. -WE DELIVER- Northem Grown Irees Evergreens Shrubs Mon-Sat 7:00 - 530 Sun 9:00 - 5:00 NURSERIES Loattd at juncnon of rouiES 22 & 114 Gorbam. Maine 04038 Phone (207) 839-4262 or 839-6364 Fax 207-839-2290 Vft spedahze in growing specimen plant marfnak THE PLANTSMAN •^- NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS -^ Looking Back Farm Days... Rockingham County's first Open Farm Day, sponsored by Rocking- ham County UNH Cooperative Ex- tension, on August 18, was a mixed success. As of the end of August, without all tally sheets in, some farms appear to have been very successful — J&F Farm (Derry), in conjunction with the Chester Lamb Coop, had an estimated 3000 visi- tors; Goudreault Farm (Plaistowi had 1500 — but others reported as few as ten. Factors in success may have been location, visibility, and the in- dividual farm's aggressiveness in marketing. "It was a first; we are learning," says Nada Haddad. who coordinated the event. There will probably be another next year, but with changes. What those will be should become more clear after a meeting in mid- September of all farms that partici- pated. For more: Nada Haddad at 603- 679-5616. Clinics... It's been an unusual yeai weather- wise and the weather has created unusual plant problems. So many customers were bringing in so many diseased plants that Osborne's Agway in Hooksett asked if a dis- ease identification clinic could be held for its employees and custom- ers, as well as for employees of other Agway stores around the state. So on .\ugust 15. Dave Seavey. Merrimack Count\' ELxtension. brought a microscope to Hooksett and spent an evening identif>ing what was wrong with the sick plants brought in and discussing such things as the differences between baaeria-caused and fungus-caused problems, chemi- cal spotting, what insects cause what damage, etc. And a series of three clinics on various topics was held by Merri- mack County Extension at the Con- cord Agway in September. Dave emphasizes that one thing that makes a garden center more than "a place that sells plants" is the knowledgeability of its employ- ees. There's time for only so many workshops, but he's willing to rec- ommend solid reference works and suggests that garden centers through- out the state keep some of the many bulletins put out by Extension on hand For more: 603-225-5505 Deaths... ELWTN MEADER was bom on March 13. 1910. He was a native of Roches- ter— the first Meader settled there in 1769. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1937 and a Masters of Science from Rutgers in 1941. He was an associate professor in the Plant Science Department at UNH from 1948 until 1965. He be- came a full professor in 1965 and retired in 1966. He continued his work at his home. From 1948 until the 70s, he was one of America's leading plant breeders, introducing over fift>' varieties — the Reliance peach. Fall Red and Fall Gold rasp- berries. Meader blueberries... .^ private, self-contained man. he never "tooted his own horn' and never particularly cared for others tooting it for him. He died, without public notice or fanfare, at his home on Meaderboro Road in Rochester on luly 19. 1996. ERNEST GOULD, long-time member of the New Hampshire Plant Grow- ers Association, died at his home in Hooksett on .August seventh. He was 83. The son of Bert and Alice (Flan- ders I Gould of Hawley. MA. he re- ceived a BA in forestr>^ from the University of New Hampshire and aui MA in game management from Harvard. He ser\'ed as an officer in the US Navy during World War 11. THE GRIFFIN GURU ITS BUSY. YOU RE FLYING through your day and you remember that you must call to order something from the delivery truck due tomorrow. So you grab the phone and place the call. A question comes up about the color or size and you say. "I II get back to you." When you have the information and are ready to call back, you don't have the name of the person yon talked to. Much time is lost going over ground previously cov- ered. Simply asking the name of the person you re speaking with may save yon moch time and confusion. Prior to retirement, he was a biolo- gist with the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department: he was also a professional photographer, with membership in several organiza- tions. Mr. Gould was a member of the Hooksett Congregational Church; he was also belonged to the Hooksett Men's Club and was an active sup- porter of the Boy Scouts; he was honored as Hooksett Man of the Year in 1985. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Frances (AustinI Gould: a son. of Manchester, NH; a daughter. of Bakersfield. CA: three grand- children: two great-grandchil- dren; nieces: nephews; cousins. Memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association of Manchester. 1850 Elm Street. Man- chester 03104. OCTOBER^NOVEMBER 1996 J.D. Power and Associates ranks International Best conventional medium duty truck in customer satisfaction. ^ INnRNATIONAL Bum For Your BusiNfSS. LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS, INC. 1400 South Willow Street, Manchester, NH 03103 (603) 623-8873 NE WATS: 1 -800-562-381 4 Fax #1-603-641-9486 CAKPMTmL "The Geranium Specialists" Wholesale Qrowers 2 1/2" Geraniums (year round) 4" Pre-finished Geraniums 2 1/2" Ivy Geraniums & Fuchsia Martha Washington Geraniums Spring Hanging Baskets, Lilies/Bulbs Azaleas, Cyclamen, Poinsettias, Foliage J.B. CARPENTER & SON, INC. 603/659-3391 220 SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET, NH 03857 Red Maple 1 .5-3 " caliper Varieties: Red Sunset®, Autumn Flame ® (P.P. 2377), and Armstrong specimen quality, own root (no incompatibility problems), high limbed for street and commercial use 604 Main Street, Cromwell, CT 06416 Phone (203) 635-5500 FAX (203) 635-3685 ^JtB^U Trees Since 1929 Growing 500 Acres of New England's Finest Trees & Shrubs Time to order young plants for Spring *97 D.S. COLE l^IhtiL Growers 251 North Village Road, Loudon, NH 03301 Phone 603-783-9561 Fax 603-783-9562 THE PLANTSMAN '^- -^ ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS Innovative Plant Management... The University of Maryland Coopera- tive Extension Service is sponsoring a biological control conference en- titled "innovative Plant Manage- ment: Focus on Biological Control." This national conference is being co- sponsored by the Cooperative Ex- tension Offices of Cornell University, Rutgers University, University of Connecticut, University of Massachu- setts, and the University of Vermont. The two-day event will be held at the University of Maryland campus in College Park, Maryland, on No- vember 7-8 and will consist of a day-and-a-half of lectures and a half day of labs. The many speakers in- clude Dan Gilrein and Margery Daughtry of Cornell and Michael Brownbridge of the University of Vermont. Topics include: "Successful Biological Control in Greenhouses on Bedding Plants in Maryland, Poin- settias in New York, and on Toma- toes in Connecticut," "Dealing with Root Rot Diseases in Nurseries and Landscapes without Chemicals," and "Plant Fertility and How to Manage it to Reduce Disease Susceptibility." For information about registration and pesticide recertification credits, contact Maryland Cooperative Exten- sion at 301-596-9413. Gourmet Compost Compost is no longer a straight-for- ward soil additive. Penobscot Blend is a new compost from Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc., "aimed at those who are concerned about what's in their compost and con- cerned about appearances in their plants and gardens." Made of ingre- dients that include Atlantic salmon, Maine mussels, and blueberries, it comes in a "designer bag" featuring a full-color island-scape done by Maine artist Eric Hopkins. However it has its solid scientific and economic aspects. Carlos Qui- jano came up with the idea for the high-end compost and the company, Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc., while working as a consultant trying to solve Great Eastern Mussel Farm's waste problem. The mussel growers in Tenants Harbor couldn't dump their leftover shells at sea and composting them was becoming expensive. Quijano realized that it was not only the mussel company, but also Maine's salmon and blue- berry industries, that were having trouble with waste disposal. Woods End Research Laboratories Biologica Control Works! And here's who to contact so it can work for you: The Green Spot, Ltd., Dept of Bio Ingenuity 93 Priest Rd., Nottingham, NH 03290 6204 Tel: 603/942 8925 Fax: 603/942 8932 Complete Landscape Supplies "The landscape professional's choice for unique, landscape size plant materials" ♦ Largest tree & shrub inventory in Seacoast NH ♦ Accessible & convenient location at Stratham Circle (Rte. 108/33) ♦ Informative tree and shrub tagging system ♦ Quality ♦ Selection ♦ Friendly & knowledgeable staff (603)778-3711 FAX: (603) 778-3773 Monday to Saturday, 7-7; Sunday, 9-5 Other hours arranged by appointment STRA THAM CIRCLE Nursery & Landscape fi i OCTOBERS NOVEM BER 1996 ■»«- -^ ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS in Mt. Vernon, Maine, developed and tested the mix (25% eacii of salmon, mussels, wild