THE PLANTSMAN NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 1992 & JANUARY 1993 THE PLANTSMAN NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 1992 & JANUARY 1993 SniflOFO^ DRAUM Chemical Applicators / No Run-Off / No Labor Cost / No Exposure / Automatic Start / Automatic Stiutdown Apply chemicals automatically as ultra-fine fog particles. Eliminate worker exposure and labor costs, while providing uniform, consistent coverage. Complete space fumigation and leaf deposition is achieved due to the extremely small particle size. There is no costly chemical run-off. Four models are available: SLVH, LVH, SLVH Autostart and LVH Autostart. When horizontal airflow fans ore used, the SLVH models will treat up to 26,000 square feet: the LVH models will treat up to 70,000 square feet. Autofog" - progressive technology for today's grower DRAMM PO.Box 1960 Manitowoc, Wl 54221-1960 800-258-0848 FAX: 414-684-4499 C A L E DECEMBER December 29 CONNECTICUT NURSERYMEN'S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING; Aqua Turf Outing Club, South-ington, CT; for information: (203) 872-2095. JANUARY January 5-7 ERNA'S BEST TRADE SHOW; The Concord Re- sort Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, NY; for information: (205) 872-2095. January 10-12 ATLANTIC CANADA'S HORT EAST '93; Halifax, Nova Scotia; for informa- tion: Debora Pollock Post at (902) 425-7810. January 11-12 MAINE LAND- SCAPE AND NURSERY ASSO- CL\TION ANNUAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW; Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, ME; for infor- mation: Rich Churchill at (207) 767-9646. January 13 THE NEW HAMP- SHIRE PLANT GROWERS' AS- SOCL\TION WINTER MEETING; Granite Street Bar and Gril Man- chester, NH; for information: Chris Robarge at (603) 862-1074. January 13 THE NEW HAMP- SHIRE LANDSCAPE ASSOCIA- TION DINNER MEETING; Granite Street Bar and Grill, Manchester, NH; for information: Guy Hodgdon at (603)439-5189. January 17-19 EMPIRE STATE TREE CONFERENCE; Holiday Inn, Sufern, NY; for information: New York State Arborists' Asso- ciation at (518) 783-1322. January 21 NHPGA TWILIGHT MEETING; Pleasant View Gar- dens, Pittsfield, NH; for informa- tion: (603) 435-8361. January 30-31 FTD DISTRICT MEETING; Manchester, NH; for information: Ray Savage at (603) 352-1155. FEBRUARY February 3-4 NEW ENGLAND GROWS '93; Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; for informa- tion: Virginia Wood at (617) 964- 8209. February 4-6 FARM & FOREST EXPOSITION, Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn &. Con- vention Center, Manchester, NH; for information: (603) 271-3552. February 15-16 RHODE IS- LAND NURSERYMEN'S ASSO- CL\TION SHORT COURSE & TRADE SHOW; Doubletree Inn, Goat Island, Newport,RI: for in- formation: Ken Lagerquist at (508) 761-9260. February 15-17 PENNSYLVA- NIA NURSERYMEN & ALLIED INDUSTRIES CONFERENCE; Denise R. Calabrese at (717) 238- 1673. February 24 VERMONT PLANTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION WINTER MEETING; Holiday Inn, Rutland, VT; for information: Scott Pfister at (802) 244-7048. MARCH March 6-14 BOSTON FLOWER SHOW; Bayside Expo Center, Bos- ton, MA; for information: the Massachusetts Horticultural Soci- ety at (617) 536-9280. March 11-14 SEVENTH AN- NUAL SEACOAST AREA FLOWER &. LANDSCAPE SHOW; Location to be announced; for in- formation: Brenda Schure at (603) 436-0815. March 15-17 NEW ENGLAND LANDSCAPE EXPOSITION, Cen- ter of New Hampshire Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Man- chester, NH; for information: Guy Hodgdon at (207) 439-5189. APRIL April 2-3 UNFVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE GREEN- HOUSE OPEN HOUSE; Plant Biology and Thompson School Greenhouses, Durham, NH; for information: George Estes at (603) 862-3205. April 29 NHPGA TWILIGHT MEETING; 5:30 pm at Kathan Gardens, Newport, NH; for infor- mation: Dennis Kathan at (603) 863-1089. AUGUST August 12 NEW ENGLAND NURSERYMAN'S ASSOCLVTION SUMMER MEETING, for infor- mation: Virginia Wood at (617) 431-1625. COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MARK CRISPI SIDE FROM THE BOARD Henry Huntington 5 FORUM NH NEWS n ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS 13 FFA: BEYOND FARMING Maria VanderWoude 15 TRANSFERING THE BUSINESS TO YOUR CHILDREN Michael Sciabarrasi 18 MEMBER PROFILE Growing Things 23 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Dt. Patricia Vittum 25 A CONVERSATION HoUy Daze 28 WORTH REPEATING Farm Grown Christmas Gifts Mrs. Clement HasJdn The PlantsiDan is published in early February, April, June, August, October, and December with copy deadlines being the 5th of each prior month. While cam- era-ready ads are preferred, set-up assis- tance is available at a nominal fee. Free classified advertising is offered as a member service. We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two issues of The Plantsman. AD SIZE 6x 3 3/8- w X 2 3/8"h $120 $30 3 3/8" w X 4 7/8"h $160 $40 7" w X 2 3/8"h $160 $40 7" w X 4 7/8"h $250 $50 7" w X 10 'h $400 $100 For further information, please contact the editor Robert Parker at the UNH Research Greenhouses, Durham, NH 03824, (603)862-2061, or PO Box 5, Newfields, NfH 03856, (603)778-8353. December 1992 & January 1993 1 GRIFFIN GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY SUPPLIES uality in a Bale! Customblen TM Until now, a baled mix was regarded as an inexpensive substitute for a quality growing media. Grace/Sierra has revolutionized the bale mix concept — the quality of Metro- Mix® now compressed intoa 3 cu. ft. bale. An industry proven combination of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, a nutrient charge and wetting agent, at an economical price. Customblen Plus^^ Growing made simple! Consistentfeeding everyday, with the technology of Osmocote® combined with the quality of the new Customblen^" bale. Controlled release fertilizer incorporated at different rates for all you r needs — from bedding plants to hardy mums! For more information, call Griffin Greenhouse Supplies at 508-851-4346. GRACErSIERRA pround Hog Day February 2, 1993 . . . The appearance of a celebrated rodent and a ^reat perennial catalog! VAN BEKKUM NURSERY (603) 463-7663 Peter at Leslie Van Berkum 4 James Road DcerflieW, HH 03037 Fax (603) 463-7326 THE PLANTSMAN 2 FROM THE BOARD Professional Plant Growers Association: Your Voice for the Horticultural Industry Henry Huntington FOR AN ACTIVE MEMBER of the greenhouse industry, ques- tions always arise on different issues and aspects of our busi- ness. How can a better poinsettia be grown? Where can help be found for marketing products? How does a grower conform to all the new government regula- tions? PPGA provides the answers to these questions and much more. The Professional Plant Growers Association is the national trade association for the greenhouse in- dustry. PPGA is made up of over 2,500 greenhouse and allied trades people from across the United States, Canada, and around the world. In 1991, I was elected by the membership to the Board of Directors for the association. The board consists of 18 elected grower-member directors and 9-12 appointed directors representing the allied trades. As a director, I have travelled around the country to attend director meetings. The board meets to set policies for the association and to discuss and implement new and ongoing programs. The directors meet three times each year; in January, June, and at our annual confer- ence in late September or October. When the Board meets, we review current programs and develop new programs to answer the questions asked by growers and business owners. One of the goals of the Education and Re- search Committee is to give our members information for their growing questions. We have books and videos available to answer your "how to grow" ques- tions. We also correspond with our state universities and colleges to express our viewpoint on the directions of their programs. The Market Development and Promotions Committee helps find better ways to market our prod- ucts. This committee has made a significant financial commitment to the Garden Council. The Gar- den Council is a national market- ing association whose goal is to promote the horticulture industry contributions through a voluntary check-off program. The Marketing Committee also develops videos such as The Flowering Plants Video, which demonstrates to a retailer how to display and care for flowering plants in a retail setting. As a member of the Mar- keting Committee, I am person- ally working on a program to develop a "Growers Shipping Kit." Included in this kit is a label to be printed on shipping cartons and instructions to guide buyers on how to receive plant material. The committee also contracts garden writers for articles to promote our products in national gardening magazines. The Government Affairs Com- mittee keeps their eye on what is going on in Washington and at the state government level. We work as a coalition with sev- eral associations, such as SAP and the Farm Bureau to lobby mem- bers of Congress on the issues that concern us as growers and business people. We are currently preparing a manual on how to comply with the new worker protection standards. These regu- lations deal with the handling of all the hazardous materials we use, re-entry intervals, and much more. This manual will attempt to make these regulations easier to interpret and follow. The Water Quality Action Manual foi Greenhouse and Nursery Growers was also developed through a coalition with other associations. This manual focuses on all issues dealing with water quality, runoff, recycling, and December 1992 & January 1993 3 other water issues. PPGA has also been very active in the fight regarding Quarantine 37. Q-37 deal with the importation of potted plant material into the U.S. PPGA has been strongly opposed to reducing these regu- lations due to the possibility of importing foreign pests and dis- eases. The Annual Conference and Trade Show is an opportunity for growers to meet other mem- bers of the industry. The confer- ence is packed full of seminars and lectures on all subjects. Each year the conference is held in a different city around the U.S. in order to give all growers an opportunity to attend. PPGA sponsors trips to differ- ent parts of the world. This year a tour is scheduled to Great Britain. While in Great Britain, we will tour the countryside as well as visit growing operations and retail garden centers. This is a great opportunity to see what our European neighbors are doing. We also sponsor mini technical tours to different parts of the U.S. These are just a sampling of the programs that PPGA pro- vides for our industry. PPGA promotes our products and helps us learn how to grow those products. PPGA needs your sup- port to continue offering all these benefits. For information on becoming a member of PPGA, call me, Henry Huntington (603-435- 8361) or call Kathy Kochendorfer at the PPGA office (517-694- 7700). Join the Professional Plant Growers Association. It is an investment in your future and in the future of our industry. Henry Huntington is a co-owner and operator of Pleasant View Gardens, Pittsfield, NH. >* BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 1. The Board met at Pleasant View in Pittsfield at 6:30. Richard, Roger, Henry, Chris and Bob attended. Chris reported that even with deletion of non-paying members from the list, membership has increased this year. It was decided that next year, the cut-off date for dues payment will be April first. All members who haven't paid by then will be dropped. The list of these people will be divided among the board mem- bers, who will contact each person to make sure non-payment wasn't just an oversight. Board members mentioned the large numbers of NE Greenhouse Conference fbers they received. Most received three; one received six. People also questioned whether the NHPGA should be paying the postage on the mailing it was asked to send to its members. Not all aspects of the day-long program