/ftp ...and then there are lilacs. See page fifteen. APRIL & MAY 1 9(^4 NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION ^A*^ APRIL & MAY 1994 NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIA TION If You Grow..., You Should Know., ©1994, TGS 1... Every time you use a chemical (pesticides and fertilizers) you will reduce your production amount by approximately 1 %. 2... Chemical pesticide use is slowly destroying our environment. 3... Everyday, more and more people aie showing concern. This concern results in stiifening government regulations. 4... The potassium derivative, muriate of potash, found in most cheinical fertilizers (and in some "organic" ones too), destroys many essential soilborne microorganisms and bacteria which are critical to plant health and soil fitness. 5... Plant health plays a critical role in pest and disease control because a sickly plant is a susceptible phmt. 6... Over fertilization is easy to do when using chemical fertilizers. This too, makes plants sickly, and thusly, susceptible to pests and diseases. 7... Eveiy time you spray plant pests with a chemical pesticide, some will survive. Through genetic mutation, those survivors will produce off- spring which have slightly liigher resistance, to the last chemical used, than their forebeais. 8... Chemical fertilizers offer nothing in the way of long tenn value. 9„. It's impossible to amtrol Mother Nature. 10... The latest agricultural technology provides solutions to the problems that today's giowers face by better understanding nature and utilizing that understanding. 11... Natural practices are less expensive in the long run and offer an immediate savings in labor. 12... The big guys can do it. (Gallo, Dole, Para- mount, Pandol & Sons and many more. ) So can you. 13... There's no better time than right now to change your ways. (It's recommended that you make the transition thoroughly, with commitment, to only a small section of your operation at a time.) 14... There's a New Hampshire company that can help you understand and switch to their sustainable practices. This company has the knowledge and the products you'll need. 15... To take the first step, contact the The Green Spot today. By doing so you can get thier FREE Green Methods'" Catalog. There's no obligation and it's chuck full of valuable informatiim. .:.:j!^^-.;s\*^«^¥SV.>:.K;W:;;k ^W''^^lno<4Utts. Wholesale programs tailored to fit your needs. Promotional materials and co-operative advertising programs available. Please call (603) 964 - 1 1 15 and ask for Michael P. Scott for more details or to place an order. Don't wait for the season to pass call today. The Plantsman •»?- NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS i*- landscape, it comes to the buyer in seven parts — five frame pieces, two completed ends — to be connected with plastic push bolts. Mike sees a market for the Hum- bug Mini-Greenhouse among peo- ple like him and his wife who want an early start on their gardening. He hopes to sell it through area re- tail garden centers. For information, contact Michael Scott at Humbug Manu- facturing Company, PO Box 541, North Hampton, NH 03862. The phone num- ber is 603-964-1115. Gateway Gardens A new garden center has risen out- side Concord. Gateway Gardens, co-owned and operated by Kirk Weyant and Sue Englund, both fa- miliar to the New Hampshire green industry, will open for business in late April and have its official Grand Opening on Mothers' Day. The first customers will see two Rough Brothers houses (30x80 and 30x70), one connected to a 40x70 barn. One house is full (on March first) of geraniums, impatience, and some "jumbo mixed hangers." More plants will follow — Kirk and Sue plan to have a broad selection (over 300 types) of perennials and 150 types of herbs, as well as nurs- ery stock. The big barn — 35 feet to the peak, with 13-foot-wide doors at ei- ther end — will be "filled with ev- erything from dried flowers to books to tools;" there will be a children's section. There's parking for 30 cars ("that's on pavement; there's plenty more room on the grass.") and Kirk feels Gateway Garden's location and wide range of prod- ucts will fill the spaces. Gateway Gardens, 430 Loudon Road, Concord, is located on Route 9 about a half-mile from where it turns off from Route 393/4/202. The phone number is 603-229-0655. Legislative Update The bills concerned with pesti- cides and pesticide control board HOW ABOUT HERBS Not every gardener has a sunny space for herbs, so customers may sometimes ask for herbs that do well in the shade. ANGELICA (Angelica arcfiangelica) is the first that comes to mind. An Imposing three-to-five foot presence, with large flower umbels, It's considered a biennial, but will live for three or four years if not al- lowed to set seed. If it does set seed and conditions are right, small seedlings will quickly appear. BEE BALM [Monarda didyma) is a perennial that likes partial shade and moist rich soil. It needs good air circulation. Bees and hum- mingbirds love It; the leaves make a nice tea and the flowers are edible as well. CHERVAL (Antfiriscus cerefolium) is a hardy annual with dainty fern- like foliage and tiny white flowers. It prefers moist, rich, well- drained soil In partial shade or dappled sunlight. Leaves have a delicate anise flavor. LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis) will adapt to shade. It will grow as a less compact plant, but its flavor will still be a refreshing minty lemon. LOVAGE (Levisticum officinale) looks and smells like an overgrown cel- ery plant. It will do well In partial shade with plenty of moisture and good (and preferably well-Ilmed) soil. It can grow up to seven feet and Is a fine substitute for celery In cooking. SWEET CICELY (Myrrftis odorata) Is an excellent shade plant with leaves like ferns and umbels of white flowers followed by bright green seeds. It can take full shade and the anise-flavored leaves, stems, seeds, and roots are all good to eat. SWEET WOODRUFF (Galium odoratum), with its whorls of slender leaves and white flowers held high. Is a good ground cover. It's a key ingredient of old-time May wine and, when dried, smells like new-mown hay. It likes partial shade and rich, moist, acidic soil. The shade gardener should avoid the deepest shade (under heavy tree cover or in building shadows where the sun Is blocked all day). The herbs mentioned here do need more light than you would find, for example, in woods or under large lawn trees. Your customer, with the shady garden may need a little more help and advice, but Is Just as eager to grow herbs as the gardener who grows in the sun. ^ Tanya \ackson. a well-known area herbalist, can be reached at 603-431-6774. seem to be at various points in legislative process. House Bill 1185, allowing the pesticide board to establish a fee for services, will probably pass; House Bills 1512-FN and 1533, enlarging the member- ship of the Board and adding a citizens' advisory committee, will probably be modified and com- bined into one proposal; repeal of last session's bill preempting local regulation of pesticide use will probably not happen. Two bills dealing with Workers' APRIL /MAY 1994 -^ NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President BOB DEMERS, JR. Demers Nursery & Garden Center 656 South Mammoth Road Manchester, NH 03103 625-8298 Secretatry I Treasurer CHRISTOPHER ROBARGE UNRTSAS Horticultural Facilities Manager Durham, NH 03824 862-1074 Directors ANDREA CAPRON Box 332 Center Ossipee, NH 03814 539-6030 HENRY HUNTINGTON Pleasant View Gardens RFD#3, PO Box 3701 PIttsfleld, NH 03263 435-8361 BEN SHAMBAUGH Wayside Farm North Sandwich, NH 03259 284-6886 PETER VAN BERKUM 4 lames Road Deeifleld, NH 03037 463-7663 ROGER WARREN Box 318 Meriden, NH 03770 469-3226 (H); 448-61 10 (W» RICHARD ZOERB Gloeckner & Company, Inc. 72 Hawfcstead Hollow Nashua, NH 03063 886-8665 Compensation may be of interest to readers. House Bill 1508 "de- clares that an employer with no workers' compensation claims for two years and a good safety record shall not be charged a premium for being part of the assigned risk pool. This bill also establishes a workers' compensation rate study." Senate Bill 546 "limits attorneys' fees on lump sum payments under workers' compensation to eight percent of the lump sum. If passed, members could experience a sizeable savings on workers' com- pensation premiums" (both de- scriptions from NFIB Bulletin). For more information, contact Bill Stockman, Spider Web Gar- dens, at (603) 569-5056 or Joan LaPlante, National Federation of In- dependent Business/New