blueberries, and peat). The attractive ingredients and packaging has made Penobscot Blend a success and Quijano now plans to make other "blends" as well as a potting mix. For information, call 1-800-345-9315. An Increase in Harmonization (from AAN News, April 29, 1996) The American Association of Nurs- erymen (AAN) has reported the ap- proval of a significant change to the quarantine rules governing US/ Canada trade by USDA's Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS) and AgriFood Canada (AAFC). Japanese beetle (JB) quarantine negotiations began in 1990. At that time, plants gown in most states east of the Mississippi could be shipped to Canada only if they'd been dipped in a pesticide solution or were free of soil. in March, 1994, the two countries signed a |B Harmonization Plan that allowed field-grown and container- ized plants to be certified for ship- ment if growing practices unfavor- able to the pest were followed. Sta- tistical sampling was also required. "The plan also allowed for green- house-grown plants to be certified if strict double-door entry and screen- ing protocols were met." The recent change allows con- tainer-grown plants grown under good nursery/greenhouse practices to be shipped without further sam- pling. While phytosanitary certifi- cates for export are still required, growers on both sides of the border now face less regulation. (Other legislation that may be of interest to nursery growers is the 1996 Farm Bill. This seven-year leg- islation explicitly recognizes nurser- ies as "agricultural lands," formally placing the industry on an equal footing with food and fiber crops when wetland regulations are de- signed and enforced the Farm Bill also directs that a pilot program be established to make field-grown nursery stock eligible for federal crop insurance. Minor-use pesticide legislation also passed Congress this session. This bill "injects flexibility into ERA'S registration procedures and provides incentives for chemical manufacturers to maintain and de- velop safe, effective pesticides needed to produce nursery and greenhouse crops and to meet the many federal and state regulations governing their shipment") For more information, contact Ben Bolusky at 202-789-2900. I's On! (from the Maine Landscape & Nursery Association News Bulletin, |uly 22, 1996) The 1997 Maine Flower and Garden Show — yes, it is going to happen. The MeLNA Executive Committee selected Citrine Resources, based in Portland and one of New England's leading special events and festival producers, to produce and direct what will be Maine's eighth show. The show will be expanded to in- clude a wide variety of related green industries and associations by offering sponsorships and educa- tional space. For information, contact Edith Ellis at 207-225-3998 Maybe Elms on Main Street Once Again Following 20 years of research and evaluation — supported by the Amer- ican Association of Nurserymen (AAN) and its research division, the Horticultural Research Institute (HRl) — a disease-resistant American Elm was unveiled at a recent Capitol Hill tree planting. According to AAN, this introduction is tolerant of Dutch elm disease, which has killed 90% of American elms since the 1930s. Over 100 rooted cuttings of "Val- ley Forge" and the other new vari- ety, "New Harmony," were distrib- uted in the last two years to nurser- ies, experiment stations, and arbo- reta. The new elms should be avail- able to consumers at the retail level by 1999. Information: 202-789-2900. V "WHOLESAL_ Price List Available Route loi PO Box i66, Dublin, NH 603-563-8180 Perennials ♦ Herbs ♦ Wild flowers no Varieties in 6-cell Packs UPS shipping Available Annual Bedding Plants (6-cell packs) Zonal Geraniums (4 i/z" pot) Hardy Mums in Season Perennials (available in l, 3, 4 and 6 qt. pots) THE PLANTSMAN -♦I- -^ |» Tanglewood Gardens ^ Growers of Fine Plants 424 State Route 101 Bedford, NH 03110-S029 603/472-3737 Wholesale & Retail 2 1/2" - Geraniums • Fuchsias Dracaenas • \^ca Vine Ivy Geraniums & Poinsettias 4 1/2" - Prefinished Geraniums & New Guinea Impatiens ALSO Over 100 Herb Varieties Open seven days a week Located on RL 101: 1000 ft West of Weathervane Restaurant pl-ANf HART'S QOAUTY SINCE 1892 New England's Leading Full Line Seed House • Packet Seeds • Lawn Seed • Fertilizer • Grounds Maintenance Chemicals 1 (800) 326-HART FAST. COURTEOUS SERVICE The Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. RO. BOX 9169 WETHERSFIELD. CT 06129-01 69 1 (800) 326-HART ''Our goal, quality Our strength, our employees" FOR A GREEhlHOUSE PEFWITiy VJFFEHEUT CONTACT: ELLIS B,SPRAGUE ORONO, HAJNE O TEL 207-866-7919 FAX: 207-866-4747 HfiRnOIS KTIll ME 04043 WINDING BROOK TURF FARM, '^'^ 240CmfeUU Wttlitr^i£ld.Cr 06109 • QVAUTT BLVECRASS • BLUEGRASS- FESCUE BLENDS ' LOW MAIffTENANCE BLENDS • PENNCROSSBENTGRASS ImCr 203 529-6869 Diaribmor For: Ousidt Cr 1400-243-O232 ^S^ A •^ • EglPawcrs OCTOBER-fNOVEMBER 1996 RED HEMLOCK DOESN'T GET MULCH BETTER THAN THIS Morse Bros, is offering very special pricing on our guaranteed Hemlocic Bark Mulcii from Maine ^18 per yard Prize Hemlock Deluxe Hemlock Burgundy Hemlock Call for Details All prices FOB Windham. Effective Date: 5/23. 1-800-866-4991 MORSE BROS. 32 Gambo Rd., Windham, ME 04062 {Tel) 207^92-1400 (Fax) 207-892-3400 • Nu-Form Products • Landmark Products • Pre-filled Flats &. Pots • Klerks Films "Helping You to Grow" B.E* Supply GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Hemlock Road, Langdon Mailing Address: P.O. Box 0, Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603 • Restricted Pesticides • Kord Products • Fertilizers • Distributors for Hyde Park &. Sunshine Soils Work: 603/835-6930 Home: 603/835-2523 Fax: 603/835-2 180 10 THE PLANTSMAN Family Business Opportunities and Pitfalls Ihomas D. \:>avidow and Richard L. Narva There is probably no single type of business that offers such incredible opportunities for success or such potential pitfalls as the family-owned business, just look at the statistics: more than 90 per- cent of businesses in the United States are family- owned; thirty-five percent of the Fortune 500 corpora- tions are family-controlled; family firms produce one-half of the GNP; and family businesses employ one-half of the nation's workforce. Yet, only 30 percent of family businesses succeed into the second generation and only ten percent into the third. Why? While family businesses must deal with the same business issues as any other enterprise, they also face an additional set of issues — issues around family rela- tionships. All too often a person's role in the family is re-enacted in the workplace. For example, the boss is still "dad", the vice-president of sales is still "my little girl," or the older brother is still the one who won't share anything with his younger siblings. All the powerful emotions inherent in these family re- lationships get acted out in the workplace, too. The re- sult? Business decisions are made emotionally, not rationally. Family feuds get acted out in the boardroom. The business suffers. And, nine times out of ten, the business dies by the third generation. So, how do you beat the odds? How do you separate family issues from business issues in the family busi- ness? How can you keep the family happy and the business profitable? How can you ensure that your fam- UNH OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES The Center for Family Business at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics offers a series of seminars that deal with all critical aspects concerning the family in business. Topics such as succession plan- ning, entry/exit and other governance issues, family meetings, equal vs. fair equity for siblings, as well as certain successful business practices are covered through-out the year. For information, call the Center for Family Busi- ness, UNH, at 603-862-1107. ily business is the one in ten that makes it to the third generation and beyond? First of all, plan for succession. Perhaps no single is- sue in family business is as emotionally loaded and complex as who will take over the business next. All too often, a vague reference, such as, "Someday, all this will be yours," is the extent of it. The best thing to do is to talk about it now. If you don't, issues of control never get addressed and fights will erupt. The topics to address include: What are the skills and qualifications required of your successor? When will the change in command take place? What will the founder's role be? Is a non-family member the best choice for successor? Finally, provide training for your successor. Write out the qualifications and skills necessary for the presi- dent's position. Provide experiences to your candidate that will develop those qualifications and skills. This means more than under- writing business seminars or workshops. It means allowing your successor to learn by doing and by making decisions he or she will have to make as boss. Family firms that manage to prosper and grow through the genera- tions are usually the ones that have given each new generation the room to prove itself by taking the business in a new direction. Another guideline to running a family business is to give the responsibility for evaluating and supervising family members to a non-family member. By putting a OCTOBER-fNOVEMBER 1996 -»?