organized to earn pesticide applicator re- certification credits are firm enough to send out an official program, but good speakers have been found and it'll be held on November 12 at UNH Manchester. Five credits will be offered — one per hour: two in the morning and three after lunch. There will be no charge for NHPGA members and a $10 registration fee for non-members. A flier will be sent out a couple weeks before the event. Four twilight meetings are planned for 1993. One flier will be sent early in the year promoting all four. Other publicity will be in The Plantsman. The Winter Meeting was discussed at length. The theme is "Color in the Garden" and speakers, menu (scrod or shish kebab), and the logistics of sharing the day with the Landscape Association were discussed. At the end of it all, it looked like a genuinely interesting day was taking shape. In new business, Pat Fitzpatrick of Wen- zler Associates gave a presentation on how Wenzler would approach a new NHPGA logo design. The cost would be $500. The idea of a new logo will be brought up at the Winter Meeting and if members are in favor, we will go ahead. Other designers will be sought as well. The possibility of a questionnaire at- tached to next year's membership form was discussed. It seemed like a good way to find out what was wanted and to help focus the organization's direction. NOVEMBER 5. The meeting began at 7:05. It was held at Pleasant View; Bob, Chris, Andrea, Peter, Peter, Bruce, and Henry were there. The main topic was the Winter Meet- ing. It was decided not to have a com- bined meeting with the landscapers. Each organization had very specific require- ments for its own meeting that seemed difficult to reconcile with the require- ments of the other. However, each organi- zation will still be meeting at the Granite Street Bar & Grill on January 13 (the Plant Growers in the morning until mid- afternoon and the Landscapers in the evening) and anyone can register for and attend either meeting. Prices, meal, speakers — these topics and others were discussed. The upcoming pesticide recertification meeting is organized and fliers have been mailed to all members. Henry will mod- erate in the morning; Bob Demers, in the afternoon. The Granite State Flower Show organi- zational meeting will be held at Demers Garden Center on November 17. Three Plant Grower members will need to at- tend in order to make a quorum. There will be four Twilight Meetings in 1993— Pleasant View (Pittsfield) in Janu- ary; Kathan Gardens (Newport) in April; Michaud Nurseries (Exeter) in June; and Carpenter's Olde English Greenhouse (Newmarket) in September. The 1993 Summer Show was discussed. D.S. Cole (Loudon), Eliot Rose (Dover), a combination of Rolling Green and Garden of Eves (Greenland), and Olde English (Newmarket) were all suggested as pos- sible sites. Bob said he'd check and see if any were interested. The scholarship fund auction produced a higher amount than usual this year and the two scholarships will he $750 each. The recipients will be chosen at the next meeting. It was decided to have a booth at the ERNA Show in January. Chris volun- teered to represent the Plant Growers there and the Board accepted his offer. It was also decided to attach a question- naire to the membership renewal form this year. Peter Corey will solicit sugges- tions and get ideas to Chris as soon as possible. I* Jolly Farmer Products East Lempster, New Hampshire 03605 WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS • Bark Mulch - Hemlock & Mix • Bagged Mulch - Cedar & Pine • Landscape Ties • Cut & Split Firewood We are here to fulfill your needs.... Call Toll Free today! ^ Hevt Hampshire: 1-603-863-3311 New England: 1-800-537-0031 WHOLESALE GROWERS Annual & Perennial Plugs Rooted Cuttings Tuberous Begonias Bedding Plants Potted Annuals Hanging Basl(ets Cyclamen - Liners, Prefinishied, Rnished Polnsettlas - Cuttings, Prefinished, Rnished Nationwide: 1-800-695-8300 Local: 603-863-3370 'Integrity, quality and reliable service since 1967' THE Plantsman 4 New^ England Greenhouse Conference Update Richard Emerson This is just a short note com- menting on the success of this year's New England Greenhouse Conference. We attracted more businesses to our trade show than in previous years. We were also able to expand our educational programs. Those of you who were able to attend saw that many of these sessions were filled or overfilled. Anyone attending the marketing sessions has to admit that these speakers were dynamic. The sneak pre- views of new offerings for spring, as well as the update on West Coast trends, should stimulate some great ideas for increasing sales. I will be presenting a more in-depth report in the next issue. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or comments, I'd like to hear from you. Plans for the 1994 Conference are already underway. Richard Emerson, the NHPGA Representative on the NE Green- house Conference Committee, can he reached at 603-329-5525. His address is Emerson Avenue Greenhouses, 181 Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH 03841. Whitefly BiO'Control Update (by David C. Seavey, in Ornamentals Update, Fall, 1992). For the second year, whitefly populations were monitored by Ginny Hast, Extension Program Associate, on tomatoes in the Merrimack County greenhouse. The objective is to learn the ef- fectiveness of Encarsia formosa, a small parasitic wasp, in reduc- ing populations of the greenhouse whitefly. Information obtained will be related to controlling this pest on poinsettia. Encarsia adults lay eggs in whitefly immatures; these turn black as the young Encarsia feeds. Adults also kill immatures by puncturing holes and feeding on the liquid that exudes from FORUM the wound. Encarsia is not as effective on the sweet potato whitefly. Cards containing 1000 parasit- ized eggs were hung in the green- house. Three releases were made two weeks apart. Each release cost $15.00. The time spent counting whiteflies on ten yellow study cards was about one min- ute per card every two weeks. During a nine week period, the whitefly was maintained at a manageable level, and actually declined somewhat. No chemical insecticides were used. Where a low population of whitefly is tolerable on green- house tomatoes, this is not the case with poinsettias. Encarsia alone will not eliminate whitefly. In the future, effective control may involve Encarsia in combina- tion with other practices. David Seavey, Extension Educator in Merrimack County, can he reached at 603-796-2151. Twilight Meeting— Stra^rbery Banke Although the turnout was small, the meeting on September ninth was definitely a success. A tour led by Ann Duncan that was to have lasted an hour lasted two- and-a-half and explored the entire history of gardening in the sea- coast region. Strawbery Banke is becoming much more than a re-creation of colonial Portsmouth. Because the Puddle Dock neighborhood was the first settled in the city — the earliest house still standing dates from the 1690's — and changed as times changed, it's being restored to reflect the neighborhood's di- versity. Restorations will include a duplex of the fifties (the nine- teen-fifties), a neighborhood store of the forties (yes, there will be a Victory Garden), a Jewish immi- grant's home of the twenties, the Colonial Revival garden behind the Henry Bailey Aldrich House, the Goodwin mansion's Victorian garden (with a newly planted recreation of Mrs. Goodwin's "beloved Tanglewood") and so forth. ..down to the earliest — the December 1992 & January 1993 5 WELCOME Neiv Members MADELINE DUHAMEL 231 Route 125, Apt. 6 Barrington, NH 03825 (603) 664-5749 THOMAS MINTER 115A Piscataqua Road Madbury, NH 03820 (603) 749-3528 VAN DE WETERING GREENHOUSES, INC. 140 Sound Ave., PC Box 819 Jamesport, NY 11947 (516) 722-8757 WINDHILL FARM RFD 3, Box 3681 Pittsfield, NH 03263 (603) 435-6381 New Advertisers EXC-CEL GREENHOUSE MFG. PC Box 1005 Greenwood, SC 29648 DEMERS GARDEN CENTER 656 South Mammoth Road Manchester, NH 03103 raised beds and gravel paths be- hind the 1680 Sherburne House. Topics touched upon included Portsmouth's first professional gardener — a Johnny Cunningham imported from Scotland in the 1790's (who later died in an alms house); the almost garish quaUty of some nineteenth century gardens (the Victorians seemed unable to get enough color), the herb garden as myth, the effect of the colonial revival on today's perceptions of colonial life, the use of archeology in finding out about earlier gardens — and more down-to-earth things like smaller budgets, Japanese beetles and lousy soil. The NHPGA thanks Ann for her hospitality. Although tours as fine as this happen rarely, Strawbery Banke is always a place of horticultural interest. »•• Newton Greenhouse 32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 603-382-5289 Quality Plants green and flowering from 2 1/2" to 10" pots Holiday, bedding plants, & dish gardens year round cut snaps, pot mums. Gloxinias and African violets Licensed propagator of Mikkelsen & Ecke New Guinea Impatiens MRCH/HONr IRRIGATION/SNOWMAKING in Manchester, NH Providing ail your irrigation needs. Design Services also available. 180 Zachary Rd. Unitff3 Manchester, N.H. 03101 (603) 622-8825 ^^^^^^^^\V 1-800-558-9888 IN NH ONLY Cadpenie "The Qeranium Specialists" Wholesale Growers 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 JOHN B. CARPENTER, President ROBERT ]. CARPENTER, GeneroJ Manager 603/659-3391 220 SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET, NH 03857 Winter Spring Summer or Fall. Northeast Nursery's One-Stop Shopping Covers It All. It doesn't make a difference what the time of year, or the size of the project. Northeast Nursery has supplies and materials for all your needs. North- east Nursery has the widest selection in the wholesale plant materials and landscape sup- plies in all of New England. We direct ship throughout all of New England and offer many other services. Stop by today and see why many consider us the best in suppling the landscape and green industries with quality products and services. We're Northeast Nursery, your one-stop nursery for all your shopping needs. ^. r^i^^^ortheast Nursery , Inc. ^^■" ~^ Supplying Fi Plant Material &- iMndscapt- Supple 234 Newbury Street, Rt. 1 South Peabody, MA 01960 (508) 535-6550 Fax (508) 535-5247 thePlantsman 6 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS New Products- New Hampshire Made TAK Equipment, Inc., the new enterprise of Dave Murray, Mur- ray Farms, Penacook, is designing and fabricating innovative prod- ucts for the greenhouse and nurs- ery industry. The first product developed at TAK (you may have seen it at the NHPGA Summer Meeting) was a "Bulk Bag Handler" that can be used both indoors and out. It's on wheels; the boom will go through a 7'6" door, but it is five feet wide: it needed to be that wide in order to straddle a 60- cubic foot bag, but in most green- houses, that width is no problem. Dave claims he played devil's advocate — after hearing enough people complain about the diffi- culty of handling bulk bugs and about not being able to get a fork lift or trailer into the greenhouse, he decided to design something that would do everything these people claimed couldn't be done. Four hooks on the boom are hooked onto the four straps on the bag. The boom lifts by means of a 12-volt hydraulic pump (on the same principle as a dump truck hoist) operated by a rechargeable battery. The second product being developed is the "TAK Bench," a heated bench that is designed to be able to lend itself to virtu- ally any configuration (with- house, peninsular, rolling, station- ary) or style (ebb-and-flo, trough watering, expanded metal) wanted. Basically, TAK custom- builds according to the buyer's specifications. Benches can be designed with an 18" section that can be telescoped out to give more bench space during the busy season. Hot water heat is incorporated into the design by incorporating heating pipe into the bench sup- ports (Dave uses the