Hamp- shire, 4 Park Street, Suite 216, Con- cord, NH 03301, at (603) 228-3477. Showtime '94 The "New Look" succeeded — the 1994 Farm & Forest Exposition held in Manchester on February 3-5 was described as "the busiest, the most successful ever." Attendance was up, meeting rooms were filled to overflowing, and exhibitors are signing up for next year. W So public interest is lively. With that in mind, one looks forward to the New Hampshire Orchid Society Show at the Bedford Mall on April 29-May first. Although smaller than Farm & Forest and more special- ized, there's plenty for everyone — orchid enthusiast to curious shop- per— to see. There'll be at least 30 orchid displays; the fifteen ven- dors signed up at the end of Feb- ruary include Carol Woodin, an art- ist who does botanical illustrations for the American Orchid Society, who'll be displaying and selling her watercolors. Two local growers. Sawyer's (Grafton, NH) and Moun- tain Orchids (Ludlow, VT), will be both showing and selling; a repre- sentative from Siam Orchids, the American branch (based in Texas) of Udam Orchids of Bangkok, Thai- land, will be there as well, judging and a preview party with hors d'oeuvres and maybe music (7 pm; $15 per person) are on the 28th. On Saturday, April 30, WFAE will be broadcasting live from the show for six hours, interspersing its mu- sic with interviews of both exhibi- tors and visitors. Plants and cut flowers will be for sale; there'll be door prizes, audiovisual presenta- tions, talks and demonstrations by FTD, Teleflora, and members of the various societies exhibiting.. .it sounds like quite a time. For more: loanna Eckstrom at (603) 654-5070. For those who like a more low-key afternoon, the New Hampshire Rose Society will hold its annual Summer Show at Barton Hall at UNH in Durham on iune 25. Basi- cally, any amateur rose grower is welcome to bring a blossom he's grown to Barton Hall between seven and ten in the morning — tables and vases are provided; judging (by judges from as far away as Connecticut and New York) takes place from 1 1 until one; the show is open to the public from one until four. Cut flowers and min- iature rose bushes are for sale. For details: Bill Prince at (603) 868- 9610. W "It is with deepest regret," a January 27 memorandum from the Portsmouth Regional Visiting Nurses Association said, "that we inform you that the Eight Annual Seacoast Area Flower and Land- scape Show scheduled for March, 1994, has been canceled." It seems illogical, but in a region with a sizable tourism industry, as well as a large number of vacant commercial properties, no suitable exhibition space was found. However, a meeting has been called "to see where we go from here." For information, contact Brenda Schure at (603)436-0815. ^ 8 The Plantiman -»!- '^ NEW HAMPSHIRE ORCHIP SOCZETV & BEDFORD MALL, B&d^OAM., NH InV'Lte, you. To Ttie, 1994 NEW HAMPSHIRE ORCHID SHOW Exhibits, (Workshops/ Sales April 29 & 30 - 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM May 1 - noon to 6:00 PM Free Admission ^ TffEBBERs ^^>. "WHOLESALI Price List Available PERENNIAL - HERBS - WILDFLOWERS 80 Varieties in 6-cell packs UPS Shipping Available ROUTE 101 P.O. Box 26 Dublin^ N.H. 603-563-8180 Annuals bedding Plants (6 cell pacRs) Zonal Geraniums-4 '/2 ' pot Hardy Mums in season 3'/2qt.pan Perenials available in 2qt - 3qt. - 4qt. and 6qt. pots Newton Greenhouse 32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 603-382-5289 Quality Plants green and flowering from 3" to 10" pots Holiday, bedding plants, &. dish gardens year round cut snaps, cut tulips and iris in season, gloxinias and African violets Licensed propagator of Mikkelsen & Ecke New Guinea Impatiens CabdentedcL "The Qeranium Specialists" Wholesale Growers 1 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 J. CARPENTER, Genera! Manager 603/659-3391 220 SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET, NH 03857 APRIL /MAY 1994 '»?- -iA^ Se^V ,^\S^^ ^e\.^et For twelve years. Pleasant View Gardens has built a reputation for quality, service and reliability. Our aops are healthy and hearty because they're grown in an optimum environment, and our newly expanded green- house area of 4 acres enables us to provide greater availability and more varieties. Contact us today about: ■ foliage aops ■ 4" annuals and paks ■ hanging baskets ■ plugs ■ cuttings ■ herbs lleasciiit^eui Qordens New England s fastest growing wholesaler' holiday aops foliage for interior design flowering planes large foliage plants and trees all your planting needs RFD 3, Box 3701, Pittsfield, NH 03263 Tel. (603)435-8361 Fax (603) 435-6849 © Pleasant View Gardens 1992 €® "Helping You To Grow" B,R SUPPLY GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Hemlock Rd. - Lang(don Mailing A(ddress: P.O. Box 0 Charlestown. New Hampshire 03603 Nu-Form Products • Pre-filled Flats 5l Pots Restricted Pesticides •Fertilizers • Kord Products • Distributors for Plasti Form &. Hasti Vac • Distributors for Hyde Park Sl Sunshine Soils 603-835-6930 fax: 603-835-2180 10 The Planliman -»?- ELSEWHERE ^ IN THE NEWS The First Annual.... Shows falter, but new shows rise to take their place. The newest is in Vermont, at Tunbidge Fairgrounds, about 20 miles up Route 1-89 from White River Junction. The New England Ag Expo, to be held on July 13-14, is farm-ori- ented, with a diary auction, antique equipment exhibit, plowing demon- strations.... But "farm" can define a nursery or cut-flower operation — and with 40,000 square feet of outside exhi- bition area and 16,000 of inside, lots of suppliers of products, equipment, and services should be there. There will also be a variety of informational seminars. Sponsored by Country Folks and Country Folks Grower, co-sponsored by the Vermont Department of Ag- riculture, endorsed by the New Hampshire Department of Agricul- ture, this is being called "The Sum- mer Farm Show for New England." For more: 1-800-653-2700. UMass Extension IPM Workshop Series University of Massachusetts Coop- erative Extension is sponsoring a new IPM Workshop Series. The first workshop is a 5-7 pm Twilight Meeting entitled "Scouting for Pests and Problems in the Land- scape" which will be held in Waltham on April 27, June 1, and July 27, in Sandwich on May 17, and in Amherst on June 9. The workshop will focus on the concept of key plants and their pests, then the monitoring of these plants. "Two contact hours offered for cat- egories 36 and 37 for Pesticide Applicator's License." (You may want to find out how this translates into credits toward your own state's license.) Registration fee is $30.00. The second workshop, "Benefi- cial Insects and Mites at Work, " will be held from 2-6 pm in Amherst on June 23, in Waltham on July 13, and in Wareham on July 14. In this, predator-prey and parasite-host re- lationships are examined. Three contact hours are offered and the $45.00 fee includes the purchase of the manual. Biological Control of \nsect and Mite Pests of ^oody Landscape Plants. To register, send check (payable to UMass) to IPM Workshops. UMass Cooperative Extension, French Hall, Box 32910, Amherst, MA 01003-2910. For additional in- formation, contact Kathleen Carroll at (413) 545-0895. New England Greenhouse Conference 1994 Awards Recommendations Ten proposals submitted to the 1994 New England Greenhouse Conference Committee have been recommended for funding. These are: "PH Adjustment in Commercial Soilless Media," O. Elliot, ($2000), The Implementation of IPM prac- tices for Greenhouse Growers, L. Fundt, ($2000); "Factors Affecting the Development of Bract Necrosis in Poinsettias," R. McAvoy, ($2000; all — University of Connecticut; "A Comprehensive Analysis of Weed Management in Specialty Cut Flowers, D. Chapin, ($1170); "Ma- nipulation of Light Quality and In- tensity to Enhance Control of West- ern Flower Thrips," P. Stack, ($1200); both— University of Maine; "Evaluation of Composts for Greenhouse Use," D. Cox, ($2000); "Factors Affecting the Development of Phytoxicity on Plants Treated with Horticultural Oils," S. Han, ($2000); "Plant Pathogenic Fungi Associated with Fungus Gnats and Shore Flies," R. Wick, ($2000); all- University of Massachusetts; "Ornamental Grass Hardiness," L. Perry, ($1500), University of Ver- mont; and "Inexpensive Method of Expanding the Headers on a Drip Irrigation System," M. Lyndon, Lyndon Family Tomatoes, ($1000). (The Board is open to project proposals from everyone in the in- dustry— private operators as well as members of research and educa- tional institutions. For informa- tion, contact one of the board members from your state.) TIPS from the Griffin Guru 1994 A Heating Season to Forget Before we forget what a harsh heating season we've Just been through (and are still recovering from), we should take a moment to make a note about the heat- ing equipment we own. Unlike vehicles with an odometer to remind us when it's time to think about replac- ing them, our furnaces and heaters need us to remind ourselves that they are subject to wear. Not long ago we checked out the heating system in our facility's warehouse and dis- covered rust and rot that made us realize how old some of the unit heaters were. See- ing proof that nothing lasts forever, we decided to budget a replacement program. (One benefit from our decision is the higher efficiency of the new unit.) A winter to forget. Don't let it come back to haunt you. ^^ Seattle Mercantile Exchange — A Commodity Exchange for the Nursery Industry For more than a century, the Chi- cago Board of Trade and approxi- mately eight regional commodity exchanges have traded contracts on agricultural products ranging from coffee to soy beans. Even cotton has its own exchange. Now one more commodity has been added to the list. Seattle Mercantile Exchange (SME), formed exclusively for the APRIL /MAY 1994 11 -»?