- -iA- non-family manager between boss/parent and em- ployee/child for example, you provide an effective buffer that defuses the emotions that inevitably arise when one family member is "boss" over another. It is like teaching a family member to drive a car. There's a lot less hassle and a lot more learning if you just send the person to a driver's education course. A third guideline is to provide job descriptions. When you have a clear-cut, objective job description for each position in your family business, it makes evalua- tion significantly easier and expectations clearer. In some family-owned companies, there are titles, but no job descriptions. In such situations, frustration runs high among family members (and non-family as well) be- cause no one's performance can be effectively evalu- ated when no one knows what tasks they are supposed to be performing. Urge children to obtain training outside the family business prior to joining it. Before children enter the family business, they should spend three-to-five years gaining experience elsewhere. If they do, they have es- tablished their worth in the marketplace. Otherwise, they come into business as just the boss' son or daugh- ter, which can cause resentment and hostility among employees. The problem is big enough that the Associ- ated General Contractors of America, for example, runs an internship program in which sons and daughters of member company owners train with other member com- panies in different parts of the country prior to joining their own family firms. Just as with succession, it is imperative to communi- cate with children about joining the family firm. Does the child want to join the company? Be clear about ex- pectations on both sides and about career paths, be- cause the child's first job in the family firm is very likely the first step in his or her preparation for succes- sion. When they do join the firm, it should be equal pay for equal work. Do not discriminate and shortchange family members or inflate their salaries. There must be equality between family and non-family employees. And salaries must be realistic. The best family firms are driven by a value system that's an extension of family values — caring about prod- uct quality, treating employees with respect, and focus- ing more on continuity than next quarter's profits. These values are what give family businesses such a competitive edge and such incredible opportunities for success — if they are willing to do what's necessary to beat the odds Thomas D. Davidow, a psychologist, and Richard L. Narva, an attorney, are principals of Genus Resources, Inc., a Boston con- sulting firm made up of professionals in the fields of psychology and family dynamics, business law, and accounting that special- izes in solving the problems that face family-owned businesses. THE GREEN SPOT The Other Crop there are two schools of thought concerning mo- noculture crops: 1. their intricacies are easier to establish — and once this is done, monoculture crops are easier to manage; 2. diversity is the key to success — monoculture crops hamper nature's path, thus making the crop more susceptible to mass failure. Both are right — a combination of the two seems to offer the greatest success potential. But how on earth do we obtain a diversified monoculture (that, by definition, cannot exist)? It isn't possible. A sacri- fice must be made so that a nearly monoculture crop can be obtained. First, we can incorporate the use of trap-crop planting of various small flowering plants especially selected to attract, sustain, shelter, and provide di- version to various beneficials and pests. A trap-crop can be used within the main crop (a winter green- house must) or adjacent to it (outside a greenhouse with roll-up sides). This practice can be used out- doors too. It can also provide a second useful crop, but don't plan on it. In any case, your bio-control program, for the most, will remain in the trap-crop. Trap-crop example: nasturtiums and monoculture lettuce — aphid bio-control can flourish on the nas- turtiums. Second, we can employ what is known as a banker-crop. A banker-crop is used exclusively to provide for a specific beneficial or two and is not a pest-intensive crop. One example: pepper plants can be used with greenhouse tomatoes as a banker- crop. The peppers can support many beneficials that wouldn't ordinarily be suitable in tomatoes: the tomato plants are too hairy and toxic. Peppers will work with cucumbers too. The pepper plants can provide pollen that the cukes will lack. Certain beneficials can survive on pollen alone and will thus be on site and ready for their prey or hosts. A good ratio to employ is 1:10 — 1:20 (one pepper plant to 10-20 tomato plants). As far as what to do with the peppers you'll get... ...did someone say we're having sweet pepper and nasturtium petal salad tonight? The Green Spot, Ltd., Department of Bio-\ngenuity; 603-942-8925. 12 THE PLANTSMAN The Mote You Qdw, The Mors You Know. (fr^^f^ortheast Nursery, Inc. We've been in this business a long time. We know our customer's needs and demands. It dosen't make a difference of the time of year or the size of the project. Northeast Nursery covers it | all. With the widest selection in wholesale plant materials and landscape supplies in all of New England it's no wonder many consider Northeast Nursery the best One-Stop shopping for all your landscape and green supplies. Supplying Fine Plant Material & Landscape Supplies 234 Newbury Street, Rt. 1 South Peabody, MA 01960 Tel. (508) 535-6550 Fax (508) 535-5247 Wholesale Gold Star Whalesale Nursery is a faniDy owned bnsoess. Since 1952 we have been offering the finest wholesale planting materials to landscape contnctots tfarongfaoot the N£. area along wiifa the one element that only sets OS apait horn the competitian-service. Gold Star welcomes your comments and saggestions. Make us yoor one-stop for the best in wholesale landscape supplies. Canterbury, New Hampshire 03224 Exit 18, 1-93, 1/2 mile ■ Tel: 800-287-4716 HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc. 109-113 Essex St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830, (508) 37^6838, (800) 322-0332 We cater to the small and medium size nursery in any quantity desired: 1. New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. untreated & no-rot-treated 2. Open burlap bags 3. New windbreak burlap 4. Balling bags 5. Wire baskets 6. Flat-folded burlap basket liners 7. Truck covers S. Sisal twine & poly twine 9, Woven polypropylene sqs. WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 150 acres of quality plants Write for catalog Member: MNA. NENA MUlers Falls Road, Turners Falls. MA 01376 Telephone 413- 863-2510 Jewart^ NURSERY, Inc. OCTOBER-fNOVEM BER 1996 13 Laughton's Garden Center Inc. Cal Laughton, Florist Distributors of Nursery Overwintering Blankets WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERY NURSERY STOCK • ANNUALS • PERENNIALS • FERTILIZERS • INSECTICIDES 1-800-633-0159 155-165 Princeton Blvd., No. Chelmsford, MA 01863 CHARLES LAUGHTON, PRESIDENT • DAVE POLGREEN, NURSERY SALES STEENBURG & CALLIORAS THE AUCTION PROFESSIONALS, INC. AUCTIONEERS: Archie Steenburgh 603/989-5690 Route 10, Haverhill, NH 03765 Peter Callioras, C.A.I. 603/868-1070 Calcf Highway (Lee), Dover, NH 03820 #^>* >1TL4NTIC GREENHOUSE SYSTEMS Your FULL Service Greenhouse Contractor New Construction * Repair * Restoration All types of Structures, Glazing & Equiptment PHONE/FAX (207) 342-5351 P,0 BOX 96, SEARSMONT, MAINE 04973 Rolling Green Landscaping &, Nursery 400 varieties of perennials •»» Annuals & herbs Ornamental trees, shrubs & vines ♦> Trellises Wholesale prices available ♦> Call for 1 9% listing 64 Breakfast Hill Rd., Greenland, NH (Next to 1-95) 603-436-2732 MICHAUD Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc. Route 85, PC Box 334, Exeter, NH 03833 (603) 772-3698 Wholesale & Retail Annuals, Perennials, Nursery Stock, Landscape Supplies 75 Chestnut Hill, Rte 190 Stafford Springs, CT 06076 W. H. MILIKOWSKI, INC. Greenhouse Supplies & Equipment Plants Bulbs Seeds All Your Greenhouse Needs Grow With Us David E. Goudreault Conn. 860-684-581 1 NH & Maine Representative Out-of-state 800-243-7170 ext. 723 Garden Center Consultations and Landscaping Designs Greenhouses, Nursery, Craft, and Christmas Shop 656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A) Manchester, NH 03109 (603) 625-8298 14 THE PLANTSMAN Ozone Damage A CONSIDERATION IN SELECTING CROP AND LANDSCAPE PLANTS Crekfien Smith, Florence Peterson and Tom Luther The hot, hazy days of this past summer were few, but even this year, people may have become un- comfortably aware of the pollutants in the air we breathe. On bad days, our eyes burn, we may have breathing problems, and visibility is greatly reduced. Not surprisingly, plants are also affected by toxic sub- stances in the air. Sensitive plant species show visible symptoms of damage, reduction in growth may occur, and stress from