term "pedes- tals"). The pipe is connected to a central below-ground heating pipe; enough heat is produced to heat the entire house. Four con- trol valves on the main pipe al- low up to four separate heating zones within each house. "If an owner is looking for a new benching system," Dave says, "and doesn't currently have a hot water boiler, TAK pedestals still make sense because you still get custom-built benching and if you ever do change to hot water, all you have to do is hook up the pipes." Aluminum troughs for the benches are also being fabricated. All three products are current- ly available. For further informa- tion, call Dave Murray at (603) 753-6781. Master Gardener Class Offered (from The Boston Globe, October 18, 1992). The UNH Cooperative Extension will offer a "grow how" Master Gardener Program for people in- terested in expanding their gar- dening knowledge. This pilot pro- gram will be offered in Hillsbo- rough, Rockingham, Merrimack, and Strafford counties. The fifteen weeks of classes will be taught at UNH Manches- ter from January 19 through April 27. There will be 45 hours of classroom instruction, support material, and optional hands-on training. Topics include basic bo- tany, insect and disease control, flower and vegetable gardening, and tree and shrub care. Upon completion of the program. Mas- ter Gardeners will be re-quired to give 30 hours of community ser- vice, thus extending the informa- tion learned into the community. The deadline for registration was November 30, but there will be other programs. For further in- formation call the extension's Merrimack office (603-225-5505) or write UNH Cooperative Exten- sion, 327 Daniel Webster High- way, Boscawen, NH 03033, Attention: Master Gardener Program. continued on next page TIPS from the Qriffin Quru WHEN YOU'RE IN A RUSH- CHECK OUT THE SPECIAL! Go to any good restaurant or diner (if you can find one), and you will find a daily special. The management plans it that way. In order to market it as a special, they purchase the components in the right quantities and at the best time in order to maintain the lowest cost. All ingredients are brought together for that brief time in which the special is offered. This is so structured and fine-tuned that in order to turn a profit, they have to add the words, "No substitutions, please." Why does the management run a special? Because they want to give their customers the very best for their money — within a quick turnaround time. Whether it's stuffed peppers or greenhouses, all the components are there when the cus- tomer wants them — ready to move out fast and reasonably priced. December 1992 & January 1993 7 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS FFA— Fall Results The FFA Fall Horticulture con- test was held on Saturday, Octo- ber 31, 1992, at the Thompson School Greenhouses at UNH, Durham. This annual event is designed to give beginning horti- culture students contest experi- ence and generate interest in the subject. Alvirne, Pembroke, and Manchester were present for the competition which included a written test, nursery judging, repotting of plants, woody plant identification, and floriculture plant I.D. Ben Nadeau, Wendy Gendrin, and John Daily of Alvirne took first place with a close race between Pembroke and Manchester for second and third respectively. Thanks go to Dana Sansom and Rene Gingras of the Thomp- son School and Maria VanderWoude, FFA Executive Sec- retary, for successfully organizing this year's competition. Show Time, 1993 The Farm & Forest Exposition Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary on February 4-6 at the Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Manches- ter. Its theme is 'Celebrating Ten Years — Looking Back and Reaching Forward.' The tradi- tions evolved over these years re- main: there's an Awards Breakfast on Friday morning, at which, among other things, the "Tree Farmer of the Year" is an- nounced. Friday night is again family night. 4-H members will lead hands-on demonstrations in which children can make things like natural bird feeders (peanut butter in pine cones) and fish prints. On Saturday, people from the Cooperative Extension will lead hands-on demonstrations for adults. Topics include chain saw safety and house plant care. The auction begins at 12:30 in the af- ternoon. The Awards Breakfast is $8.50, but the exhibition is free. So come help celebrate ten years of showcasing New Hampshire agri- culture. A little over a month later, three other New Hampshire exhibitions follow in quick succession: on March ll-14,the Seventh Annual Seacoast Area Flower and Garden Show will return to last year's lo- cation, the Recreation Center at Pease Air Force Base in Newington. The theme will be 'Gardens by the Sea.' •¥ Then the Third Annual Land- scape Exposition, sponsored by the New Hampshire Landscape Association, will be held on March 15-17 at the Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn &. Convention Center in Manches- ter. This third edition includes "trade show, educational lectures, hospitality areas, raffles, Pearson awards, pesticide recertification credits, and an expanded exhibit viewing time." And the annual UNH Greenhouse Open House, sponsored by the Plant Biology Department and the Thompson School of Applied Sci- ence, will be held April 2-3 at the Greenhouses on Mast Road in Durham. The theme here is "Bi- ology in Action,-" events are tra- ditional: talks and exhibits on the biology side; plant displays and sales in the Thompson School. There will be plenty of experts there to answer questions. And looking ahead — the Interna- tional Lilac Society meets in Spo- kane on May 13-15, 1993. This is the furthest west it has ever met. But in 1994, it returns east — to the University of New Hampshire in Durham. It will meet there June 9-11, 1994, dur- ing the time the late lilacs are in bloom. The program will include "speeches, tours and demonstra- tions." For more information, contact Owen Rogers at (603) 862-3222. »*• MuS^ CANTERBURY. NEW HAMPSHIRE 03224 EXIT 18. 1-93, 1/2 MILE TELEPHONE 1 -800-287-471 6 SOD FARMS & WHOLESALE NURSERY, INC. If growers and DISTRIBUTORS: • NURSERY STOCK • GARDEN SUPPLIES • CHRISTMAS TREES • SOD THE PlANTSMAN AUSTRIAN PINE, 5-8' height Beautiful, Heavy, Connecticut Valley Nursery Grown. 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BOX 156 MILTON, VERMONT 05468 thePlantsman 10 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS New Introductions — Massachusetts {GrowerTalks, October 1992). NorEast Miniature Roses in Row- ley, MA, is introducing three new varieties for 1993. "Child's Play" won the 1993 All-America Rose Selection and the American Rose Society Award of Excellence. Its white bloom has a delicate pink edge. Easy to grow and resistant to disease, "Child's Play" is a ro- bust plant that blooms well into the fall. "High Jinks" features medium to dark pink blooms on compact 16- to 20-inch tall plants. "Gone Fishin'" is a pure orange miniature garden rose av- eraging 18 to 20 inches tall. Grant Monies Available to Nursery Growers (University of Massachusetts Extension System Hon Notes, October 12, 1992). The Northeast Region of the Sus- tainable Agriculture and Exten- sion Program (SARE) will award up to $100,000 in mini-grants in 1993 to growers who are shifting to sustainable agricultural sys- tems. This new program will pro- vide 'seed' money to growers to "implement, refine, and demon- strate production techniques that will reduce environmental and health risks, conserve natural re- sources, and maintain grower profitability." The mini-grants will be award- ed on a competitive basis to f [rowers throughout the 12-state the six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia) region. It's expected that twenty min-grants, ranging from $1,000 to $7,000, will be funded. Projects may involve small research trials, educational activi- ties, and demonstrations. One po- tential use of grant money would be to help growers experiment with innovative techniques. An- other would be to allow people already in sustainable agriculture to help others adapt those tech- niques to their own operations. SARE is a federal program that receives funding through the US Department of Agriculture. Grant application forms are available from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, Hills Building, University of Ver- mont, Burlington, VT 05405-0082. The application deadline is Janu- ary 29, 1993. Monies will be awarded in March. For informa- tion, contact Sue Harper, program manager, at (802) 656-0478, FTD Buys Maine Card Company [GrowerTalks, October, 1992) Florists' Transworld Delivery As- sociation will buy the Renais- sance Greeting Card Company, a Sanford, Maine, card publishing firm. Available to FTD member owners at attractive prices, the greeting cards plus flowers will provide consumers with one-stop, convenient shopping. Pests and Quarantines [A AN Update, October 12, 1992). As of mid-September, the Pine Shoot Beetle [Tomicus piniper- da] has been found in 35 coun- ties in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsyl- vania, New York, Illinois, and Michigan. The US Department of Agriculture Animal &. Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is considering establish- ing a quarantine on all pine nursery stock, Christmas trees, logs, and related materials. Pine Shoot Beetles, native to Europe and Asia, feed (not sur- prisingly) on current season shoots of pine trees. AAN has raised concerns over the possi- bility of quarantine, mainly be- cause of the lack of any inspec- tion or treatment options. Fur- thermore, scientists and regula- tors don't agree on the actual threat the beetle poses. Meanwhile, North Carolina has established a quarantine on all pine shipments from coun- ties where the pest has been found. Also, on October first, an- other state — Minnesota — estab- lished a quarantine to prevent the entry and spread of the Japanese Beetle. Regulated ar- ticles include plants with roots (except bareroot plants); plantcrowns, bulbs, corms, tu- bers or rhizomes of ornamental plants (except when free of soil); grass sod; and soil, humus, compost, and manure (except commercially packaged). Quarantine areas include all states east of the Mississippi (with the exception of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and most of Wisconsin), as well as spe- cific counties in Missouri, Ne- braska, Quebec, and Ontario. If you plan to ship to Minne- sota, you are advised to work through your state plant regula- tory officials. For more informa- tion: Craig Regelbrugge at (202) 789-2900. >» RR 1 • TYLER BRIDGE ROAD • HINESBURG. VERMONT • (800) 525-9405 • FAX (802) 482-4056 • CALL US FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS . FAX US YOUR WANT LIST • HAND PICK YOUR TREES • WE'LL DIRECT SHIP • QUANTITY DISCOUNT PRICING ^ GROWERS OF FINE QUALITY SHADE TREES ^ 11 INSURANCE SPECIALISTS SINCE 1967 BUTLER FLORIST- & GROWERS' INSURANCE 20 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581-1969 Tel: 508-366-1512 Have your local broker call for more information. 