- -J^ ELSEWHERE I N THE NEWS nursery industry, trades options and forward contracts on select nursery material. Seattle was se- lected for the exchange site be- cause of the amount of nursery ma- terial produced in the Pacific Northwest; SME does, however, ac- cept material from all growing re- gions. Using a national network of member brokerage offices, SME trades contracts on a pool of nurs- ery material supplied by various growers. Orders to buy or sell con- tracts are generated by the broker- age firms that are linked directly to the exchange's trading system in Chicago. Seattle Mercantile Exchange can offer advantages to nursery profes- sionals. These may include: "help in anticipating planning require- ments; the ability to secure mate- rial potentially below cash market; allowances for gains on future value; the capability to accommo- date buyers' cash position; the power to exceed cost plus returns; price-risk management; potential market liquidity; elimination of the need to inventory material (carry- ing charges); guaranteed quality and grade of material; low cash re- quirements to secure material rights." "It's SME's and brokers' objec- tive to educate the industry on how to use it effectively," a SME spokesman says. To assist in this endeavor, which includes seminars conducted by SME, John Wiley & Son Publishing Company (known for its books on finance, particu- larly on stock and commodity trad- ing), will release in fall, 1994, a text on how to trade on the exchange. Also, SME offers a comprehen- sive supply of reference materials. If you would like precise informa- tion on exactly how the exchange works and the name of the broker- age firm in your area, telephone 1- 800-888-2028 and ask for a free publication. Access to the Market — an Introduction to Seattle Mercantile Ex- change. Lo«9 since deserted — yet the Lilac blooms on. A Sampling of Science Presentations at the 1993 Annual Meeting of the American Chestnot Foundation (ACF) in Meadowview, Virginia (from The Bark, the newsletter of the ACF, November/December, 1993) "...University of Georgia doctoral candidate Dan Carroway presented the results of genetic work under the direction of Dr. Scott Merkle, which is also partly funded by ACF. They are devising a method for in- troducing genes into chestnut cells from which trees will be regener- ated. The method of regenerating trees is called somatic embryogen- esis, whereby individual chestnut cells cultured in test tubes are in- duced to develop similar to the way sexual embryos develop in nuts. The test tube embryos are called "somatic" because they do not develop from cells involved with sexual reproduction in flowers, but from non-sexual, or "somatic" tissue. ...these methods will be ex- tremely valuable in researching the genetics and molecular biology of chestnut trees and may be useful in developing pest-resistant trees, if suitable genes are identified... "...in the meantime, selected F- Is (1/2 American, 1/2 Chinese) have been intercrossed to make F-2s, and selected B-ls (3/4 American, 1/4 Chinese) intercrossed to make B-1/F-2S. The F-2s and B-i/F-2s are being tested for blight resistance at this time. Hebard announced that preliminary results indicate that some of the trees have high levels of resistance and that resis- tance is simply inherited, meaning that this is controlled only by a few genes (in this case, apparently two). This is very encouraging news. It indicates that the back- cross breeding program will indeed work...." The American Chestnut Foundation's sole goal is to restore the American chestnut through cooperative research and funding a scientific breeding program For more infor- mation, write to the ACF at PO Box 4044, Bennington, VT 05201 The phone number IS 802-447-01 10. New Address Nursery Supplies, Inc., supplier of plastic nursery containers, has com- pleted the relocation of its Eastern operations to Chambersburg, PA. The new 189,000 square-foot facility is minutes away from Interstates 81 and 70, and less than a half hour from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The new address is Nursery Supplies, Inc., 1415 Orchard Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201. The phone number is (717) 263-7780; fax, (717) 263-2412. The toll-free number, 800-523-8972, remains unchanged.^ 12 The Plantsman '•?- ^ CALL FOR QUALITY SOD AND SERVICE TSimonSif ROUTE 3A LITCHFIELD, NH 1-800-556-6985 • Big Rolls with Roll-out Sen/ice • Convenient Farm Pick-up • Prompt Delivery Service WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 150 aaes of quality plants Write for catalog Memlxr: MNA. NENA Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls, MA 01376 Telephone 413- 863-2510 Jewarts NURSERY, Inc. ^(USf^ CANTERBURY. NEW HAMPSHIRE 03224 EXIT 18, 1-93. 1/2 MILE TELEPHONE 1 -800-287-471 6 ¥ SOD FARMS & WHOLESALE NURSERY. INC. GROWERS AND DISTRIBUTORS • NURSERY STOCK • GARDEN SUPPLIES • CHRISTMAS TREES •SOD 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 APRIL /MAY 1994 13 '9i. -J*. M«^ D.S. COLE Growers! 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Manufacturers of, • WhiteHouse • The International • Harvest House • The "2100' gutter-connected house • Free-standing poly arch houses • Techlite glazing • Ro-Flo benches • Ebb & Flo benches Distributors of • Alcoa Aluminum Fin Heating • Heating and ventilating equipment • Maintenance supplies, glass, parts ...and more Rough Brothers P.O. Box 16010, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 rrm ROUGH BROTHERS 3 1-800/543-7351 ^ > '/QUALin: . SELEQION : "',& SERVICE" ^ This Is Wliat We Grow At Millican Nurseries. See our wide selection of trees, evergreens and shrubs More than 1 .000 vaneties available Delivery throughout New England Located in Chichester NH (13 miles north of Concord) Call us at 603-435-6660 14 The Planlsman XQ/hat do A lilac? you tl -' >:'--rj' TABLE 1 COMMON LILAC CULTIVARS 'Rochester' 'Maiden's B/«s/i' 'Editfi Cave//' Mwe Adtonie Buc/ier' 'Kqincouri BeaMti/' Mrs. WatsoM ^^ebb' _ Marechal Lannes' 'Paul Tfiirion' Wedgewood Blue' 'Sensation' 'Olivier de Serres' 'Adelaide Dunbar' single white single pink double white double pink single violet single magenta double violet double magenta single blue single purple double blue double pink ABOVE: Lilacs, flower print by Peirre foseph Redoute, celebrated flower painter of France, 1759-1840. ^he mean? Dr. Owen M. Rozers APRIL /MAY 1994 'here are lilacs and then there are lilacs. Ask anyone to de- scribe a lilac and the answer would be something like. "It's the bush down by the barn" or "its the flower we enjoy around Me- morial Day." I won't argue with either of those descriptions. The Common Lilac Seringa vulgaris has been around in New England for a long time and is in bloom just before or just after Memorial Day, depending on where you live. The International Lilac Society lists nearly 1500 cultivars of Sgr'inqa vulgaris, so there can be no question about its importance, i do, however, question the list carried by many nurseries. Having plants listed only by color (such as purple, white and pink) does not do much as a boost for the flower that everyone knows. Even if the list includes named cultivars, they are usually the "French Hybrids" (i.e., the results of crosses made in France in the late 1800's). I'd like to see nurs- eries and other places that sell