poor air quality may weaken them, mak- ing them more susceptible to invading insect or dis- ease. Many plant species are often injured by air pollu- tion levels lower than those required to produce symp- toms in humans. In this way, plants can provide a warn- ing that pollution levels are approaching dangerous con- centrations. The most important plant-damaging air pollutant in our region is ozone (O). Ozone occurs naturally in the upper stratosphere where it provides a protective layer around the earth that screens out harmful high energy radiation from the sun and outer space. But on the sur- face of the earth, tropospheric ozone is a gaseous air pollutant produced when sunlight acts on the products of combustion from cars and other industrial sources. Most ozone damage occurs during periods of air stagna- tion which permit the build-up of ozone concentrations at ground level. The most populated areas produce a variety of man-made pollutants, many of which will react with, and therefore, transform the volatile ozone mol- ecule. Outside the city, these reactions do not occur, thus favoring ozone formation and transport to other- wise pristine areas. Highest levels of ground-level ozone occur in relatively remote areas downwind from urban centers. A high level of ozone alone does not cause injury to plants. It must get inside the plant tissue through the open stomates during the normal process of gas ex- change between a leaf and its environment. High mois- ture and good nutrient levels contribute to damage be cause the plant is functioning well and therefore ac- tively engaging in gas exchange. Other environmental conditions, such as stomates closing in drought to con- serve water, may slow down gas exchange. So high ozone levels during a drought may cause less damage than in wetter weather. Once inside, the ozone attacks the cell membranes, disrupting many important physiological processes. If the cells collapse and die, then visible symptoms will occur on the leaf surfaces. In most broadleaf plants, in jury generally appears as pin-prick red-to-black stipples on the upper leaf surface and between the veins. Dam age is cumulative, so it may appear later in the summer and generally affect older leaves. As uptake continues and injury worsens, leaves may turn yellow and fall. Ozone-induced plant injury may be classified as ei- ther "acute" or "chronic". Acute injury involves exposure to peak concentrations of ozone causing cell death and obvious visible injury to leaf surfaces. Chronic injury re- sults from long term exposure to relatively low ozone concentrations which can cause reductions in growth, yield, and reproductive potential, either with or without visual symptoms. Both acute and chronic symptoms may be confused by the effects of pathogens and pests. Of- ten, plants weakened by chronic ozone exposure are more susceptible to other environmental stresses, both natural and man-made. One way to assess the impact of ozone on our forests and gardens is to document visible injury on sensitive plant species, known as bioindicators. Bioindicators are plants that exhibit a well-defined and consistent re- sponse to elevated ozone concentrations in the air. Use- ful bioindicator species for our region include black berry, milkweed, and black cherry. Injury on these three manifests as a classic upper-leaf surface stipple. Other species which have proven useful in localized areas in- clude white ash, yellow poplar, sweet gum, bigleaf aster, and spreading dogbane. The National Forest Health Monitoring Program (spon- sored by the USDA Forest Service, Environmental Pro- tection Agency, and state governments) is using bioindicators to assess ozone impacts on our nation's OCTOBER'f NOVEMBER 1996 IS ■»!- -^ Forest Health Monitoring Plots Evaluated for Ozone Damage in 1994. • INJURY PRESENT O INJURY NOT PRESENT forests. A network of biomonitoring sites has been es- tablished in forested areas throughout the East Each year these sites are evaluated for the amount and rela- tive se verity of ozone injury to bioindicator plants. The results from the 1994 and 1995 field seasons are pre- sented in Figures I and 2. Differences between years are due to differences in air quality as well as in other environmental factors. Documenting fluctuations in num- ber and distribution of ozone injury sites and examining associations between ozone injury and other attributes of forest condition, such as growth rate, will let us an- swer important questions about the long-term effects of air quality on the health and stability of our regional forests. Research showing that ozone causes significant dam age to plant species comes from a variety of sources in agriculture, forestry, and arborculture. Crop plants com- monly affected by ozone include bean, cucumber, grape, morning glory, onion, potato, soybean, spinach, tobacco, and watermelon. Not all species and cultivars are uniformly sensitive to ozone. For example, the green bean cultivar "Tempo" is extremely sensitive to ozone while "Long Tendergreen" is relatively resistant. Blackberry, blueberry, clover, and some grasses impor- tant in agriculture are sensitive. Native species affected include bigleaf aster, common milkweed, and some al- pine plants. Deciduous trees commonly affected by ozone include black cherry, green ash, quaking aspen, sycamore, and tulip poplar. Sensitive conifers include eastern white pine, Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, and white fir. There are many published reports containing long lists of tree species that have been tested for ozone sensitivity under controlled conditions. Most of these studies were conducted with tree seedlings grown in an artificial medium and the findings are not readily trans- ferable to larger trees grown under field conditions. Trees in general are less sensitive to ozone than nonwoody plants, although those species listed above are often affected, and individual trees of black cherry or white pine, for example, may be almost completely defoliated by ozone. Knowledge of plant species sensitive to ozone may help growers in their selection of trees, shrubs, crops, and landscape plants. Ozone damage can reduce plant vigor or yield, or weaken it to invading pests. Designers may wish to avoid ozone-sensitive species for aesthetic reasons. Discoloring stipple, yellowing, and leaf death distracts from the quality of a landscape. Gretchen Smitk is a Forest Health Specialist with the Viniversittj of Massachusetts. Florence Peterson is a Forest Health Specialist with the Forest Health Protection Staff of the USDA Fores/ Service in Durham, NH. Map was produced by Thomas Luther, a Geographic l«forwfl(io« Specialist also with the Forest Health Protection Staff of the USDA Forest Service in Durham. For further information, call 603/868-7709. THE PLANTSMAN Insurance Problems? No PrOblBm' WUH a ladenoon Greenhouse Your Insurance Comes Built-in Jaderloon's Gutter Connect Greenhouses have the leading structural & polyethylene gutter design in the industry All aluminum extruded gutter provloes practically unlimited life compared to galvanized gutters Unique structural design of the gutter gives I-beam type support for extra strength Deadmen bracing provide extra wrind & snow load Kwic-Klip^" polyethylene film fastening system is extruded as an integral part into gutters providing watertight seal and efficient installation of poly coverings Jaderloon's Quonset Greenhouses * Quonsets have a truss with every bow, providing superior strength over other types of greenhouse structures. * Unique system of cross connectors maintains 10O% of structured integri- ty. Most other greenhouse con^>anies bolt their purlms to the bows resulting in a 25% loss of strength where the connection occurs * Freestanding greenhouses include 2x4 endwall brackets, a tremendously helpful feature infntming out your endwalls Qdliecl Quallly Greenliouses & Eqyipmenl Contact Your Northeast Product Specialist: BobRlmol 1-800-258-7171 '1-603-425-6563 NORTHERN NURSERIES WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS U^. Route 5, White River Junctimi, VT 05001 16 Pinkham Road West, Bairington, NH 03825 SERVING THE PROFESSI02UL WnH ABOVE GROUND PLANT MATERIAL Distributors in the foDoMnng lines: • Lofts Seeds . Birchmdcr Sprayers •DeWitt Weed Barrier . Lebanon TuifFertiBzeR • Corona Hand Tools • Mulch & Grow Hydroseecfing Hber • Earthway Spreaders • jftuscry & Landscape SuppBcs Contact: Jim Babb, Mgr., White River Junction, VT, (802) 295-2117 Bob Averell, Mgr., Barrington, NH, (603) 868-7172 GOOD SERVICE . DEPENDABLE QUAUTT^ COI^VENIENT LOCATION OCTOBER-t-NOVEMBER 1996 17 '•i- -J* MEMBER PROFILE Uncle Tim's Tree Farm and Garden Center A Tidy Patchwork of Activities The garden center began six years ago. Tim Lucia was a pilot then, working for a com- muter airline operating out of Leba- non airport, eighteen miles away. He always had one of two shifts — five in the morning until one in the afternoon or two in the afternoon until eleven at night. He'd begun a tree farm in 1981. but still had free time in these half-days around the house. He began propagating plants in a lean-to he built off the end of the bam. He also built a wagon — an open, flat carriage with oversized wheels, painted it red and added a roof — and set it out on the lawn to use as a frame on which to display hanging baskets. The friendly image began attracting people As more people came, more space was required. The Victorian house and barn on a small lot in Canaan's center forms an 'L'-shaped structure; a 14'x44' Ed Person hoop house was set up in the remaining open area. The business continued to grow: he needed a new spot. IT'S A GREAT SPOT— L4 acres with 300 feet of frontage on Route 4 just west of Canaan. Situated in a dip in the road approached down long curved hills from both directions, it can be seen from a long distance. 