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GREENHOUSES MANUFACTURERS P.O. BOX 1005 GREENWOOD, S.C. 29648 FFA: BEYOND FARMING HORTICULTURAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE FOR A LIFETIME Maria VanderWoude OVER 400,000 mCH SCHOOL STUDENTS are preparing themselves for careers in the science, busi- ness and technology of agriculture through participa- tion in an organization known as the FFA. The FFA is a national youth organization dedicated to develop- ing leadership, cooperation, and citizenship for tomor- row's agriculturalists, and it is alive and well here in the Granite State. New Hampshire has 16 local FFA chapters, and 637 members, in high schools across the state. In order to become an FFA member, a student must first be enrolled in an agricultural education course. High schools offering ag ed do so in one or more of the following areas: Production Agriculture/ Animal Science, Agricultural Mechanics, Forest/Natu- ral Resources, or Horticulture. It is interesting to note that all 16 schools boasting an FFA chapter also offer course in horticulture! Typically, these programs cover topics in greenhouse management, landscaping, floriculture, and general plant science, but may also include units such as pesticides and orchard science. Some students of horticulture are at first reluctant to join the FFA, believing that all FFA members are "Future Farmers". At one time this was true, but as high school agriculture programs, have grown to en- compass more than production ag, so has the FFA. In fact, FFA no longer stands for "Future Farmers of America" — it is now know simply as "FFA". Founded in 1928 as an organization for boys, the FFA is now 24.63% girls (27.63% in NH) and has chapters in all 50 states and several U.S. terrirories. FFA provides young people with programs in public speaking and parliamentary procedure, skills contests, community leadership, personal achieve- ment, and other areas. For example, on October 31st, the University of New Hampshire (Thompson School) hosted the NH FFA's Fall Interscholastic Competi- tions. Students were invited to participate in seven different contests, including horticulture. In this con- test, FFA'ers took a written test, judged nursery stock, repotted plants using acceptable procedures, and identified woody and herbaceous plants. Re- cently, members also had the chance to test their horticultural knowledge in a contest at the Roches- ter Fair, and will have yet another opportunity at UNH their spring at the Floriculture and Nursery/ Landscape Contests. FFA contests which develop leadership skills in- clude the Job Interview Contest, where participants "apply" for a job; Extemporaneous Public Speaking, in which students have 30 minutes to prepare a four to six minute speech. Parliamentary Procedure, where teams compete to solve problems using parliamentary law; and the Ag Sales and/or Service contest which tests skills in the service aspect of the ag industry. The FFA also offers "Proficiency Award" in 29 areas, including Floriculture, Fruit and/or Vegetable Production, Nursery Operations, Specialty Crop Production, and Turf and Landscape Management. Members fill our a detailed application which fully describes all aspects, including financial, of their job or project. Winners at the state level receive $100 and a framed certificate, and are then eligible to com- pete at the national level. FFA'ers may also apply for recognition as a chap- ter, state, or American "Star," for their achievement in volunteerism, for their efforts in using computers in agriculture, or for one of the National FFA Organi- zations's numerous scholarships. The FFA can offer its many contest and award programs because of the support of the agricultural community, both finan- cially and physically as agriculturists offer their ex- pertise as coaches and judges. This month, FFA members form across the state travel to Kansas City, Missouri, for the 65th National FFA Convention. Over 24,000 FFA members and guests are expected to attend this, the world's largest student convention. Granite State FFA'ers from the following towns will be competing in nine different national contests: Northwood, Alstead, Dover, Hud- son, and Exeter. In addition, Bruce Scamman of the Exeter Chapter will be receiving his American FFA Degree and is a National Officer Candidate. Students form several other NH towns will be participating in the conventions as well. Even those students who never compete in a contest are bound to benefit from the FFA experi- ence. FFA is a vital component of agricultural educa- tion, so that in a good program, all ag ed students will learn and profit from FFA. For example, in order to apply for an award in the FFA, a student must have accurate records for hours worked, money earned and invested, equipment, tools, and supplies, school, community, and FFA activities, etc. Record keeping skills, which should be taught as part of an ag course, are essential in FFA; conversely, FFA awards are an incentive for students to learn and use the skills being taught in class. Many of NH's horticulture teachers own landscap- ing, greenhouse or other related businesses, or work in the industry during the summer. As a result, they are very attuned to what potential employers are looking for in their employees, and attempt to impart this knowledge and these skills to their students. Employers in towns surrounding schools where ag ed/ FFA is offered are quick to call the school when it comes time for hiring; many employers prefer to hire FFA members as it not only means less time spent training, but they can also be sure the student has explored the field of work and has a true interest in the area. Although a student may spend only a few years in the FFA, experience proves that the knowledge and skills gained will last a lifetime. As the industry of agriculture is faced with new challenges every day, so does the FFA prepare its members to meet these ob- stacles with the tools needed to win. Maria VanderWoude is Executive Secretary, Granite State Association. FFA. She can be reached at (603) 783-9598. December 1992 & January 1993 13 ^^^' ,Y^vng You To Q GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT • pre-filled flats & pots • restricted pesticides • fertilizers • distriburos for Plasti Form & Plasti Vac • distributors for Hyde Park & Sunshine Soils • Kord products • Nu'Form Products • Star Steel Greenhouses 603^835^6930 HEMLOCK ROAD, LANGDON Mailing Address: P.O. Box O, Charlestown, NH Transferring the Business to Your Children Michael Sciabarrasi Extension Specialist, Agricultural Business Management PLANNING FOR THE TRANSFER of your firm's assets is one of the most difficult, yet important, activities dealt with by a family business. As with any long term planning, you start by assessing the present situation, defining future objectives and identifying the alternatives to achieve those objec- tives. Good communications among all family members and a clear understanding of everyone's personal and family goals are critical for successful continuation of business operations between genera- tions. ASSESSING THE PRESENT SITUATION Initial assessment of possible business transfer re- quires deciding whether you and one or more of your children should try to run the business to- gether. Don't assume your child can't "afford to pass-up" the opportunity. Instead, you should be ad- dressing questions such as: • Are your son or daughter (and his or her spouse) willing to commit substantial time and effort to the business? • Are all family members able to work and manage a business together? • Is the business profitable enough to provide an adequate living for everyone involved? • Is there potential for future business growth? • Are your willing and able to transfer business property and shift management responsibility to your child over a reasonable time period? Honest answers to these questions will give you and your children some indication of the possibility of running a successful business together. If the in- dividuals involved are uncertain of the answers to these questions, a testing stage may be necessary. The testing stage should last about 2 to 3 years; it should not be indefinite. For this time period, you may simply enter into an agreement with your child to pay him or her a reasonable wage plus an incentive (year-end bonus) for above-average perfor- mance in a specific aspect of the business. In some family situations, the agreement may call for more involvement by the child during the testing stage. Arrangements where the child provides some per- sonal property for business use, such as a pickup truck and equipment, as well as labor, are common. If your child already has a separate ongoing busi- ness, sharing labor, machinery or facilities may be appropriate during the testing stage. Eventually, those involved must make a decision to continue operating the business together and plan for transfer of business property or to go their separate ways. Assessing the present situation also involves tak- ing an accurate and complete inventory of all real and personal property you own and the associated debts and liabilities. The inventory should include an estimate of the fair market value of each prop- erty and identification as to how the property is owned (i.e., sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy- in common). Joint ownership may have a restrictive effect on your plans to transfer business property to a child. Since many family-run businesses are closely held, it is important to note whether an as- set is considered for business or personal use (or both) and which members of the family are listed as owners. Wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents will need to be reviewed and probably revised once you have decided upon the means of transferring business ownership. DEFINING FUTURE OBJECTIVES Objectives should describe the overall intent and means of transferring business ownership. Shifts of personal property and management responsibilities are usually the initial steps. The long-term goal should be to transfer interest in business real es- tate. Targeted and acceptable income (wage) levels for you and participating children need to be identi- fied. You should also identify the anticipated time required to accomplish the objectives. The amount of time will depend, in large part, on the relative ages of participating family members and on the size of your business. Although many parents who own small businesses are able to transfer a major portion of business property to their children prior to retirement, complete transfer of all business property may not occur until both parents' estates are settled. As you establish objectives for transfer of the family business, remember to consider the effects on all family members. How will your decision im- pact spouse(s)? Do you need to address the needs of children not involved in the business? Lastly, be certain that your plans allow you and your spouse to maintain a secure financial position during re- tirement and upon the settlement of each other's continued on next page December 1992 & January 1993 15 IDENTIFYING THE ALTERNATIVES You and a son or daughter want to run the business together. How do you shift assets and management responsibilities to your child while your protecting your own financial security? Different options exist for a business which is adequate in size to support two or more families versus a business which can support only a single family. If the business cannot support two or more fami- lies, several alternatives can be followed. First, the parents may help the child start a separate business. The child may work in a joint ar- rangement with the parents until he or she has sufficient management experience and equity (in the form of ma- chinery, equipment, etc.) to start their own business. Sec- ond, the child may remain in a "holding pattern" until the parents retire at which time he or she takes over the business. To provide suffi- cient income during this time,the child may need to lease additional facilities and enter into a joint arrange- ment with the parent, or work for another business. When the parents retire, the child commonly acquires ownership of the personal property and leases the busi- ness real estate. A third op- tion would be to expand business size to meet the income needs of all families. Before taking this route, the desire of all parties to run a business together must be well tested and the parents must be certain not to jeopardize their financial position. If the business can adequately provide for two or more families and ev- eryone gets along well, a major concern will be the means of shifting the business assets and manage- ment role to the child such that he or she will have sufficient equity and skills to control the busi- ness when the parents retire or in the event of an untimely death. The