lilacs at least try some of the newer cultivars. How about focusing on ones developed in this country after 1900? We could call them the "American Hybrids". A fair selection of these cultivars is available in New Hampshire from at least some of the big wholesalers and, I bet, others would carry them if you asked. A very short list is included as Table 1. Still, even if a person had all the S. vulgaris cultivars, they would still only have ten days of bloom. What about lilacs that bloom at other times? Plenty of them are available. How about some that bloom early, such as the species Syringa oblata that blooms ten days earlier than S. vulgaris! Or the hybrid group listed as S. x fiyacinlhiflora, with a long list of cultivars that bloom five days eadier than S. vulgaris? Then, after Memorial Day, there is a group (including S. x chinensis, S. x persica and S. meyeri) that blooms five days later. This is followed by S. palula Miss Kim' (introduced from the University of New Hampshire) ten days after the Common Lilac and S. x josiflexa cultivars (see Table 2) in an overiapping series that, with the cultivar 'Jesse Hepler', extend li- lac bloom 15 to 20 days after the Common Lilac. The bloom pe- riod finally reaches its end with the Tree Lilac {Syringa reticulata) that blossoms a month after the S. vulgaris. I will admit that there are a few species (S. meyeri is one) that will have a few flowers in mid-August, but since those are at the expense of the following year's spring bloom, we won't add them to the bloom sequence list. These other species and cultivars are also useful in the land- scape because they add a considerable variation in plant size and shape, color, disease resistance, and fall foliage color. Syringa X persica, at one extreme, is small and delicate while S. x josiflexa 'Agnes Smith' is big and bold. Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' is slow growing and globular while S. reticulata, the Tree Lilac, is a tree growing to 30-40 feet with flowers that look quite different from the regular lilac flower. One of the reasons given for not trying some of the new lilacs is MILDEW. I'll admit that mildew is one of the most visible problems on lilacs, for in the late summer, its white powdery film 15 can cover the leaves. Frequently its appearance coincides with dannp weather, especially warm humid nights. The good news is that it is a superficial disease that will not harm a vigorous plant. The bad news is that tests in Washington, D.C., have shown that all lilacs can have mildew, but some are much more susceptible than others and the problem can result in an unsightly plant, es- pecially if it is to be viewed up close. Further north in New En- gland, the problem is not so severe and some very resistant forms are available. In general, the late blooming forms show the least susceptibility. None of the cultivars introduced from UNH ever have mildew in our climate and the disease is extremely rare on the Tree Lilac in any climate. So, my advice to anyone interested in having a wider base of lilacs for use or for sale would be to split the genus into two groups, the S. wlgaris cultivars which everybody knows, and the other bloom dates types (see Table 2) which can really extend the time of bloom and offer a rich variety of plant form and foli- age. Then, visit some of the large plantings to see specific culti- vars. The two closest plantings are at the Arnold Arboretum (their Lilac Sunday is the Sunday closest to the 20th of May) and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. From such trips, a "short" list of types to fit your needs can be drawn up and this can be followed by a talk with your wholesaler to see which are readily available. The results will be worth the effort. There is a whole range of lilacs out there which can expand your horizons and your busi- ness. There are lilacs and then there are LILACS. ^ Dr. Owen M. Rogers is Professor of Piant Biology at the University of New Hampshire- His address is Department of Plant Biology, Nesmitii Haii, UNH, Durham, NH 03824; he is also a member of the International Lilac Society, which is holding its annual meeting at UNH on \une 9-11. To find out more about this meeting should contact Owen at (603) 862-3222. TABLE 2 FIANCE OF BLOOIM Uluitrales the range of bloom available from other species and cultivars compared lo Syringa vulgaris. Bloom lime based on Ike common lilac. Earlier than S. vulgaris S. oblata 10 days S X hvacinthiflara cultivars. 5 days 'Mount Bafeer' single white 'Sister ]ustena' _ single while ■Poc/iotitfls' siM^ie violet 'Nfl^owis' single lilac 'Laurentian' sinale blue "Esther Stanley' _ single pink 'Lewis haddock' _ __ single pink 'Sunset' sinale maaenta 'Purple Glory' single purple hater than S. vulgaris S. microphyila. 5 days S. X persica 5 days S julianae 5 days S. patula, 'Miss Kim' 10 days S. X prestoniae and S josiflexa cultivars 10-15 days 'Aanes Smith' single white 'Isabella' __single lilac 'Jesse Hepler' sinale pink 'Miss Canada' sinale maaenta ']ames Macfarlane' sinale pink 'Nellie Bean' sinale purple S. reticulata 30 days DRAGON PRODUCTS COMPANY Lawn & Garden Limestone Decorative Landscape Stone White Playsand Bagged Bark Mulch Robert F. Myers 28 Horseshoe Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074 (800) 541-9127 ESTERN INE NURSERIES ■ ■VlM ESTABLISHED 1923 MC. Box 250, One Evergreen Dr., Fryeburg, Maine 04037 The proof is in the planting. We could turn blue in the face trying to tell you about the superiority of our service and conifer seedlings & transplants. Here's a better idea---call in your order and prove it to yourself. Oh, remember to ask about our written warranty! Place your order or receive our free catalog by calling: 1 -800-447-474 (or Fax 1-207-935-2043) 'M ■":•<>■> ' / "I've been a completely happy customer for 13 years, tn my opinion, no better planting stock is available any- where and I've never dealt with any organization more devoted to customer satisfaction." -Peter MolUca Christmas Trees of Vermont, Springfield, VT 16 The Plantsman ■»?- '^ CAVICCHIO GREENHOUSES. INC Wholesale Growers no Codjer Lane Sudbury, MA 01 776 (508)443-7177 ANNUALS PERENNIALS HARDY MUMS GROUND COVER KALE & CABBAGE FALL PANSIES JUMBO ANNUALS HOLIDAY PLANTS CLASSIC PERENNIALS HARDY FALL ANNUALS FLOWERING HANGING BASKETS ^•» HARNESS THE SUN!!! SUN-MATE FOR THE 90'S! 1, 2, 3 TEMPERED GLASS SKINS OR G.E. LEXAN OR ACRYLIC PLASTIC PANEL SKINS. SINGLE TEMPERED GLASS LEAST COSTLY AND PERMANENT. TEMPERED GLASS ARCH RE-SKIN A SPECIALTY See our tempered glass re-skin at UNH. We were chosen for high light, low mainten- ance, and permanent performance re-skin. G.E. LEXAN AND ACRYUC PLASTIC PANELS NEW OR RENEW. 10 YEAR WARRANTY BY MFGR. Lexan Re-skin packages for old glass or plEistdc re-skin, prefabbed, instructions, £ind plans for easy installation or labor installed. THIS IS THE HEART OF SUN-MATE SINGLE TEMPERED GLASS LOWEST COST AND PERMANENT!! ADD 2ND OR 3RD SKIN LATER!! "PIGGYBACK" Re-skin 1, 2, 3 tempered glass skins on old alum, glass greenhouses. Prefabricated package e£isy to install with plans & instructions or labor installed. Office Phone Area Code 317 935-2111 NEW WINANDY GREENHOUSE COMPANY INC. U.S. Patent No. 4,658.339 2211 Peacock Road, Richmond, Indiana 47374 SUN -MATE TEMPERED GLASS "LOW SNOW" GREENHOUSES FROM $3.00 SQ FT. EASY TO ERECT AND LIVE WITH! COMPLETE PREFAB. AND INSTRUCTIONS YOU CAN RE-SKIN OR ERECT WITH INEXPERIENCED LABOR AND "SAVE"!!! RENEW SUN-MATE RE-SKIN AND REPLACEMENT VENTS LESS INVESTMENT THAN WOOD APRIL /MAY 1994 17 ■^ -J*- MEMBER PROFILE A More Visible Future The First Impression of Apple Ridge in Boscawen is the series of horizontals, each slightly higher than the other, rising behind the house — a line of greenhouses, then a hillside of apple trees, then a hillside of woods beyond that. And beyond the woods, a clear view of Mount Kearsarge. Dave and Tina Larochelle moved here in 1977. "We had an farm in Deering," Tina says; "it was small — twenty acres, only five of it or- chard. We both had full-time jobs and wanted to find a place big enough so that we could just farm." At Apple Ridge, Dave and Tina and their son Mike have nearly 60 acres, 12-15 of them in orchard, most of the rest in woods. There were orchards on the land long before the Larochelles bought it, but when they first came, what's now the big field of apple trees behind the house was three small fields of corn. In 1980, they re- moved the stone walls and planted 3000 semi-dwarf interstems — Macs, Macouns, Cortlands, Red Deli- cious...rows twenty feet apart of