1993 was a big year Tim cleared land (abandoned farmland) at the new location, moved the production house from his home, and set the wagon out front. He also stopped piloting and enrolled in the horticul- ture curriculum at UNH's Thompson School. The decisions seem the right ones: Uncle Tim's has contin- ued to grow and today the impres- sion from the hilltops is of an area of unexpected lawn and small bright rectangles. In 1994, the 14'x20' main section ("a big dog house"! of the shop was built It's high enough to contain a storage loft (which may become Tim's office) and has a porch (usu- ally filled with hanging plants), but the space, with its checkout counter and product displays, is small. This year, a lb'x20' addition was built, giving a total of 600 square feet. The outside walls (of T-111 vapor barrier! will be clapboarded — the look will be "rustic." There are three production houses — a pair of 14'x44' Ed Person houses on the far right and, on the left, a 14x48' single poly cold frame put up last year. (The two smaller houses are coming down — to be re- placed by one 30x60' double poly. "There will be 50% more space, but half the amount of systems " The season is traditional — seed (pansies, snaps — and tomatoes to be grown in big pots and promising ripe fruit by Memorial Day! is being germinated on heat mats in mid- lanuary. Rooted geranium cuttings are being grown as well. These go into MetroMix in 806s and 4-inch pots. Bare-root perennials (they fill the cold frame) and plugs follow in late March. Tim heats with oil; for back- up, he uses Modine propane heaters Tim says that an enormous im- provement in quality has occurred since he had his water (from his own well) analyzed, then designed his feeding program (he uses a dosatron) to factor in the water's mineral content. Spraying is rare — occasional in- secticidal soap or a heavier spot spray is used when needed. Customer tours of the production houses are not encouraged and a 28'x24' retail house — as well as out- side benches when the weather is warmer — is used to highlight plant material. Eventually, the central panel of the back wall of the retail house will be removed and customers will be able to go through the house into the various gardens behind it Perennial beds (most are small — 6'x24') illustrate size and color and rate of growth. An herb garden was designed by one of Tim's T-school classmates, Elizabeth Pilly (some of the mints, etc., are in containers used not only to contain growth, but as mobile design elements — to clus- ter in groups in the spring; to use for accent later on) There's a cut- ting garden and a shade garden; a bed of everlastings, another of sun- THE PLANTSMAN '^- MEMBER PROFILE -^ flowers. There's a small selection of trees, a lath house...; a pond in front of the production houses will become a water garden with natural- ized plantings around it. The soil is good river bottom soil, but Tim still has it tested and the amount and type of fertilizer spread is based on the results; un- derground soaker hoses supply wa- ter when needed. Because there are so many ele- ments, creating the right traffic flow is important. This is done here in several ways. Customers can park on the grass along the front of the garden center on either side of the driveway. But on the left, the cars face a narrow bed of weeping cher- ries, bulbs, and perennials that runs the length of the property. The soil is mounded — the bed's a berm — a clear, but friendly, suggestion that customers enter via the driveway at the end of the planting. On the other side, the customer faces no barriers in front of the cars are sections of weed mat on which potted perennials are grown. Be- tween these are paths of lawn, all leading into the garden center. Tim keeps something blossoming in the foreground. People look at this, then see another. ..and another... without thinking about it, they're choosing plants for themselves. CANAAN WAS ONCE a lumber town, but now it's a bedroom community for people working in the Upper Valley. These are Tim's customer base and he often has their inter- ests in mind when he chooses what to emphasize. "Perennials are major" and Tim's potting up early summer plugs and six-pacs into gallon containers for sales this fall as well as next year. "What sells perennials is having a variety." Tim has over 200, but his emphasis is on "improving the qual- ity of the grounds and service rather than expansion. I'll produce what I can (he currently produces 70% of what he sells), but I can serve more people better by advis- ing them, then buying in what they need." IVlarketing is beginning — a new sign is up ("our first sign — the wagon and word of mouth had al- ways been enough") and this year. Uncle Tim's offered a twilight lec- ture series, sending post card re- minders to people on a growing mailing list. Uncle Tim's is a family operation. Tim's mother and sister, as well as his wife, LeeAnn (a clinical psy- chologist), help on weekends and days off. But Tim is often here alone and over time, he's become another person, known as "Uncle Tim." "Uncle Tim" is a lot like Tim Lucia: he has a big mustache, wears a baseball cap and sunglasses; he's friendly, helpful — he's a good uncle. Marketing one's own personality has its dangers — one could easily be- come a caricature — but right now, Tim Lucia and Uncle Tim are a pleasantly unself-conscious mix. THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST Tim will be open year round, "so we'll be feeling our way along." To prepare, he's diversified. IVlany customers are animal owners and he is now a Nutrena Feeds (large and companion animal feed; bird supplies) dealer. And the cold frame is filled with baled shavings, something useful to animal owners in winter. He sells locally made crafts and — aiming at the middle- aged homeowner who's tired of chopping wood — Monitor direct-vent kerosene heaters. Christmas is important. There are no poinsettias ("the retail market's saturated"), but there is a Christmas shop and lots of handmade wreathes ("last year we made 400"), swags, and arches... ...which connects nicely with Tim's second enterprise — the Christ- mas tree operation. The tree farm is on 43 acres of high ridge line about a mile-and-a- quarter away. Like the garden cen- ter, it's divided into well-organized blocks. Twelve acres have been cleared and planted; the rest re- mains woods Each year he plants 1000 trees (usually about three- quarters of an acre) — a mix of Scotch pine, Fraser fir, fir balsam, and Norway spruce — in rows six feet apart, individual trees five feet apart (This allows access with a walk-behind mower.) A block is har- vested when the trees reach six feet — usually over a two-year period seven-to-eight years after planting. Once the trees reach twelve feet, the entire block is cut, the stumps removed, and the land planted with winter rye. And a new crop is planted the next spring Trees are sheared once a season; insect problems are controlled using a backpack sprayer. (He tends to monitor for hot spots and then deal with those, rather than do overall spraying.) As yet there has been no deer damage. Presently, trees are cut a few at a time and brought to the garden center, but he and LeeAnn hope to build a new home on the property (on clear days, there's a spectacular view of Carrigain) and he sees cre- ating a retail business here as well. This involves bringing in gravel to improve the road and building a barn and creating a place for park- ing. Tim sees food — doughnuts, ci- der, cocoa — and some sort of horse- drawn ride — as part of buying a tree. The idea of dovetailing these two enterprises (and within them, the many smaller ones) and filling both with activities seems promising. Even up here, families drive long distances searching out tidy and wholesome outdoor experiences. Uncle Tim's could easily become a part of this lucrative circuit. (B.P.) Uncle Tim's Tree Farm & Garden Center is on Route 4 just west of Canaan. The phone number there is 603-523-4909. OCTOBER'fNOVEIMBER 1996 19 Jolly Farmer' PRODUCTS BARK MULCH DIVISION BARK MULCH.. .by the tractor-trailer load Hemlock * Cedar • Mix • Premium Mix • Dark Mix BAGGED PRODUCTS... Our own Bark Mulch in 2 and 3 cuft bags Hemlock • Pine-Spruce • Cedar • Spruce-Hemlock Dark Bark Pine Bark Nuggets and Mini Nuggets & Hemlock Bark Nuggets and Mini Nuggets Now made in our plant at Poland Spnng. ME Soils & Manures PLAYGROUND