general partnership and corpo- ration are two forms of business organizations often used to aid in business transfers. In a general partnership agreement, the profits are usually shared according to each partner's rela- tive contributions of labor, management and capital. During the initial stages of the family partnership, the business may rent or lease the real property and some machinery from the parents, allowing the jun- ior partner (child) an equal significant or share of TIPS FROM TINA SAWTELLE Price is the leading factor in choosing Christmas trees, but there are other rea- sons retailers lose Christmas tree sales. • Parking is not available close to trees. • Trees are hard to see and get at. • There is no assistance in selection and loading of trees. • Prices are not clear on each tree. • Type of tree wanted is unavailable. Turn a tent or other area into a "Winter Wonderland" scene. Promote this to fami- lies as a draw. Write a press release to lo- cal papers. Have Christmas carols in your tree display area. Creating the Christmas mood will enhance your Christmas sales. Offer hot cider or hot chocolate while customers are browsing. Provide a delivery service for Christmas trees for a fee. Tina Sawtelle, principal of Sawtelle Mar keting Associates, consults with agricul- tural retail businesses on marketing and mer- chandising. For more information, call her at (603) 659-8106- >» partnership profits. As the partnership purchases as- sets, the junior partner's equity in the business grows. As the child's interest in business property increases, his or her share of partnership profits and business equity grows. After the partnership is well established, consideration needs to be given to the transfer of real estate and business control. This may be accomplished by offering the junior partner an option to buy the property or through some combination of gift-giving and sales. Provisions should be made for this dis- solution of the partnership when the senior partner (parents) retires. The par- ents' estate plans should also insure that the child's interests are protected. The corporation pro- vides long-term business continuity; however, corpo- rate management procedures are more formal and record- keeping requirements are greater compared to a part- nership. Interest in a corpo- ration is represented by shares of stocks. Business ownership is easily trans- ferred through the sale, gift or inheritance of stock shares. Business control technically resides with those who own more than 50% of the stock. When forming a corporation, give careful consideration to which property to place in the corporation. Should real estate be part of the corpo- ration or simply rented by the business? In addition, you'll need to carefully con- sider the type of corporation formed and the various stock options. When you begin the process of transferring business ownership, remem- ber to not only involve all family members con- cerned, but also get advise from many different planning professionals. In addition to discussing the options with a knowledgeable attorney, review your objectives and plans with your accountant, insur- ance representative, trust officer and others. Every family situation is different. Be wary of any person who offers a single solution, Michael Sciabarrasi is Extension Specialist, Agricultural Business Management, in the Department of Resource Economics and Development, UNH Cooperative Extension. University of New Hampshire, Durham. He can be reached at (603) 862-3234. ^ THE PlANTSMAN 16 CAVICCHIO GREENHOUSES, INC Wholesale Growers ANNUALS PERENNIALS HARDY MUMS GROUND COVER KALE & CABBAGE 1 1 0 Codjer Lane Sudbury, MA 01 776 (508)443-7177 FLOWERING HANGING BASKETS FALL PANSIES JUMBO ANNUALS HOLIDAY PLANTS CLASSIC PERENNIALS HARDY FALL ANNUALS A Weston Nurseries Introduction phrase which stands for the very best that fifty years of horticultural innovation and testing can produce. Weston Nurseries is proud to have developed and introduced these outstanding plants for the benefit of the American Nursery Industry. Rhododendroom PMJ (Hybridized in 1940) FOR THE FINEST "NEW ENGLAND-GROWN" PLANTS, VISIT OUR \\'HOLES ALE SALES YARD OR CALL AND ASK FOR TOM WILHELM, DAVE WALKER OR TOM WILLLAMS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU. Rhododendron PMJ (1940)* RhododendronHenry'sRed (1958)* Rhododendron Shrimp Pink Hybrids ( 1958)* Rhododendron Agio (1964)* Rhododendron Olga Me:itt (1964)* Rhododendron Weston's Pink Diamond ( 1964)* Rhododendron Molly Fordham (1966)* Rhododendron Milestone (1972)* Since 1923 Rhododendron April Snow ( 1978)* Azaleajane Abbott (1942)* A2aleaVyking(1958)* Azalea Pink and Sweet ( 1963)* Azalea Parade (1963)* Azalea Golden Showers ( 1 963 ) * Azalea Pink Clusters (1972)* *Year Hybridized Weston Nurseries I Inc fl/i of Hopkinton Growing New England's largest variety of landscape-size plants, shrubs, trees and perennials. E. Main St. (Rte. 135), P.O. Box 186, Hopkinton, MA 01748 Tel. (508) 435-3414, From Boston 235-3431, Toll free in MA, 1-800-322-2002 FAX 508-435-3274. December 1992 & January 1993 17 SUSAN HUTCHINS-GREENE grew up in Northwood. "I always remember my grandmother's gar- den," she recalls. "My parents had a vegetable garden and I can remember weeding it and snap- ping beans and hating it, but my grandmother grew flowers and I just loved being there." Her grandmother died thirteen years ago at the age of 84, but some of the plants she grew — single pink hollyhocks; bearded iris with pale yellow standards and deep purple falls — grow in her granddaughter's gardens. And other plants evoke the memory. The gardens are on a cleared Deerfield hilltop at the end of a mile-long dirt road. Susan and Michael Greene have lived here now for ten years. Susan has always grown plants here (she sold some and gave most to friends), but in the last three years, she's worked to build her interests into a more busi- ness-like endeavor. The result is Growing Things, a retail opera- tion selling annuals, a variety of shade plants, hard-to-find perenni- als, and herbs. The material is highly person- al. Susan looks for hardy plants, but with something that interests her — a distinctive texture, a par- ticularly aromatic scent, long- lasting blooms. She prefers sub- tler, less insistent flowers. She grows mallows — her favorite has a white flower with a touch of pink inside it. She remembers it in her grandmother's garden. She grows Dame's Rocket [Hesperis matronalis] and the blue and peach varieties of Jacob's Ladder [Polemonium caeruleum)...and anemones — hers are "white, early, and invasive." But not everything is subtle — she likes delphmiums and grows 300 or so each year. Her favorites are 'Summer Sky' and 'Black Night' (a dark florescent purple). Susan grows organically: she belongs to the Natural Organic Farmers' Association (NOFA) and has recently became a Certified Organic Grower in the State of New Hampshiie. She collects some of the seed herself. She believes itrongly in GROWING THINGS Organic, Evolving, Professional working with local people and purchases a lot of what she buys from Fedco Seeds, co-op seed packers located in Waterville, Maine. All seed comes from organically grown plants. THE SEASON BEGINS in early February when she starts the first seeds in the house. She uses Fafard mixes (they are approved for organic gardening); the seeds sprout quickly and — maybe be- cause the house is heated with wood — she has no problem with dampening off. Susan attributes the high germination rate (there's no bottom heat) to the addition of fish emulsion to the growing media. When she starts putting flats on the bed (late February), her husband suggests that maybe it's time to open up a green- house. She has two houses. The larger is a 17x40 double-poly heated with a propane sag Modine heat- THE PlANTSMAN 18 er. She keeps the temperature at about 60. As the weather gets warmer, she simply leaves the doors open — being on top of a hill gives plenty of circulation. She keeps two 55-gallon plastic barrels filled with water in the house, and uses the room- temperature water (with a water- ing can) for the seedlings. ("I know it sounds time-consum- ing, but if something's not going right, you can see it before it be- comes a major problem.") Later, after she transplants the seedlings into 6" Belden Jumbos (she uses this larger pot so she won't have to transplant twice), she does use a hose. This year she's planning to install a chapin watering sys- tem on some of the benches. She foliar feeds fish emulsion (mostly in the greenhouses) and liquid seaweed (in the orchards and gardens) from a back pack sprayer. When the greenhouse is overflowing — mid-March — she begins filling the second, a 14x36 hoop house that gets good late- afternoon sun. When needed, she uses a portable kerosene heater. She can't use this with vegetables (the fumes kill them), but finds it doesn't bother perennials at all. The plants are put outside in an area protected by the two greenhouses and the house. The Greene's present house was origi- nally intended to be a garage. The frames of what were in- tended to be doors are floor-to- ceiling windows that look south from the kitchen onto five acres of cleared land. Their plan was to connect a house to the northwest side of this structure. Footings were already poured when an adjacent piece of land was bought by a lumber company. Nothing has happened yet, but Susan and Michael realized that someday their view of wooded hills might be a view of clear-cutting and de- velopments, so they moved their house site to below the hilltop, to where the original farmhouse stood. (They're now in the pro- cess of building.) But the time spent wasn't a complete loss: be- cause of the large areas of con- crete and gravel (and ledge) — and the protection of the structures around it, the whole hilltop heats up quickly in spring. This allows plants to be brought outside fairly early and the greenhouses to be refilled with new material. She chooses hardier types — coral bells, foxgloves — but by mid-April, they're out for good. She opens around May first; she closes in July. She does most of the work herself and after three months of dawn-to-dusk days, is glad for a break and is only open by appointment after that. Another sales outlet is Valley Artisans, a 32-member craft co-op in Epsom. She sells both plants and plant products there. The products include homemade relishes, jams, and jellies. (The Greenes have a variety of fruit trees and a large vegetable gar- den.) She makes sachet bags filled with dried lavender and herbal moth repellents — small bags of lavender and dried camphor southernwood. And potpourri. And dried bouquets.... SHE PUT OFF becoming a certi- fied organic grower for three years — she hates paperwork. Finally her husband said, "You are one anyway. Why not be offi- cial?" So she did it. It's not complicated, but it does take some time. The nine- page 'Organic Certification Pro- gram Producer Application' asks for detailed information about things like field layout, mixed organic/conventional production, soil-building programs, fertilizers, seed treatments, and pest control. Soil tests must be taken in the different crop areas — one in a garden area, for example, and another for an orchard. The applicant reads and agrees to abide by the 22-page 'New Hampshire Code of Administra- tive Rules.' And signs and has notarized an affidavit attesting to the truth of what he's said. And there's a $35.00 fee. There is an initial inspection in the spring, and then — if approved — an follow-up visit during the growing season. Certification is for one year. Next year, the entire process will be repeated. The advantage of being certified by the state is that you are 'officially' organic. You can follow the state's rules and say you're organic, but consumers want assurance that what you're saying is true. (There are sixty m. '.?,:Y'f »;3sv--'?^-'^' '"r,'#,;-f^ ^;»»•^■.