trees ten feet apart. in 1982, they opened a small (26x30) farm stand and offered cus- tomers a chance to pick-their-own as well. Stand size increased (it's now 40x34) as the Larochelles added other products — jams and jellies, pickles and pies. They built a 10x10 kitchen in which to make doughnuts to serve with cider to pick-your-own customers. But the doughnut-making machine simply made too many — there was too much left over. Now the kitchen is used for making caramel apples. Decorator pots and picnic bas- kets, Indian corn, dried flowers and statuary — these are some of the products sold. Cooler size increased as produc- tion grew. The first cooler was an 8x10 bought from a farmer in Rumney; the second was a 10x20 wooden cooler out of the old First National in Concord. The third — the one they're using now — is a 16x30x14 walk-in designed by A and B Lumber in Concord. Dave describes it as "your basic cooler with insulation — something most farmers can build themselves." It can hold 3000 bushels and allows Apple Ridge to sell apples until Christmas. After they built the cooler, they enclosed the space between it and the stand and created an area in which to press cider. The press is a 22-inch rack-and-cloth Palmer- type. Cider is pressed when needed; about 1000 gallons is made each season. But in spite of all this, apples are seasonal — income is only for a couple months of the year. The Larochelles had set up a 14x32 Cri- terion near the stand and bought in bedding plants. These had sold well and they began growing their own. In 1982, they replaced the Criterion with a 25x45 Ovaltech, which they built onto the side of the stand. Delicious weren't selling ("they didn't look like Washington State") and some of the 800 Delicious trees were pulled out. Bedding plant and vegetable sales were continuing to expand, so no new apple trees were planted and pe- rennials and herbs were added to the products available. In 1987-88, they set up three hoop houses (two 14x48, one 28x48, from Ed Person in Moultonboro) at the base of the orchard just behind the house. In 1992, the LaRo- chelles expanded again, putting up 30x100 Ovaltech further up the hill. One feature of this new house is the overhead door at the far end. Rather than sliding open and re- maining flat, shading plants, the door rolls onto a drum, letting in light. The Season Begins around the first of February — the new house is the first to open. Dave and Mike feel plants grow better in the big- ger space and increased air circula- tion in the larger house. Geraniums (3000 zonals for 4 l/2s; ivies for hangers) arrive first. The Laro- chelles are cutting back on unusual hangers this year and are concen- trating on the more traditional ivies. They grow from plugs and rooted cuttings — "we can start later and save on heat." Plants are grown on the floor (covered with 994 Ground Cover — a polypropy- lene fabric); the crop is hand-wa- tered from the center aisle and side aisles and fed with a Dosmatic proportioner. Once that house fills, plants are brought down to the hoop houses nearer the stand. One is kept cool and filled with pansies. All houses are heated with LP gas — service is a major factor: "my neighbor is in the business — he's here if I need him." 18 The Plantsman ^- MEMBER PROFILE ^ Between four and six thousand perennials arrive in March: They and the same nunnber of herbs are potted up in Belden quarts. (Those that overwinter are repotted in the fall in gallon and half-gallon pots.) Their definition of "perennial" is broad — and somewhat personal: their 1993 list includes five types of peony (in two-gallon containers), 54 of clematis (one-gallon) and one of rudbeckia ("Goldilocks"). Tina's on the Board of the New Hampshire Herb Society and herbs are an Apple Ridge specialty. A good selection of both annuals (eight types of basil, 16 scented geraniums) and perennials (19 mints, 15 types of thyme) is of- fered. Monarda (nine varieties) is listed as an herb. Tina explains: "Monarda as 'Bee Balm' is listed as a perennial, but as 'Oswego Tea' (the colonists used its leaves dur- ing the boycott of British imports), it's an herb. As Tina says, "Where do you draw the line?" Ten thousand mum and aster rooted cuttings arrive in May and are potted up and grown outside under a Chapin overhead watering system. Fruit baskets are a big item in late fall; and in December, it's Christmas trees and wreaths they make themselves. a The Two Aspects of the Apple Ridge operation fit together better than one might think, according to Dave. Pruning is done in late win- ter: bedding plant sales slow down by the end of June; spraying is done after twilight, after the wind goes down. (Dave uses a 100-gal- lon Kinkelder air blast sprayer.) Apples are affected by whatever the season brings for weather — but a 4000-bushel crop is average, and these are all hand-sorted; seconds and drops are used for cider. Back in the '80s, when the apple maps went to the rest areas, tour- ists came looking to pick-their-own; now visitors are more local — but come more often, picking a few pounds on two or three weekends, and returning the following year. Weekdays are quiet, but weekends are busy and require a person su- pervising the orchards. There's a wholesale operation as well — a 7x7x14 delivery truck (with a flower — as well as an apple — on its side to indicate the range of Apple Ridge products). "Too much wholesale," Dave says; were nearly 75%: we need to reverse the percentages." The New Stand may do just that. The road to Apple Ridge is newly tarred — and the farm is situ- ated on a sharp curve where cars have to slow down — but there's no traffic. "And people are busier," Dave says. "They won't go out of their way anymore, but they will stop for fresh produce if it's on their route home." The new retail stand is right on King Street, the main street of Boscawen, across from the Kettle and Crane bed-and-breakfast. The three quarter-acre property in- cludes a 175-year-old cape with porch and dormers and its gam- brel-roofed shed. There's space to park eight cars. Although smaller (16x24) than the stand at the farm, the shed will become the new cen- ter of the retail operation. A porch had been added to the front and pine boards cover the inside walls. Plans include selling fresh veg- etables, setting up a 10x24 display greenhouse and filling the lawn area with potted perennials. Tina plans to start a small garden be- side the shed and offer customers freshly cut herbs. The sign is up. The new stand should be open by April fifteenth. Some logistics need to be worked out: produce will have to be brought from the farm and the farm will still offer pick-your-own. So during apple season, the stand at the farm will be open as well. But that's only from Labor day through mid-October: from mid-April through Christmas, the Larochelles plan to have the King Street stand open 10-6 seven days a week. There'll be ads and promotions, but everyone feels the market is there. There's definitely more vis- ibility— and that's a good start. (B.P.) ^ (Apple Ridge is at 151 Water Street in Boscawen: the new retail stand is on 218 King Street; Dave. Tina, and Mifee can be reached at 603-796-2654.) APRIL /MAY 1994 19 Land Application of BIOSOLIDS Tom Buoh There has been increasing interest in utilizing waste products as fertilizer substitutes, in the case of biosolids (treated waste products from water and wastewater treatment plants), there can be advantages for both the producers and the users. For municipalities, land spreading can be the least expen- sive method of waste disposal, and for land owners, applying biosolids can be an inexpensive way to ob- tain needed nutrients for crop production. When evaluating whether or not the use of biosolids will be advantageous to you, there are vari- ous factors that need to be considered. Since the land application of any waste product can be controversial, one needs to be aware of the social and legal as- pects, as well as the scientific. I will only be discuss- ing some of the technical considerations. The first factor to consider is whether or not the product is of high quality, in the case of biosolids, this pertains to the nutrient content, the presence of heavy metal, and the absence of pathogens. iVlost of the biosolid materials available tend to be fairly high in nutrient content, but this will vary from one source to another and from one treatment regime to another. The heavy metal contents also vary and are somewhat dependent on the type of industry located in the mu- nicipality. The latest federal regulations (EPA 503 