MULCH ■ ROOT MULCH ■ BUDGET BARK 'Wholesale growers and Suppliers'' ;mi GREENHOUSE DIVISION Annual Plugs Perennial Plugs Rooted Cuttings Geraniums Bedding Plants Hanging Baskets Potted Annuals Hardy Mums Pot Mums Cyclamen, liners, finished Poinsettias... cuttings, finished Box 56 • Route 10 ■ East Lempster, NH 03605 Phone: 1-800-863-8300 • FAX: 1-800-863-7814 j;^.M.x'. Box 527 • Route 122 • Poland Spring. Maine 04274 Phone: 1-800-879-2275 • FAX: 1-207-998-2006 "Integrity, quality, & reliable service since 1967' PGM" DIVISION PROFESSIONAL GROWING MEDIA Made and used by Jolly Fanner Box 56 • Route 10 • East Lempster. NH 03605 Phone: 1-800-565-4746 • FAX: 1-800-966-4746 NURSERY; 1028 Horseneck Road, Westport, MA. 02790 508-636-4573 508-636-5615 508-636-3397 FAX Specializing In Heath... Heather... Bearberry... Perennials... Seashore Plants... also, a full line of quality nursery stock "Our Service Keeps Grouing and Growing." PRUNERS LADDERS SPRAYERS FORKLIFTS PUMPS o^HA55 ROUTE 116, P.O. BOX 540 CONWAY, MA 01341 413-369-4335 For Friendly, Courteous, Efficient. Technical Service CALL US AT 1 •800-634-5557 FOR INFORMATION AND CATALOGS HOSE ■ TANKS ■ REELS ■ MOWERS ■ SAFETY EQUIPMENT THE PLANTSM AN So Where Is All This Leading Us? David Brock This is the last of three articles about the Internet and how it is affecting all of us in the Green Industry. The first article de fined the Internet; the second looked at how to use it; this last article recaps the first two and looks at where this technology is bringing us. A RECAP There are two halves of the Internet — the user and the content provider. As a user, one connects a modenn- equipped computer to the Internet by placing a phone call to an internet access provider. Once the computer/ modem maizes the connection, you load your Internet browser, a software application which lets you "look" at the Internet. You then begin to "surf the 'Net" and view the information available. Using intuition, you can find many Internet addresses such as www.gardens.com, www.provenwinners.com, www.optimara.com, etc. Alterna- tively, you might use an Internet search tool such as www.yahoo.com or www.search.com to help refine your search. Once the novelty wears off, you will explore items of personal interest and find a few sites that en- hance your business productivity. Email will be your most productive use of the Internet. WHAT'S CHANGED IN THREE MONTHS Computer and communications technology has seen sig- nificant changes since the first part of this series was presented. Consider the following headlines during the past several weeks: • NYNEX and Bell Atlantic appear poised to merge. • Pacific Telesis and Southwestern Bell are merging. • IVlicrosoft and Netscape are battling to dominate the software browser market, with Netscape saying that the computer-operating system and disk-resident applications (word processor, spreadsheet, etc.) are becoming unnecessary — you simply download them from the Internet when you need them. • The on-line services (except America On-Line) are disbanding in favor of an Internet-based service. • AT&T, MCI, Sprint and other long-distance carriers offer Internet access for the first time. • Cable companies are deploying low-cost Internet access boxes whereby you plug in your TV as the monitor and use your cable connection to gain high- speed Internet access. • America On-Line was off-line for 19 hours, causing disruption in service for six million subscribers. This event was featured on every national news program signifying how on-line computing has become a main stream issue. • The Olympics showed an interactive website which processed 200 million requests. • The Democratic and Republican National Conventions were viewed via numerous web sites. • Four million first-time subscribers have connected to the Internet during the past three months. • Ten web sites were shown at the Ohio Short Course; an estimated 400 companies in horticulture have an Internet presence. • On-line commerce in horticulture is emerging, paving the way for secure commerce to explode in 1997. Every day, we are witnessing the evolution of a com- munications and information medium which affects all aspects of our life, whether we are actively participating or not. Over the next several years, we will be bom- barded with new tools which will require us to decide which are useful, which are cost-effective, and which are meaningful. THE FUTURE OF HORTICULTURE IN CYBERSPACE Using the Internet as a news resource will be common- place in the next century. Commercial transactions and communication over the Internet will integrate into today's business processes. And the outcome will offer more opportunity for personal contact at community events where face-to-face meetings will be used to solve more complex social issues. The evolution of Internet technologies will free us from mundane tasks such as sending faxes, re-keying orders, sending postal mail, and generating expensive paper-based catalogues. With most universities, cooperative extensions, and government agencies now offering resources to growers, the Internet is becoming a mainstream tool to stay in- OCTOBER^-NOVEMBER 1996 •»?- -^ formed and competitive. Information about growing poinsettias, marketing geraniums, or building a retail bedding plant business is being offered by reputable sources every day. The speed with which this informa- tion is accessed, while still needing improvement, is in- creasing. And the tools to make searches more meaning- ful and simple are continually evolving. Sites such as The Horticultural Web (www. horticulture. com| now offer search databases of hardgoods, soft- goods, bulbs, companies, and other industry information. Weekly news items about industry leaders and adver- tisements from over twenty-five companies are pre- sented. And secure, encrypted electronic commerce is now common. For example, Hillcrest Nurseries offers their herbs via an interactive order entry system which allows the user to review cultural information, the number of cells per cell pack, price, and shipping options. From anywhere, a Hillcrest customer can order, review and place a request to the order department in Maryland. New plants are becoming available as you read this article. Fulex smoke fumigants can be purchased by its distri- bution network Since these products are not sold di- rectly to the end-user by Fuller System, access control restricts ordering to their distributors: Griffin Green- house Supplies, Minkowski, Penn State Seed, etc. . Dis- tributors can order; total weights, prices, and shipping are tallied and the order is submitted directly to Fuller System for fulfillment. Other hardgoods, such as Dia- mond Lights, are available and new goods and services are emerging weekly. Some suggest that by the year 2000, 60% of all com- merce will take place via the Internet because it is effi- cient and accurate. By the turn of the century, the "slow- ness" of the Internet will be a thing of the past as the telecommunications infrastructure continues to improve. And by the time we're in the midst of another presiden- tial election, most people will look upon the Internet as they do the fax machine or the TV remote control and say, "How did we do without this?" The next generation of horticulturists are being ex- posed to the "virtual" green industry by universities. Current and future gardeners are tapping into the Internet daily. A more educated buying public, armed with timely information about availability and delivery, will soon have the ability to purchase goods and ser- vices from their home or office. And the Internet is the medium that is bringing all of this to horticulture. Hang on for the ride of your life in cyberspace the best has yet to come! Dflvid Brock is business manager of Web Developers, Inc., 226 Washington Street, Woburn, MA 01801. He can be reached at 1 -800-WWW-6WEB or at http://www.horticulture.combrock@horticulture.com PIONEER POINTERS When To Consider a Lease Many of you are beginning to plan your capital budget for next year. After care- fully evaluating your financials and the feasibility of the capital purchases, you may want to con- sider leasing rather than financing the purchase or paying for the purchase with your cash re- serves which will deplete your working/operating capital. Leasing can provide you with some unique benefits: 1. Lease payments are fully deductible (tax management). It may provide you faster, larger deductions and tax savings than depreciating the purchase of the same asset. 2. Lease payments can be tailored to the cash flow (seasonality) of your business. 3. Leases require no down payment (maintain liquidity); only the first payment is required up front. 4. A lease is not reported as a direct liability on your balance sheet (balance sheet management). 5. Lease payments are based upon the estimated value used during the lease period, not upon the total cost of the item (avoid the risk of ownership). 