^ ?fiy:,..f^r ,? ^r^-lr,r-:,^ state-certified organic growers in New Hampshire — up from 42 the previous year. And the people at the Bureau of Markets expect the number to grow.) When the soil in the gardens — a series of beds below the crest of the hill — was analyzed as part of her certification process, it was found to be one of the most fertile tested. Susan has no expla- nation (she remembers the soil being mostly clay — and gardening around tree stumps, before they had the money to remove them), but says that during the first two years here, she and Michael would go to the beach and load their pickup with seaweed, then bring it back and rototill it into the beds. She still mulches heavily in the fall, using maple leaves ("they're sweeter"). And she rotates crops and plants win- ter rye in paths and empty plots. The soil is very good. The only insect control was done when she bought a package of praying mantis cocoons and another of ladybugs and released them. She still sees a lot of lady- bugs around. Praying mantis are harder to spot (although we did see one in a greenhouse). She does spray — she uses the organic insecticide BT [Bacillus thuringiensis] against caterpillars on spruce trees. (The Greenes have a small Christmas tree plantation.) IN THE GARDENS, as in the greenhouses, the ordinary and the unusual grow side by side. Short shade plants grow in the shadow of taller sun-lovers (Gold-edged Thyme under Lavender); there's a block of everlastings — she whole- sales to a garden center; Garlic Chives grows next to her grand- mother's Blue Star [Amsonia tabeinaemontana). Common Col- umbine is alongside Globe Cen- taurea, alongside Plume-poppy [Macleaya cordata).... ...surprises keep appearing — a fall-blooming white clematis is working its way over a wall. ("I like fall-blooming plants; I hope to propagate cuttings for sale next year.") Most of her advertising is word-of-mouthand some of her best comes from the field trips of 1992 & January 1993 19 local school children. They get to do the basics — they milk the cow ("she's very patient") and feed the chickens; they pot up plants and get to take one home. But advertising is not the main point: Susan genuinely feels it's important that people become attuned to the land and its processes when they're young. SUSAN & MICHAEL'S goal when they moved here ten years ago was "to build a lifestyle that incorpo- rated a healthy way of life and an integrated home- stead." "And we've accomplished it, "Susan says. She and Michael live in a house heated by wood and the sun; they raise most of their own food. Michael is an architect whose most personal work utilizes — and evolves from — the land it's built upon. Susan needed to find a profession that fit into this way of life. Growing Things is part of her answer. But Susan has consciously played down the commercial, making sure it doesn't interfere with other things she values — the quietness here, her privacy, her en- joyment of physical work, and what she calls "the funkiness" of the place — a sort of natural sponta- neity in the way things are done — or not done. Various field guides describe blackberry brambles {Rubus alleghanensis] as "a problem for the special- ist;" as "rambling," "ascending," "erect." "I love their wildness," Susan says; "the way they change with the seasons, but still stay part of the land- scape." She has chosen the blackberry bramble as her logo. It seems an appropriate choice. B.P. Growing Things is at 53 Babb Road, Deerfield. NH 03037. The phone is 603-463-7930. *. ^/^PJ-^!!^"Our goal, quality Our strength, our employees" FOR A GREENHOUSE VEFJhllTLV VIFFERENT CONTACT: ELLIS B.SPRAGUE OV.Om, MAINE TEL: 207-866-4747 FAX: 207-866-4747 HPRnOIS NORTHERN NURSERIES WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS U.S. Route 5, White River Junction, VT 05001 16 Pinkham Road West, Barrington, Nh 03825 SERVING THE PROFESSIONAL WITH ABOVE GROUND PLANT MATERIAL Distributors in the following lines: • Lofts Seeds . Birchmeier Sprayers • DeWitt Weed Barrier • Corona Hand Tools • Earthway Spreaders • Lebanon Turf Fertilizers • Mulch & Grow Hydroseeding Fiber • Nursery & Landscape Supplies Contact: Jim Babb, Mgr., White River Junction, VT, (802) 295-2117 Bob AvereU, Mgr., Barrington, NH, (603) 868-7172 GOOD SERVICE - DEPENDABLE QUAUTT' CONVENIENT LOCATION thePlantsman 20 ■you. A quality^ wholesale grower of shrubs, trees, and evergreens in Chichester; N.H. Call for our free catalog \mf. ia| (603) 435-6660. a MILUCAN NURSERIES, INC. ptANr 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 061 29-01 69 1 (800) 326-HART PRODUCTS COMPANY Lawn & Garden Limestone Decorative Landscape Stone White Playsand P.O. Box 1521 • Portland, ME 04104 (800) 541-9127 Northern Grown Trees Evergreens Shrubs Mon-Sac 7:00 -5:30 Sun: 9:00 - 5:00 O'DONAL'S Loated at junction of routes 22 & 114 Gotham, Maine 04038 Phone (207) 839-4262 or 839-6364 Fax 207-839-2290 We specialize in growing specimen plant materials. 21 Hardy Northern-Grown Planting Stock A Partial Listing BARE-ROOT STOCK Minimum oroer S100 and 100 of one size and 100- SPECIES ACE SIZE 249 variety. 250- PLUG STOCK Minimum order a trays a of same variety) 2-6 8 TRAYS ACE SIZE TRAYS & UP American ArtMrvKae i-J 1.30 9-15" 5-0 6-9" .54 2-4 12-14" ISO P+J 9-15" 1.40 a-2 6-12" 120 2-0 5<" .24 kMtem White Pine 2-2 9-15" 120 ^0 9-15" .40 MuflhoPlne 2-5 5-8" ISO 5-0 5<" .54 Red Pine 2-2 9-15" 110 5-0 9-15" .56 Mack Hills spruce 2-2 6-12* 1.20 5-0 6-12" .40 Colorado Blue spruce 2-2 9-15" 1.50 2-0 6-9" .24 2-2 12-18" 116 Norway spruce 2-0 6-12" .24 2-2 12-18" 116 White spruce y^ 12-I8" .40 M 6-9" .24 Deep-rooted quality since 1923. 5-5- 5-5" .57 5-10" .57 5-10" .57 5-10" .57 .57 Sertilan spruce P Tnese conairter grvwn seeaiirtgs come In travs of «7 ovlMi each ana are snippea eicner in 3 or 4 tray owes Therefore we reguest that you oraer an even numoer of trays mere Is a container deposit ofSiSSper tray Mhlch Is refunaaoie upon return of the containers In gooa conaioon, witrun SO aays. at the expense oftnep ^8^ ESTERN INE NURSERIES, ONE EVERGREEN DRIVE • RO. BOX 250 FRYEBURC, MAINE 04037 1-800-447-4745 • FAX 1-207-935-2043 ,»o«wo.jto /J Aft^'l %\ ^ 1 w t. \; X \ T >^ .3WC / yy- t /-^ //V7/ 'ATlfc* K y^ ii90L lr>corpcr«t«ST ae- 3TREt_T YOWH, N. r. lOOiO 2 aai-0920 72 HAWKSTEAD NASHUA. NH HOLLOW 03063 RICHARD C. ZOERB 603 886-8665 fffiU Mherry ^ nurseries inc. A grov.-ing iradiLion since 1832 WHOLESALE ONLY Growers of Quality Hardy Plants Trees • Shnibs" Evergreens B&B and ConUincr Crown Wide Range of Malcrials "N West Newbury, Massachusetts 01985 M^^ 508-462-6688 \gfC We welcome your visit! ^0 ^ 75 CHESTNUT HILL, RTE. 190 STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT. 06076 W.H.MILIKOWSKI.INC. GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT PLANTS BULBS SEEDS ALL YOUR GREENHOUSE NEEDS ■CROW WITH US' Conn.203-684.58n Out of State 800-243-71 70 Featuring 'NH Gold' Forsythia the best of the new, hardy forsythias, developed here by Paul Joly "k several sizes available WINDSOR ROAD NURSERY RT. 2, BOX 884, CORNISH, NH 03745 Call for an appointment: 603-543-3239 or send for a catalog ROOTED CUTTINGS &. POTTED LINERS of odier hard-to-find shrubs & trees / PERENNIALS &. NURSERY STOCK wholesale & retail LANDSCAPE CONSULTING thePlantsman 22 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECTS IN ORNAMENTALS Dr. Patricia]. Vittum IN RECENT YEARS greenhouse and nursery manag- ers have been encouraged to use fewer pesticides and to use them less frequently. As a result many managers have begun to look into the possibility of using non-traditional pest control approaches. One such approach involves using biological control agents to control insects. Biological control agents are living organisms or products of living organisms which kill or interfere with the metabolism of tar- get insects. These agents may be parasites or preda- tors, bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes, or insect hormones. Predators and parasites are handled very differ- ently than traditional insecticides, and will be dis- cussed in a separate article. However, bacteria, nematodes, and insect growth regulators are all ap- plied to crops through standard hydraulic sprayers. There are several bacteria which cause diseases in insects. Perhaps the most familiar such bacte- rium is Bacillus thuiingiensis, or BT, which has been available commercially for several years. The bacterium produces a toxin inside the insect which interferes with the digestive system and ultimately paralyzes that system. A target insect may not die immediately but normally it stops feeding shortly after becoming infected. There are several "strains" of BT, and each strain is particularly effective against certain kinds of in- sects. The "kurstaki" strain is effective against most caterpillars, including cutworms in the green- house and gypsy moths outdoors. There are several formulations of BT kurstaki, including Dipel™, Thuricide™, Steward™, and Javelin™. The labels vary with regard to crops listed, but all of these materials are sprayable formulations and can be ap- phed with standard equipment. The secret to success when using the kurstaki strain is to apply the material when the caterpillars are in the smallest stages. With gypsy moths, this will be a week or two after peak egg hatch, while with greenhouse caterpillars, only regular monitor- ing of the crops will tell you when caterpillars are becoming active. Larger caterpillars (from their middle stages up) are generally much less suscep- tible to the bacterium. Another strain of BT which should be of interest to greenhouse managers is the "israeliensis" strain, which is effective against fungus gnat larvae and some other dipterous (fly-like) insects. This strain is currently marketed commercially as Gnatrol™. Field experience has indicated that the material should be applied to the soil every five to seven days for at least three applications. This is because again the smallest larvae are most susceptible, but fungus gnats tend to occur in a range of sizes at any given time. So the first application should control the small larvae that are present, but it will not affect the larger stages. When these individuals complete their development and lay eggs to start a new gen- eration, the follow-up applications will control the new young larvae. Ornamentals and nursery managers should be aware that there are a couple other strains of BT which might be of interest. In particular the "san diego" strain appears to be quite effective against leaf feeding beetles, such as the Colorado potato beetle. While there are not a lot of potato beetles on our omamental plantings, there are beetles like elm leaf beetles which are also quite susceptible. There are a couple relatively new formulations of the san diego strain which are available commer- cially, including One™ and M-Trak™. A second approach to biological control is the use of entomopathogenic nematodes. "Entomopathogenic" simply means causing disease in insects. Entomopathogenic nematodes penetrate target insects, usually through the mouth or through holes in the side of the body through which the insect breathes. Once the nematode gets inside the insect, it releases some bacteria which it carries naturally. These bacteria begin to break down the internal tissues of the target insect. The nematodes then feed on all the decaying material, reproduce, collect some of the bacteria, and move out of the insect cadaver to find new hosts. These nematodes are not capable of attacking plants. Although they are very small (nearly micro- scopic), they are mobile so they can make their way through the soil in search of another victim. They are very susceptible to desiccation, however, so the soil must be reasonably moist at the time of appli- cation, and in most cases the nematodes should ei- ther be applied as a drench or be watered in very thoroughly immediately after application. Not surprisingly, entomopathogenic nematodes come in different shapes and sizes. The one which is currently available commercially is Steineinema