regs) have placed limits on heavy metals concentra- tions for biosolids for land applications. Only materi- als which are below these levels can be applied. Along with this, waste materials have to be treated to reduce pathogen levels prior to land application. From a nutrient standpoint, biosolids tend to be high in nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium, but very low in potassium. Depending on what treatment pro- cess is used, the pH can vary from neutral (7.0) to very high (12.0). The high calcium and pH levels are associated with the lime stabilization process to re- duce pathogen levels. The nitrogen exists in the or- ganic form, which means that it releases slowly over time, depending on temperature and moisture condi- tions. This has advantages and disadvantages, de- pending on the situation. Since only high-quality (nutrient-rich, low-metal, pathogen-free) biosolids should be used in a land ap- plication program, it is likely that the application rate will be limited by the nitrogen concentration and not heavy metal concentrations. This means that the amount of biosolids applied will depend on the nitro- gen requirement of the crop to be planted and the ni- trogen content of the biosolid material being consid- ered. A corn crop would certainly have a higher re- quirement than a grass sod crop, so the application rates would be quite different. As mentioned earlier, the slow-release characteristics of the nitrogen fit quite well the recommendations for many crops, but it is important to carefully estimate the nitrogen from other sources. If the amount of nitrogen in the soil is more than the plants can use, it creates the risk of greater leaching. And this may pose an increased risk of groundwater contamination. The actual application of biosolids to land will de- pend on the physical characteristics of the material being used (solid or liquid) and the equipment avail- able for spreading. It is very important that the mate- rial be spread evenly over the area to avoid pockets of nutrient concentrations above the recommended rates. In agricultural operations, biosolids will be only one 20 The Plantsman of a variety of nutrient sources. It is important that the nutrient characteristics of these sources be under- stood prior to use in order to balance the nutrients for the selected crop. For example, since there is very little potassium in most municipal biosolid sources, an effort has to be made to correctly supply this nutrient from another source. In addition, if the crop to be planted has a low or moderate pH requirement, it would be very important not to use a material which had been lime-stabilized and had a very high pH. This can be the case especially in ornamental plantings where soil acidity can be a much more im- portant factor in plant health than in a corn or forage crop. Monitoring does, and will continue to, play an im- portant role in any land application program. It has become critical, both from an environmental and prof- itability standpoint, to manage nutrients in a manner that allows for excellent growth, but does not signifi- cantly increase the risk of groundwater contamination. Field work using biosolids with different characteris- tics in progress at this time will be used to improve nutrient management techniques. Soil testing will con- tinue to be a very valuable tool in assessing the ef- fects of nutrient additions from different sources. A better understanding of the nutrient properties and how they interact with the soil will provide valuable information for improving our ability to safely use them. The lack of public acceptance to land application of biosolids may be a barrier to their use on agricultural land. The range of concerns involve the real case of odors to the perception of diminished property val- ues. Strong educational programs, involving research- based information, are needed to help assess the true risks. The proper use of high-quality materials along with a strong monitoring program can reduce the risk of environmental contamination while recycling nutri- ents through a useful crop. ^ Tom Boub is Extension Educator, UNH Cooperative Extension. Grafton County. His mailing address is PO Box 191, \fJoodsville. NH 03785; his phone-. (603) 787-6944. Z. NOTES Since 1 890 all your needs: •Azalaas • Seeds • Foliage & Ferns • Nunery Stock • Romng MIxM • Containere • Greenhouses • GeranHims & Mums •Rsrennials j{ic/km P.O. Box 160. King o( Prussia. PA 18406 (215)285^200 SCOTT A. STEWART 421 Parfc Street West North Readktg. MA01864 Phone: 508-684-0096 FAX: SOe -864-4076 The New Worker Protection Act The new Worker Protection Act that takes effect on April first will change how we conduct our business. We are now re- quired by law to make available all safety equip- ment and information to all employees. One new item never discussed before is reentry times on pesticides. Daconii (or Exotherm) now has a 48- hour REl on its label, making it virtually useless to a greenhouse grower. All dated pesticides in your locker will have to be disposed of. You can no longer use up old pesticides within your spray program. State and federal agencies have all the Information you need on the new law — fines for non-compilance can be rather severe. In most cases, the regula- tions make sense — unfortunately, there are some lax growers in our community, so the government stepped in. There are a few new copper-based fungicides in our midst. Copper has been with us for de- cades and the problem has always been phytoxicity. These new formulations haven't done much to change this. So be careful with open blooms and with tender and/or stressed plants. They will burn. That gray fuzzy stuff you see is botrytis. We're in perfect botrytis weather right now — low light, high humidity, no air circulation. Correct these problems and the risk is much lower. Ornalln is still your best bet for eradication and control. ^ jim Zab\oA\ is "Xerritory Manager, the Scotts Company, Northeast. He can be reached at (603) 224-5583. S enters (iarben Center Jnc. 656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A) Manchester, NH 03109-5049 (603) 625-8298 • Fax (603) 622-4073 Nursery • Greenhouses Craft & Christmas Shop We Support The Plantsman APRIL/ MAY 1994 21 ■*i- -iA- DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE The flow of samples Into the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab was typically slow during January and February. Although most of the samples were from greenhouse op- erations, one apple and a few coni- fer samples were also received. The problems diagnosed on the greenhouse samples were predomi- nantly botrytls and edema, although two samples with pythlum were re- ceived. Needlecasts and insect damage were the problems on the conifers. Most of the diseases and disor- ders that occur during the winter months will continue to plague greenhouse operations during April and May. The three major problems to watch for are botrytls, pythlum, and edema. All of these are related to watering practices and humidity levels. As I mentioned in the last Issue, be sure to space plants properly, provide good air circula- tion, don't over-water, and remove senescent plant tissues (such as old flowersK Be sure to inspect all in- coming stock for diseases (espe- cially tomato spotted wilt virus) and Insects. Bacterial blight in gerani- ums is always a potential problem, so continue to monitor your crops on a regular basis. If you notice suspicious plants, submit samples to the PDDL for testing. During the next month (if we can ever dig out from the snow), in- spect woody ornamentals for winter injury. Prune any branches broken by Ice and snow loads, remove any leaves that are dead or severely winter-burned, and after bud-break, remove any branches that fail to leaf out. April-May is the time to apply controls for many of the fo- liar diseases such as anthracnose, leaf spots, and needlecasts. The fungi that cause these diseases are usually capable of Infecting the leaves/needles during the period between bud-break and leaf/needle expansion. Sanitation measures prior to bud-break can greatly re- duce the levels of Infection; how- ever, fungicides may be required for valuable specimens or where disease has been severe the previ- ous year. Control measures for shoot blights, such as phomopsls tip blight on junipers and lilac blight, also need to be applied as growth resumes in the spring. Since we have had plenty of snow cover this winter, I would ex- pect snow molds to rear their ugly heads on turf grass again this year. Look for