6. If you decide to keep the asset, fixed-costs buyouts at the end of the lease term give you the benefit of a lease, while still allowing you to end up owning the asset and depreciating it. lust about any type of equipment can be leased (i.e. benches, potting machines, heaters, computer systems, etc.). Even structures (greenhouses) can be leased. (S.W.) Firs! Pioneer Farm Credit has an experienced slajj willing to assist you in evaluating the benefits of a lease for your business. First Pioneer writes leases For more information and assistance, contact the FPFC Bedford office at 1-800-825-3252. THE PLANTSMAN ■»?- □ -JA- DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE Once again, the lack of rainfall is causing problems for non- irrigated outdoor plants. Although we had abundant moisture during the first half of the growing season, less than one inch of rain fell from late July through August, and the rainfall from Edouard did little to alleviate the problem. Woody plants in particular have been very suscep- tible to low-moisture conditions due to last year's drought. Maples have been exhibiting tip dieback and marginal leaf scorch, small twigs on hemlocks are yellowing and abscis- ing, and pines are exhibiting heavier-than-normal fall needle drop. (Please refer to the diagnostic update in the October/November 1995 issue of The Plantsman for addi- tional information on drought stress symptoms.) Although the lack of rainfall kept many of the typical 'summer dis- eases' in check, there were still plenty of disease problems thanks to high humidity and irrigation. BOTRYTIS was a problem on many flowering plants. Rhizoctonia root ROT was diagnosed on hemerocallis, vinca and chrysanthemum, and SCLEROTINIA ROOT ROT was diagnosed on bellflower. Plant bug feeding in- jury was a common problem during late July and early August on a wide range of herbaceous plants. The damage is evident near the tops of the plants as small, clustered brown spots. Turf diseases such as brown PATCH and PYTHIUM BLIGHT were com- mon during July and early August. Heat and drought stress caused problems again this year, particu- larly in shallow or sandy soils. An- THRACNosE was a common problem on stressed turf. Summer patch was diagnosed on two turf samples in the last month, and leptosphae- RULINA LEAF BLIGHT was common on turf that had been irrigated at night. Leaf rust was also prevalent on home lawns. Symptoms resulting from spring infections by RHIZOSPHAera began to appear on spruce needles in mid- August. The needles on white spruce turn brown while those on blue spruce usually appear purplish. Remember, the key time to control rhizosphaera needlecast is during needle emergence in the spring and again in late August to mid-Septem- ber. Several juniper samples were received with kabatina twig blight and one with PHOMOPSiS tip blight. jemember that late autumn is the key time for fungicide control of SNOW MOLD on turf. Also, the turf should continue to be mown until growth ceases. Two viruses new the UNH-PDL were diagnosed: alfalfa mosaic vi- rus on tomato and bushy dwarf vi- rus on raspberry. The alfalfa mosaic virus caused slight growth distortion and yellowing of the youngest leaves. The raspberry infected with the bush dwarf virus was stunted and exhibited mottling of the leaves. What diseases can we expect during the next couple of months? Since there is an abundance of typhula inoculum present in turf- grasses, we can expect problems with snow mold again this winter. Remember that late autumn is the key time for fungicide control of SNOW mold on turf. Also, the turf should continue to be mown until growth ceases. Greenhouse crops should be scouted for downy mildew on snap- dragons, (gray fungal growth on the undersides of the leaves), powdery mildew on poinsettias (small chlo- rotic or yellow lesions on the upper surface of the lower leaves with white to gray fungal growth beneath. It is good practice to carry a small zip-loc bag around to put infected or suspicious leaves in. The most important thing to con- sider during the next two months is preventative measures to reduce the impact of diseases next season. Sanitation is the most important. Re- move all crop debris and destroy it if you know that diseases have been a problem in the past. Composting often does not kill the pathogen in the debris, thus, when it is used as a mulch, the pathogen is reintro- duced into the crop. Be sure to pro- tect woody ornamentals against win- ter damage and desiccation. If you wish to submit plant material to the UNH-PDL for diagnosis, send samples {with a check for $12.00) to-. The UNH Plant Diagnostic Lab, CIO Dr. Chergl Smith, Plant hiologij Department, 241 Spaulding Hall, UNH, Durham, NH 03824. Samples should be accompanied by an identification form {available from your county Cooperative Extension office). Cheryl Smith is the UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist in Plant Health, and can be reached at (603) 862-3841. How About Herbs Continued from Page 28 by furry capsules that do not ma- ture until nearly a year later, when they burst and scatter the seed. Medicinal extract has been obtained from the bark of witch hazel for cen- turies. Although most commonly found in the woodlands of New En- gland, when grown in good soil and in the open, this shrub will become a fine, well-shaped specimen. I think it is at Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts, that 1 have seen a nice specimen plant and I'm sure it's at the Arnold Arboretum as well. Tanya ]ackson, a well-known local herbalist, can be reached at 603-431-6774. OCTOBER'4'NOVEMBER 1996 23 Call us for your natural pest control needs In your greenhouse or nursery. 603/823-8500 750 ROUTE 18, SUGAR HILL, NH 03585 We accept MasterCard, Visa, 8^ Discover PmducehealMerlaum, ganhis.tfisesand^ntbs wtkMGnJ^composL ■ Increase nutrient and water retention. m Prmide natural ferlili2ation for long term growth. m Increase organic matter to reduce compaction and erosion m Provide slow release of nitrogen and trace minerals. m Pret'ent turf diseases from forming. ■ Improve soil aeration and consistant root development ■ Be assured that it is a weed free product. ■ Save money over using topsnils, peatmoss and manures. Bulk delivery throughout the Northeast. For price and information on AlKJro'" products, please contiict: Gro .The Compost Compcmy Perennial plants & Herbs 31/2"^ (4" DEEP) POT 18 per tray item Greenhouses 171, GRAND RANG • ST-THOMAS-D'AQUIN ST-HYACINTHE, P.Q. CANADA HIGHWAY #20, EXIT 123 Phone: 1 800 565-PION Phone: (514) 796-3193 • Fax: (514) 796-2121 /QUALITY' . SELECTION ',& SERVICE This Is What We Grow At Millican Nurseries. AllGro Inc., liberty Lane, Hampton, NH 03842 800.662.2440 24 THE PLANTSMAN Carnivorous Plants Just In Time For Halloween David Lane What comes to mind when you think of Hallow- een? Pumpkins carved into frightening faces, witches, ghosts, and trick-or-treat? Some or ail of these may scare young children, and even a few adults, at one time or another around Halloween. In the plant world, few things are more scary sounding than carnivorous plants. While man-eating plants like Audrey in The Little Skop of Horrors movies are fiction, carnivorous plants are very real, with over 500 species known world- wide! Names like Cobra Lily, Monkey Cup, Huntsman's Horn, Sun Pitcher, and Bladderwort would strike fear in the heart of any small animal. This article is intended to introduce you to these fearsome plants (which are often quite attractive) and to direct you to sources of more in- formation. The popularity of carnivorous plants is likely to grow as knowledge of these plants spreads and large- scale propagation, particularly by tissue culture, begins to produce a ready supply of material. Undoubtedly, the most well-known carnivorous plant is the Venus Fly Trap ("VFT," as enthusiasts call them) or Dionaea muscipula. Darwin referred to it as the most amazing plant in the world. The species is as diabolical as any evil spirit, luring its insect and spider prey with the red color on the inside lobes of the bear trap-like leaves. It is thought that this unusual diet provides ni- trogen to the plant. The traps will snap shut only if one of the three trigger hairs on each lobe is touched twice or if two different hairs are touched in rapid succession. The mechanism of closing has fascinated many scientists including Wayne Fagerberg and his students in the Plant Biology Department at UNH. Few people know that VFTs grow naturally only in eastern boggy areas of North and South Carolina. Kids of all ages have also been fascinated by VFTs. Unfortunately, almost as many VFTs have been killed as have been sold, often within a year of purchase. In fact, many carnivorous plant enthusiasts ("CPers") started out by killing their first VFT. To cut down on this unholy car- nage, I have included a side bar written by the presi- dent of the International Carnivorous Plant Society (ICPS) on the best way to care for these plants. Few people know that in recent years a number of strange, probably mutant, forms of VFTs, with bizarre variations in color and in teeth size and arrangement, have been discovered . In late July of this year, the Atlanta Botani- cal Garden released an all-red form of VFT called "Akai Ryu" or "Red Dragon," in which the entire plant be- comes burgundy-colored in sufficient light. Propagation for commercial release of this cultivar is being handled by Agristarts III of Apoka, Florida. The development and distribution of this form was made possible by tissue culture. The first published method of VFT tissue culture was developed by Subhash Minocha of the UNH Plant Biology Department. Watch your step! There are carnivorous plants growing right here in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire bogs, it isn't difficult to find our local pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea. This hardy species, which is also the provincial flower of Newfoundland, produces large, tubular, water- filled leaves that trap insects with downward-pointing hairs on the inside of the leaves. Our local sundews, two species of Drosera, trap insects with glue-tipped ten- tacles which slowly pull their hapless victims to the sur- face of the leaf where special glands secrete digestive enzymes. Sundews are often found locally in bogs, MY VENUS FLY TRAP IS DYING! What am I doing wrong? Here's the quick summary of a few possibilities: 1. It may be that the plant wants to enter dormancy. Let it go dormant. (Keep drier and cooler.) It'll come back in spring. 