caipocapsae, sold as Exhibit™, BioSafe™, Orthoganic™, and other names. The nematodes are packaged in a gel-like material in a plastic con- tainer. When a plant manager wants to use the nematodes, he adds water and an "activating agent" (really a material which breaks up the gel) and shakes the container thoroughly. He then dilutes the mixture in his regular sprayer and applies the nematodes directly through the sprayer. These December 1992 & jAhnjARY 1993 23 nematodes are pretty tough and can survive the pressures encountered in normal hydraulic sprayers. (Note that they do NOT survive the very high pres- sures - 2,000 psi which are being used in some turf applications!) The nematodes have looked quite promising against black vine weevils in nursery settings, par- ticularly in the Pacific Northwest. Other researchers have looked at their effectiveness against fungus gnats, but these trials have been inconclusive. In some cases they appeared to work very well, while in other cases they have been much less effective. There appears to be some evidence that potting mixes or field conditions which contain relatively high amounts of pine bark may interfere with the effectiveness of the nematodes. In any case the application procedure would be similar to that for BT (i.e., three applications at five to seven day intervals). One other kind of biological control which de- serves mentioning is the use of insect growth regu- lators. Insects go through a series of molts as they mature from eggs to adults. Each molt is governed by a series of hormones. One of these hormones is a "juvenile hormone". As long as this juvenile hor- mone is present, the insect will not molt to the adult stage. In many insects this hormone is quite specific. Scientists have identified the chemical structure of this hormone for some insects. As it turns out, if the hormone is then produced in the laboratory and sprayed on plants, the insect believes that the hormone is present in its own system and will not molt to the adult stage. As a result it will not mate and lay eggs to start another generation. Some of these juvenile hormones have been de- veloped commercially. Enstar™ is a mimic of a ju- venile hormone which affects the development of whiteflies and some closely related insects. The beauty of this approach is that Enstar™ is specific to whiteflies and will not harm any beneficial in- sects (such as parasites or predators) which might be in the greenhouse. Equally importantly, materials like Enstar™ are much less toxic to the applicator and to employees who might have to work in a treated area shortly after application than are most traditional insecticides. Another kind of insect growth regulator interferes with the molting process by blocking the produc- tion of necessary proteins and other products needed during the process. Azadirachtin is an ex- tract from the neem tree, which grows primarily in India. This material interferes with the molting pro- cess of several kinds of insects, including whiteflies and leafminers. Neem also appears to have some "anti-feedant" characteristics to it. In other words, it makes treated plants unattractive to some in- sects. Neem is available commercially as Margosan- OIM and as BioNeem™, and is labelled for use on a variety of crops against several kinds of insects. While it will affect more kinds of insects than will IGRs like Enstar™, it is still much less toxic to hu- mans and other vertebrates than most traditional insecticides. Current laboratory studies are looking at combining neem with a "synergist - a chemical which is not insect-active by itself, but makes neem much more active when mixed together. However, some of these combinations are very phy- totoxic, and so are not appropriate for use in any market, particularly the ornamentals market. Meanwhile some companies are working on de- veloping fungi which attack insects. Some of these fungi have been released commercially in past years. For example, Veiticillium lecanii was devel- oped for use against aphids and whiteflies, particu- larly in Europe, and was marketed in the United States briefly as Vertilec™. The main drawback was that the fungus was only effective when relative humidity remained quite high, and under these con- ditions Botrytis and similar fungal diseases tended to thrive. Current research is centered on fungi which are a little less sensitive to humidity. Commercial re- leases are still a few years away, but some of the fungi show considerable potential for controlling pest insects. The use of biological control agents is increasing in many crop settings. In some cases these agents are a bit trickier to use than traditional insecticides, because storage or handling of the biological agents might be a bit more complicated or because timing of application has to be more precise. However, sev- eral such agents are showing considerable potential to control pest populations and reduce the overall pesticide load. Greenhouse and nursery managers should experi- ment with some of these agents and become famil- iar with the best way to use them. If they are used properly (applied at proper intervals and directed against the right stage of insect), they can become valuable partners in an insect management program. Dr. Patrician J. Vittum is a memhei of the Depaitment of Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her address is Fernald Hall, Amherst, MA 01003. The phone numbers at the Department of Entomology are (413) 545-2283 and 545-2004. >* Garden Center TEL 625-8298 / fax 622-4073 Greenhouses Nursery Craft & Christmas Shop 656 So. Mammonth Rd. (Rte.28A) Manchester, NH 03103 We wish all of you a prosperous 1993 THE PlANTSMAN 24 A CONVERSATION WITH MR. KRIS KRINGLE, KRINGLE ENTERPRISES, INC. Holly Daze THE APPROACHING HOLDDAY season brings with it an unparalleled shopping frenzy the likes of which is never seen any other time of year. To gain a better perspective on this phenomenon and to fully appreciate the marketing opportunities pre- sented, I've asked Mr. Kris Kringle of Kringle Enter- prises, Inc. to share with us some of his thoughts and observations. Q. MR. KRINGLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE DE- SCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS FOR US? A. Basically, Kringle Enterprises is a giveaway business. It's a huge loss leader marketing enter- prise supported by manufacturers worldwide. It's great publicity and visibility for them and I handle the entire distribution network, saving them all the logistical headaches common during the holiday crunch. Furthermore, the marketing is targeted at kids, a segment of the market which has billions of discretionary dollars. We reach them when they're young and stay with them throughout their formative years. Q. MR. KRINGLE, WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS NOW VERSUS 20-30 YEARS AGO? A. The holiday season has become BIG business. I remember when my business concept for the holi- days started in Europe with just some simple gift ideas: apples, nuts — that sort of thing. Now it's a multibillion dollar worldwide enterprise employing thousands of people. While I no longer maintain the direct approach in all facets of the operation, I must understand the ramifications of a global economy and how it will affect my business. These floating currency rates alone can kill me! Q. WHAT ARE SOME MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR BUSINESSES IN THE 1990'S? A. Government regulations are beginning to play a larger role. In my holiday business, there's workers compensation, worker protection laws, OSHA regs due to seasonal elf housing, groundwater protection and a myriad of others to consider. I believe in be- ing proactive, not reactive, in meeting these regula- tory and environmental concerns. For example, we compost all our reindeer manure, food wastes, old wrapping paper, soiled corrugated cardboard from shipping containers and any other compostable or- ganics we might generate. We've named it Kris' Kompost and it's been a popular side business for us the past 5 years. What might have been a nitrate leaching problem from animal manures has instead become an environmental asset. This compost op- eration dovetails nicely with our efforts to research alternative energy sources. We've been able to cap- ture the methane and heat from our compost opera- tion and reindeer stables to heat over 70% of our corporate headquarters. I'm very proud of the fact that our monitoring stations show no degradation of the polar ice caps near our North Pole headquarters. Q. HOW DO YOU STAY CURRENT ON THE LATEST TRENDS IN THE HOLIDAY GIFT TRADE? A. I'm glad you asked this question. It seems so simple, yet I've talked with distributors who con- sider this a nasty topic unfit for human conversa- tion. My answer is to travel, attend meetings, read trade journals and visit your competitors' busi- nesses. As you know, I travel worldwide in Decem- ber. Other times of year, I like to head south and combine business and pleasure by attending shows such as the Holiday Gift Show and the Fancy Food Show in New York City. New products and ideas are continually being introduced to the consuming public and those who don't keep up will likely drop out. We try to see change as exciting, not some- thing that interferes with our day-to-day existence.These shows also allow Mrs. Kringle and myself a much needed break from the rigors of comanaging our large family-run business and we both enjoy the excitement of the big city. Besides which, we're able to deduct our trip as a business expense. Q. ANY FINAL THOUGHTS FOR OUR READING AUDIENCE? A. Well, I think it's important to be very clear as to your purpose in running any business. The con- cept should be well stated and fully understood by the entire work force. Refining your business as the years progress will be necessary. I've worked hard to develop name recognition worldwide and I think I've been pretty successful. My manufacturers know that their products will receive maximum attention due to my marketing techniques and that means real sales for them in the future. And speaking of the work force, I would be remiss if I didn't men- tion my fine associates. I must say that motivated, happy workers are my best asset. Take care of them, inspire confidence and trust, and they'll be the cornerstone for any successful business. Holly Daze is Extension Specialist, International Marketing Trends, UNH Cooperative Extension. * December 1992 &. January 1993 25 HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc. 109-113 Essex St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830, (508) 373-6838, (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 8. Sisal twine & poly twine 9. Woven polypropylene sqs. GREENHOUSE PLANTS CHRYSANTHEMUMS NURSERY STOCK POINSETTIAS BULBS/ULIES GERANIUMS PERENNIALS CYCLAMEN SEEDLINGS AZALEAS PLUGS SEEDS D.A. POSOCCO Greenhouse Plants - Nursery Stock Joseph Giannino 56 Tuscano Avenue Revere. MA 02151 617-286-6541 (home) Fax 617-289-9412 GREENHOUSE PLANTS CHRYSANTHEMUMS NURSERY STOCK POINSETTIAS BULBS/ULIES GERANIUMS PERENNIALS CYCLAMEN SEEDLINGS AZALEAS PLUGS SEEDS D.A. POSOCCO Greenhouse Plants • Nursery Stock Steve Calautti RO. Box 2092 Middletown,CT 06457 203-346-7980 Fax 203-346-5235 WE SUPPORT: MICHAUD Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc. %^. Route 85 — PO Box J34 (603) 772-3698 Exeter. NH 03833 £) Wholesale & Retail Nursery Annuals, Perennials. Mursery Stock. Landscape Supplies Fair is for WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 150 acres of quality plants Write for catalog Member MNA. NENA Millers Falls Road. Turners Falls, MA 01376 Telephone 413- 863-2510 s tewart^ NURSERY, Inc PRUNERS • LADDERS • SPRAYERS • FORKLIFTS • PUMPS ROUTE 116, P.O. BOX 540 CONWAY, MA 01341 413-369-4335 For Friendly, Courteous, Efficent, Technical Service CALL US AT 1-800-634-5557 FOR INFORMATION AND CATALOGS HOSE ■ TANKS ■ REELS ■ MOWERS ■ SAFETY EQUIPMENT Law^h ton's Garden Center Inc. Cal