patches of dead turf grass as the snow melts. (You may want to submit a sample to the PDDL to confirm your diagnosis since similar symptoms can be caused by envi- ronmental factors). ^ 1/ you wish to submit plant material to PDDL for diagnosis, send samples to: Dr. Cheryl Smith, Plant Disease Diagnos- tic Lab. Nesmith Hall, UNH. Durham. NH 03824. Samples should be accompa- nied by an identification form {available from your county cooperative extension office). There is no fee [at this lime). Cheryl Smith is the UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist in Plant Health, and can be reached at (603) 862-3841. GROWER'S RIDDLE IS ^ u t GETTING IS YOUR K^ ^ OUT? WOULD U ^ t Then April i June + B ^^ IS 4U! Watch the June/July issue of The Plantsman for comments from customers on their spring results. TAK Equipment, Inc. 80 River Road, Penacook, NH 03303, (603) 753-8250 jnoA jo^ SI q6noj) >ivi aqAeiu ueqi c,d|3q ajoui aAOf noA pinoM oino Bujuum auii) jnoA s| i^/Aop noA BujuaS Buuaie/i/v s| :U3MSNV 22 The Plantsman •v- ■i^ Laughton's Garden Center Inc. CalLaughton, Florist NURSERY STOCK • ANNUALS PERENNIALS FERTILIZERS • INSECTICIDES CHARLES LAUGHTON, PRESIDENT DAVE POLGREEN, NURSERY SALES LAUGHTONS UUGHIDNS Distributors of Nursery Overwintering Blankets WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERY TeL 1-800-633-0159 155-165 Princeton Blvd. No. Chelmsford, MA 01863 SUPPORT: MIC HA UD Nurseries & Greenhouses^ Inc. jSant ntes- i-cuBS Route 85 — PO Box 334 — Exeter. NH 03833 (603) 772-3698 Wholesale & Retail Nursery Annuals, Perennials. Nursery Stock. Landscape Supplies The Moie You Qow, The Mom You Know. We've been in this business a long time. We know our J^ f^^^OrthCUSt NUTSeT\, lilC. :ii<:j-OLik "Our goal, quality Our strength, our employees" FOR A GREEhlHOUSE VEFINULV VIEEEREUT CONTACT: ELLIS B.SPRAGUE OROM, MA I WE So TEL: 207-866-7919 FAX: 207-866-4747 HPiRnOIS WINDING BROOK TURF FARM, '^<^ 2«Crijwoldltd VtiSirifuU.CT 06109 KTtll KtMubmM.M£04O4J • QUALITY BLUECRASS . BLUECRASS ■ FESCUE BLENDS • LOW MAINTENANCE BLENDS . PENNCROSS BENTCRASS l»Cr203S29-6S69 Distributor For: tPifig^A OutiuU CT l-aOO-243-0232 • SB Pavers A^ Featuring TVH QoW Fonythia the best of the new, hardy forsythias, developed here by Paul Joly. Several sizes available. WINDSOR ROAD NURSERY RT. 2, BOX 884, CORNISH, NH 03745 Ccdl for an appointment: 1-800-491-3239 or send for a catalog Rooted cuttings &. potted linen of other hard-to-find shrubs &. trees. Perennials & nursery stock, wholesale & retail. Landscape consulting. 75 CHESTNUT HILL, RTE 190 STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT 06076 W. H. MILIKOWSKI, INC. GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT PLANTS BULBS SEEDS ALL YOUR GREENHOUSE NEEDS GROW VCTTH US Conn. 203-684-5811 Out of Stale 800-243-7170 ,^«^ (1^^ \ ^* Richard C. Zo*rb CatfrnKT U>cOrper«teC 600 Mamaroneck Ave. Harrison, NY 10528 72 Hawkstcad Hollow Nashua, NH 03063 603 886-8665 JOSEPH GIANNINO 56 Tuscano Avenue Greenhouse Plants Unrooted • Rooted Preflnlshed Finished Revere. MA 02151 Home: 617-286-6541 Fax: 617-289-9412 Nursery Stock B&B Cont.alner Bare Root From Start to Finish ^^^7^^ D. A. POSOCCO, Inc. 24 The Planlsman Blastodacna atra (Haw.) adult [from Balachowskky and Real 1966). Apple Pith Moth A New Apple Pest in New England ]ofin S, "leaver and Alan T Eaton W^ith all the insect pests that are known to at tack apple trees in the United States, most of you tree growers are probably saying, "All I need now is to have to deal with another 'Bug'! Well, sorry to say it, but the Apple Pith Moth is here to stay in New England and we are going to have to learn to deal with it whether we like it or not. The Apple Pith Moth, Blastodacna Astra (Haworth), was col- lected for the first time in the United States in 1989 in Connecticut by Dr. David Wagner. Soon thereafter. the coauthor (ATE) detected Apple Pith Moth caterpil- lars and pupae in stems of damaged apple shoots, and later reared them to adults. Subsequently, Apple Pith Moth has been collected from a total of eight counties in New Hampshire, as well as southern Maine and Massachusetts. They do not yet occur north of the White Mountains. Detection and control of Apple Pith Moth can best be made by looking for the damage signs of the caterpillars and taking proper corrective measures at the right time of the year. DESCRIPTION The Apple Pith Moth, a micro-lepidopteran, is about 5-6mm (3/16") long, about the size of the lead at the end of a pencil. Its minute size makes it rather diffi- cult to identify without magnification. The moth's head is covered with white scales. Its front wings are narrow and mostly black with white marks and have (usually) an irregular, faint, rusty-yellow line in the middle run- APRIL/MAY 1994 ning from the base to the apex and two prominent black scaly tufts. When the adult is in a resting posi- tion with its wings folded together, it appears to have three pairs of while wing spots: one near the base, a second in the middle, and a third large pair covering the ends. The pupae are golden brown, 5-6 mm long, and with a dark head and a pair of unique paddle-like projections at the end of the abdomen. The caterpillar is 7-8 mm long, with young ones yellowish and older ones more reddish in color. Under magnification, you can see hundreds of very short setae (hairs) covering the caterpillar. LIFE HISTORY in New Hampshire, females lay eggs individually around the base of leaf axils on new shoots in luly. Within two hours of hatching, the young caterpillars bore into stems without causing much noticeable dam- age, except for their tiny entrance holes which are sur- rounded by rust-colored frass. In New Hampshire, the entrance holes are noticeable during the first week in August. Each caterpillar excavates an overwintering shelter at the base of a bud, referred to as the "logette", which is usually located just below the bark surface, and is often shield-like in appearance. In March and April, the larvae emerge from their cham- bers and then locate and bore into new shoots. When the trees are in blossom (15-20th May), the larvae are actively feeding and pupae occur in june-luly and adults in luly-August. 25 -»?- -i^ DAMAGE Damage is most noticeable in the spring, either just before or after bloom, when the larvae are actively bor- ing in the new shoots of apple trees, causing leaf wilt and die-back of blossoms and terminal shoots. The lar- vae usually attack spurs and the stems of apical shoots, which stimulates the growth of laterals. The larvae rarely bore directly into the fruit. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE Apple Pith Moth has been recorded as a pest of eco- nomic importance in Europe. Its distribution includes Europe and temperate Asia, and its hosts include spe- cies of Malus. One of the earliest records of Apple Pith Moth is by Stainton (1855, Entomol. App. p. 77) who quoted a correspondent: "This is a most destructive little wretch in apple grounds, owing to the fact of its mining in the bud and in the alburnam of the bearing spur." There were several reports of moderate to seri- ous outbreaks of Apple Pith Moth in Europe from 1902- 1929; damage was severe enough to cause complete defoliation. Today, outbreaks of Apple Pith Moth in France can be severe, but are not very common. Probably because of the wide spectrum of the known natural enemies and the use of modern insecticides, the infestations of this insect in Europe are now less frequent that they were 90 years ago. We speculate that Apple Pith Moth will not become a problem to most commercial apple growers who use chemical controls. However, in New Hampshire, there is no evidence yet of the heavy parasitism that is com- mon in Europe. Apple Pith Moth might become a seri- ous pest in organic apple orchards and nurseries. In commercial orchards, it probably will become necessary to modify current practices and spray young non-fruit- bearing trees. Effective control probably can be ob- tained by the application of organo-phosphate insecti- cides at two critical time periods: 1) July 25-30, when adults are active and eggs hatch, and 2) in the early spring, when apple buds are opening and the overwin- tering caterpillars emerge from their shelters. Of these times, the insects are more vulnerable in the summer. ]ohn S. Weaver is Survey Entontologisl and Alan T. Eaton is Extension Specialist, Integrated Pest Management, and both are in tke Entomology Department. UNH. Durham. NH 03824. The phone number for both is (603) 862-1 159. nn PPGA HIGHLIGHTS Keys to Direct Mail Success from