2. The pot may be too small and the roots are rotting. Repot in 4" or 6" pot in sphagnum peat moss. 3. Not enough light. Venus fly traps need nearly full sun. Don't grow them in a dark room. They are not "jungle" plants. 4. Too much teasing. Don't fool the traps. 5. Plant has been fertilized. This is deadly. Immedi- ately repot in new soil mix. 6. Aphid infestation. Treat with Diazinon, Rotenone, or submerge plant underwater for a day or two. OCTOBER'^NOVEMBER 1996 25 '^- -J*. flooded sand pits, and other areas with wet, acid soil and full sun. Perhaps, the least familiar of our local car- nivores are the aquatic bladderworts, species of Utricu- laha, which are named after the microscopic traps that catch very small aquatic animals. The animals are caught when they come too close to the traps' trigger hairs and are sucked into the traps as the traps rapidly open, often in just fractions of a second. Bladderworts in our area produce small bright-yellow or purple flowers. Gar- ret Crow of UNH's Plant Biology Department published a key to identify these plants. Never dig up and try to grow our local carnivorous plants. Besides damaging rare habitats, most local species will die in cultivation be- cause their winter dormancy requirements are difficult to provide for. More information about North American carnivorous plants (plus beautiful photographs and growing instruc- tions) is included in Don Schnell's 1976 book, Carnivorous Plants of tfie United States and Canada. You should be able to borrow a copy at your local library through interli- brary loan. In his book, Don describes the spectacular upright pitcher plants of the coastal plain in southeast- ern United States. One species in particular, Sarracenia leucopkylla, with its tall, red-veined, white-topped pitch- ers, is occasionally seen in floral arrangements. In the southeast and in Canada are found the butterworts, spe- cies of Pingukula, with greasy leaves that act like living flypaper. The Pacific Northwest, particularly boggy areas with cool running water, is the lair of the cobra lily, Darlingtonia. These plants, which are reminiscent of cobra snakes with upraised heads, supposedly lure insects with highly colored and sugar-coated tongue-like ap- pendages forked like fish tails, and then trick them into trying to escape through an opening to the sky which, in a fiendish twist, turns out to be only skylights in a pitcher-shaped trap from which there is no escape. The carnivorous plants of North America have one thing in common with carnivorous plants in other parts of the world: the traps are actually highly modified leaves. Plants with pitcher traps occur on several continents. On the tops of cloud-enshrouded high plateaus in northeast South America are found the sun pitchers, Heliamphora. In the southwestern corner of Australia live small, hairy pitcher plants called Cepkalotus. Many enthusiasts, includ- ing myself, feel that more amazing than VFTs are the carnivorous vines. Nepenthes, which occur on mountains and rain forests primarily in the East Indies. The traps which come in a mesmerizing array of colors and shapes, grow at the end of normal-looking leaves on tendrils and can be as big as a football. Growing the more than 80 species and their many hybrids was a craze in the stovehouses of Victorian England. Because some species of Nepenthes are quite rare and demand from collectors is high, all international trade in these and some other carnivorous plants is prohibited by international conven- tion. In early August, I was standing in line at a depart- ment store in Dover and spotted some plants for sale in small plastic covered pots. Two turned out to be a spe- cies of Nepenthes from Madagascar! Fortunately, the plants had been propagated by tissue culture. Although carnivorous plants may be found worldwide, a high percentage of the species may be grown in the same conditions: wet, acid soil poor in nutrients, high humidity, and bright light. These conditions can be du- plicated to some extent in terrariums under fluorescent lights (as 1 grow them) or in greenhouses. A small collec- tion of these plants can be viewed by the public in the UNH Greenhouses. For budding enthusiasts more infor- mation about CP's can be found in the quarterly Car- nivorous Plant Newsletter ("CPN") published by the ICPS. The address is ICPS, c/o Fullerton Arboretum, CSUF, Fullerton, CA 92634. Once a year, CPN publishes a list of books and a list of the specialized mail order nurseries that sell some of the more unusual species. More and more information, including an active email list, is becoming available on the Internet. The best web page to start with is at the URL: http://www.hpl.hp.com/ bot/cp_home/. Next year the ICPS is planning to hold the first international meeting on carnivorous plants at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in May. Good growing! David iMne, Biological Sciences Librarian, Biological Sciences Library, Kendall Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824-3590, can be reached at 603-862-3718. t'—^'^UDDl JVm^e^SaiBSL supplying Nursery stock for Landscape contractors & Garden centers from many excellent growers Call us to Discuss Your Needs P.O. Box 64 Mdndoe Falls, VT 05050 Distributor of: Tree o Saver Tree Staking System Finally, a staking system that solves all your staking problems. Safe Reliable Safe for Tree Quick to install Cost-effective Tel. 800-639-1722 FAX 802-633-2349 26 THE PLANTSM AN -»«- -J*. VENUS FLY TRAP CULTURE The best planting media is pure sphagnum peat moss, or peat and sand in various proportions up to 50/ 50. Attempting to grow the plant in most other media is risl 'i '.f <^'i GRIFFIN GREENHOUSE & NURSERY SUPPLIES KASSACMUSETTS«N«WYORK«MAINE«CONNECTICUT CALL 508-851-4346. A Very Successful Joint Meeting The joint summer meeting of the New England Nursery Association (NENA), the New Hampshire Plant Growers Association (NHPGA), and New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) was a sun-filled, ac- tion-filled day Held at Dell-Lea Country Club, Chichester, on August 18, over 800 guests toured the lOO-plus vendor trade show, toured the operations of the five co-hosts, ate heartily, and played lots of volley- ball. Dr. Stan Swier, UNH Cooperative Extension, gave an early morning talk and demonstration on protective clothing for pesticide application; later in the day, Leslie van Berkum, van Berkum Nursery, and Kris Fenderson, a landscape designer and horticultural author, gave a walk- ing tour of the vendors' displays, commenting on material shown. These, as well as the bus tours, were well-attended. In such an event, the efforts of many people contribute to its suc- cess. In this case, thanks go to Virginia Wood, NENA Executive Director, for handling the planning, publicity, and registration; to our hosts at Dell-Lea; to the five co-hosts: D.S. Cole Growers, Gateway Gardens, Millican Nurseries, Pleasant View Gardens, and van Berkum Nursery; and, most certainly, to Bill Stockman, Spider Web Gardens, who did much of the coordinating and liaison work. And volleyball — twelve teams entered this year's competition. Sweet- Scapes, from Worcester, MA, is the 1Q96 champion. Congratulations. flissociation Officers President BOB DEMERS, |R. Demers Nursery & Garden Center 656 South Mammoth Road Manchester, NH 03103 625-8298 Secretary I Tredsurer CHRISTOPHER ROBARGE UNH / TSAS Horticultural Facilities Manager Durham, NH 03824 862-1074 Directors TAMMY HATHAWAY 61 Squamscott Road Stratham, NH 03885 778-3912 ANN HILTON 4 Karacull Lane Pittsfield, NH 03263 435-6425. HENRY HUNTINGTON Pleasant View Gardens RFD #3, PO Box 3701 Pittsfield, NH 03263 435-8361 ROBERT RIMOL 17 Wyndmere Drive Londonderry, NH 03053 425-6563 PETER VAN BERKUM 4 James Road Deerfield, NH 03037 463-7663 NH PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION The Plantsman Editor UNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 43