Laughton, Florist MIIRQPRY QTOrk- . AMMIIAI Q CHARLES UVUGHTON ■ PRESIDENT NUHbbHY blUUK • ANNUALb dave polygreen - nursery sales PERENNIALS FERTILIZERS • INSECTICIDES LAUCHTONS Distributors of Sentinel Foam Overwinter Blankets WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERY Tel. 1-800-633-0159 155-165 Princeton Blvd. No. Chelmsford, MA 01863 FOR QUALITY SOD AND SERVICE TSsmoflSif ROUTE 3A LITCHFIELD, NH 1-800-556-6985 rook. DISTRIBUTOR • Big Rolls with Roll-out Service • Convenient Farm Pick-up • Prompt Delivery Service 1028 Horseneck Road Westport, MA 02790 508-636-6615 SPECIALIZING IN Heath . . . Heather. . . Bearbeny . Herbs . . . Seashore Plants . . . also, a full line of quality nursery stock 27 WORTH REPEATING Farm Grown Christmas Gifts WE GROW our Christmas presents right here on the farm. The garden, the cornfield, the orchard, the woods each contribute something toward our; Christmas giving. We even call on Rhoda, our best Jersey cow, and the purebred leghorn hens. It was just three years ago that we first tried this "home-grown" giving plan. That year the drought got most of the corn and the early frost took the lest. There wasn't a cent for extra spending. When Christmas came we had to give just what we had, or nothing at all. We wrapped up everything loose, chick- ens, canned fruit, bulbs, flower seed, pumpkins, feathers, nuts and apples. Such a collection! But it turned out to be the merriest Christmas we ever had. A box of finest Winesap apples we packed for a sister in town. Each apple was wrapped in pale green tis- sue paper and wore a Christmas seal. An apple Santa Claus was the final touch. A bright red apple formed his well filled coat. The head, a ball of tightly wrapped cot- ton, was fastenea on with a tooth- pick. The legs and arms were also toothpicks cotton wrapped. The white fur belt and beard were strips of cotton held with paste. The fea- tures were embroidered with colored thread UNIQUE CHRISTMAS APPLES Last year we found a better way to send greetings with apples. In the summer when the Jonathans were still green we tried this stunt. Out of wrapping paper we cut letters to spell the words "Merry Christmas," forming the letters just big enough for the two words to fit around an apple. These cut out letters were carried to the orchard, and with rubber cement we fastened a greet- ing on more than two dozen apples hanging on what we call our "Mer- ry Christmas" tree. As the sun col- ors the fruit the protected part un- der the letters remains a soft green At apple pickmg time, the letters were removed, and there was the Christmas greeting, plain to read. Several Merry Christmas apples are packed on the top layer of each gift box. "How is it done?" Curious friends wrote immediately to in- quire. But we kept our secret. It was such fun to near their crazy guesses and we want to repeat the idea next year. That same year I gave a dozen eggs to each of two town friends. I Mrs. Clement Haskin chose the largest, whitest eggs in the lay, and stamped on each a Christmas seal before packing in a holly paper carton. To a favorite little niece who lives in Chicago we sent a large box of even-sized ears of popcorn. One of the ears I dressed like a doll in red and green paper using shucks for the arms and a bit of cob for the head. This corn doll was fastened to the lid of the holly-covered box. GIFTS FROM CORN HUSKS Corn shucks are another farm prod- uct I turn into gifts. I braid them into baskets, bags, sets of table doi- lies and rugs. Field corn gives the best colored and strongest shucks. Sweet corn is paler and not nearly so durable. Any age shuck is all right to use with the exception of the green ones. I tear off the outer coarse-grained leaves and use only the soft-textured creamy ones in- side. They are finer fibered &. more pliable and take the dye better, too. After sorting out a quantity of these inner leaves, I cut off all the thick stubby ends with scissors. The shuck leaves without the hard part measure from five to nine inches. The braids may be of any width. Wide braids are best for rugs and baskets as they work up quick- ly while narrow braids are effective for table mats, bags and hats. Corn shucks take dye beautifully, but no dye shade can equal their own natural sunburn-yellow. Did you ever burn pine cones on the open grate? They give a color- ful dancing flame and a pungent piny odor. For our first "home- grown" Christmas the children gathered several gunny sacks full of cones which we sent to friends for their fire on Christmas Eve. From plain green cloth I cut letters to spell a Christmas greeting and ap- pliqued them to the sacks. In the center of each bag of cones we packed a small pine log on which my husband carved the words "Your Yuletide Log." When I make jams and jellies one jar is always set aside for the Christmas shelf. By the holidays I usually have ten or fifteen choice glasses. With green sealing wax I write a Merry Christmas across each paraffin cover and pack the jars in small corrugated paper con- tainers. Even my neighbors who have their cellars filled with home-made THE PlANTSMAN 28 jams and jellies enjoy a treat of some unusual flavor. My quince honey, for instance and sunshine preserves are neighoorhood favorites so I usually give a jar of one or the other of these. Christmas at our house without a few chewy popcorn balls just isn't Christmas. We make the balls the old-fashioned way stirring the corn into molasses candy or taffy. When no more com can be added to the mixture it is set aside a few minutes to get cool enough to handle before forming into balls. Before the balls are quite cool they are rolled in freshly-popped corn. A great deal of fun is had by wrap- ping little gifts in waxed paper and placing them in the center of the balls. Last year we inserted a loop of silver thread through some of the balls so that they could be slipped over the branches to help decorate our tree. For a young cousin who is fond of collecting pretty stones my little son has been saving every small pebble he could find that was unusual in shape or coloring. He has a great collection now, more than 100, with a special box made to send them in. The container is a cigar box covered with a plastic foundation made of 11/2 cups of whiting, 1 gill of clear, fine, liquid glue, 3 teaspoons of lin- seed oil and 3 tsps. of varnish. These materials came from the hardware store and cost but a few cents. The ingredients were mixed in a bowl. First the whiting was put in, then the liquids were added in the order named and stirred slowly to a velvet smoothness. With my spatula, son spread this over the box like frosting on a cake. Then he took his pretti- est stones &. stuck them into the plaster, completely covering it in a mosaic effect, fitting the stones to- gether. Two years ago my son contributed a gift that pleased my city brother. In the pasture he found two almost twin-sized stones which sparkled with a thousand flecks of silica. These were sent to serve as book ends for his uncle's desk. I save duck and chicken feathers and occasionally give awav enough for a pair of good-sized pillows. Wo- men, whether they live in town or the country, appreciate such a gift. Selectons lepiinted from The National Farm Journal, December 1932, Volume LVI. Number 12. »» The Mitsubishi Fuso 4WDFG. Built to work where others can't. There's always been a need for a need for a four- wheel drive, cab- over light-duty truck that can con- quer sand, snovi' , steep hills, and oflF- road conditions. A real truck. The 127 HP, 11,600 lb 7GVW, iutercooled, turbochargeddiesel, MTTSUBISHI FUSO 4WD FG, is exactly that truck. A cab-forward design with excep- ttoual froat andside visibility lets the driver see over, and around, snowplows. Up, and down, hilly terrain. And threatening conditions that conventional designs hide. Wheelbase options help maintain the original design integrity that's often sacrificed by unnecessary adaptions, A durable, reliable chassis, frame, and suspension system not only makes the ride smooth. But also protects the truck, the load, and your investment. And, accepts a variety ofbody andbox options. It is a truck that has survived over 5.000 miles of threatening conditions in the Australian outback to finish the 1988 Wynn's Safari Rally Race when 50% of the entrants didn't. MITSUBISHI FUSO 4WD FG wiU work on those jobs that destroy ordinary, conventional trucks. v'v4'- LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL 1400 South Willow Street Manchester, NH 03103 Parts: 669-8524 INTERNATIONAL NH WATS: 1.800.562.3814 ^ A MITSUBISHI FUSO 1992 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President Bob Demers, Jr. Demers Nursery &. Garden Center 656 South Mammoth Road Manchester, NH 03103 625-8298 Secietatry / Tieasuiei Christopher Robarge UNH/TSAS Horticultural Facilities Manager Durham, NH 03824 862-1074 Directors Andrea Capron Box 232 Center Ossipee, NH 03814 539-6030 Peter Corey RFD 1, Box 678 Whitefield, NH 03598 837-9113 Bruce Holmes PO Box 75 Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 569-2127 Henry Huntington Pleasant View Gardens RFD #3, PO Box 3701 Pittsfield, NH 03263 435-8361 Peter van Berkum 4 James Road Deerfield, NH 03037 463-7663 Roger Warren Box 318 Meriden, NH 03770 469-3226 (H); 448-61 10 (W) Richard Zoerb Gloeckner &. Company, Inc. 72 Hawkstead Hollow Nashua, NH 03063 886-8665 January Events NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION ANNUAL WINTER MEETING Wednesday, January 13, 1993, Granite Street Bar & Grill, Manchester, New Hampshire Registration begins at 9:00 (Coffee and Danish provided). Our annual busi- ness meeting and election of officers will follow at 9:30. This year's theme is Color in the Garden. For those members who raise or sell garden material — annuals, perennials, bedding plants (this probably includes most of us) — or use it in design work, here is a chance to look at new introductions and new ways of using some of the old. Speakers include Mike Murgiano, Sluis &. Groot Seed Company, who will speak on Color in the Landscape) Peter van Berkum, van Berkum Nurs- ery, speaking on Color in Perennials-, and Richard Zoerb, Fred C. Gloekner &. Company, who will give a slide tour of some of the innova- tions at the Ameriflora Exhibition in Columbus, Ohio. Breaking up all this color with some black-and-white facts on market- ing and finance will be Tina Sawtelle, Sawtelle Marketing Associates, speaking on Designing a Logo that Works for You, and Bill Martin, South- ern New England Farm Credit, whose talk is entitled Traffic Signals of a Financial Statement: A Fifteen-Minute Growers' Analysis. Lunch (12-1:30) offers salad and a choice of grilled chicken breast, baked scrod, or shish kebab. Dessert is carrot cake. The meal is offered only to those who preregister. Preregistration is $20; walk-in, $15. So it's sensible to socialize with fellow members and come for lunch. A flier with more information and directions on how to get there will be in the mail shortly. (You may have already received it.) For even more information, call Chris Robarge at (603) 862-1074. TWILIGHT MEETING: PLEASANT VIEW GARDENS Thursday, January 21, 5:30-7:30 The First Twilight Meeting of 1993 will be held at Pleasant View Gardens in Pittsfield on January 21. The meeting will begin around 5:30. The Huntingtons — Jon, Jeff, and Henry — will host the meeting and give a tour of their brand new 25,000-square foot Nexus gutter-connected house. The house is environmentally computer-controlled and the inno- vations include trench drains in the concrete floor leading to a drainage ditch. (Eventually a pond will be built to catch run-off.) The house will have been in operation barely a month, so it will be a good opportunity to see the beginnings of a major new production house. For information, call Henry at (603) 435-8361. NH PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION THE PLANTSMAN EDITOR UNH RESEARCH GREENHOUSES DURHAM, NH 03824 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 43