PPGA News, ]anuary, 1994 In a soft economy, public relations Is a crucial component of your marketing mix. Time In- vested In public relations (PR) can pay off by get- ting your name in the news. PR can enhance your reputation, sell more products, and increase mar- ket share. There's often confusion about the differences between PR and advertising. They both involve working with the media, but In different ways. In advertising, you buy time or space to run an ad you've developed. You control the content and when It appears. in PR, you provide or create news for the me- dia to use. Your message reaches consumers through the news rather than paid advertising. Editors, reporters, or producers have final con- tent control. But when the media tells a good story about your business, they are In effect giv- ing an endorsement of you and your products and services. PR and advertising can work well together. PR Is a cost-effective way to reenforce your advertis- ing. In many Instances, you can leverage your clout as an advertiser to get your stories on radio and television or Into print. Taking the time to use PR to Increase public awareness about plants and your operation can Increase your bottom line, even In a soft economy. Today's value-conscious consumers re- spond to PR messages that show plants to be a high-value product. ^ For more- PPGA, PC Box 27515, Lansing, Ml; phone-. (517) 694-7700. 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. 26 The Plantsman -•?- ^ BOARD HIGHLIGHTS February First Andrea, Bob, Chris, Peter, and Roger were present. Peter was thanked for the work he did on the Winter Meeting. People were pleased with the attendance, the talks, and the fact that we made a slight profit (that will be split between us and the landscapers). Roger showed samples of the handouts he wrote and had made up for Farm & Forest Bob and Chris will set up the display, Roger plans to make up a questionnaire to give to members attending the Summer Meeting. This would ask for information about member businesses and how the NHPGA could do more for its membership in general Bob will work with him on it. August 17 is now the offi- cial date for our Summer Meeting Bill Stockman and Ed Person will attend the March board meeting to work out details. March First Bob, Henry, Dick, and Ben attended Bill Stockman and Ed Person came to discuss plans for this year's Summer Meeting. Henry gave a very enthusiastic and upbeat account of plans for this year's New England Greenhouse Confer- ence. He felt the program was particularly strong, with a wide range of topics and speakers with a lot to offer Harnois will be setting up a greenhouse to house part of the trade show-, a bus tour to local operations is being tried for the first time — reaction seems very positive. Bill and Ed discussed logistics for the Summer Meet- ing at Ledgewood — parking, registration (at the stand out front), lunch (Perillo'sl, tent (from Spider Web|, trade show, auctioneer (Peter Callioras), Ledgewood tours, tours to Spider Web (from Laidlaw; sponsored by Pleas- ant View), rain (it won't). The overall day seems to be nicely in place and details (soft drinks, chair and table rentals, toilets) were discussed as well Ed brought a list of nearby motels and bed-and-breakfasts and a read- able map; Bob Demers is looking for an appropriate door prize. Andrea will be the board member working closely with Bill and Ed on the meeting. Few handouts were taken from our Farm & Forest booth — we feel that the booth needs to be manned and the information sheets handed to people. Roger will be working on next year's handouts and the overall display as well as a questionnaire for members. Peter will be working on next year's Winter Meeting — he sent word that it would be another joint meeting with the landscapers. This year's Twilight Meetings are in place; two are al- ready planned for 1995. Ben will be making the arrange- ments for these meetings — coordinating plans with hosts, making sure a board member is at each to act as mod- erator Dick will be looking for speakers for 1995's pesticide recertification meeting. It was decided to co-sponsor New England Grows next year It was decided to ask Chris to write to the Pesticide Board, asking for a list of the specific requirements for recertification presentations, so that these can be for- warded to other organizations who can, in turn, tailor their offerings to meet New Hampshire's requirements as well as their own. It was decided to discuss criteria used in awarding the NHPGA scholarships at the next meeting. ^ NORTHERN NURSERIES WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS U.S. Route 5, White River Junction, VT 05001 16 Pinkham Road West, Bamngton, Nh 03825 SERVING THE PROFESSIONAL WITH ABOVE GROUND PLANT MATERIAL Distributors in the foUo'wing lines: • Lofts Seeds • Bindunder Sprayers • DcWitt Weed Barrier • Corona Hand Tools • Earthway Spreaders • Lebanon Turf Fertilizers • Mulch & Grow Hydrosecding Fiber • Nursery & Landscape Supplies Contact: Jim Babb, Mgr., White River Junction, VT, (802) 295-21 17 ^^ Bob AvercU, Mgr., Barrington, NH, (603) 868-7172 GOOD SERVICE . DEPENDABLE QUALUr - CONVENIENTLOCATION APRIL /MAY 1994 27 '•?- -^ WORTH REPEATING WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD FOR AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES: Impact on All New Hampshire Certified Applicators Margaret Hagen The Worker Protection Stan- dard (WPS) is a Federal regulation designed to protect agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The WPS re- quires you to take steps to reduce the risk of pesticide-related illness and injury of you i) use agricultural pesticides, or 2) employ workers or pesticide handlers who are ex- posed to such pesticides. Labels of agricultural pesticides will require compliance with the WPS. Pesticide companies are modifying labels to include WPS requirements. Labels on over 8,000 products must be changed. Each modified label includes an Agricul- tural Use Requirements box stating "Use this product only in compli- ance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFT," plus other references to the WPS. Pesticide companies must put the new label on their products by April 21,1994. After October 23, 1995, pesticide dealers cannot sell agricultural product with the old la- beling without the WPS references. When you use products with WPS labeling, you must comply with specific label requirements. You must observe restricted entry intervals, assure that your pesticide handlers use specified personal protective equipment, and notify workers about applications when the label requires both oral and posted notification (only for pesti- cides in the most toxic category). On and after April 15, 1994, additional requirements are needed. Your workers and handlers must receive pesticide safety train- ing. You must post information about pesticide applications in a central location. You must provide decontamination sites with soap, water, and paper towels for work- ers, and a change of coveralls for handlers. You must also notify em- ployees (orally or by posting) about all pesticide applications. There are additional WPS require- ments and specific exceptions to these requirements which are de- tailed in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "How to Comply" manual. On or after April 15, 1994, pesti- cide handlers must be trained be- fore they do any handling task us- ing a pesticide with a WPS label. Workers must be trained before the 16th day that they enter areas where, within the last 30 days, a pesticide has been applied or a re- stricted entry interval is in effect. The 16-day time frame changes to 6-day time frame for workers after October 20, 1997. The 16 days (6 days) need not be consecutive and may occur over several years of employment. Because of the broad scope of the Federal WPS, the NH Depart- ment of Agriculture, Division of Pesticide Control, under existing rules, will incorporate the standard into the initial certification process for certified pesticide applicators. Those becoming certified will have to demonstrate proficiency in the WPS. This will be accomplished by including a brief worker-protection exam among the tests taken by those applying for certification. Those people who are already certified must also demonstrate proficiency In the WPS by passing an exam. This must be done prior to the Issuance of 1995 licenses, regardless of the recertlflcatlon year. Specifically, the requirement for taking the worker-protection exam will fall on all certified private ap- plicators, and on commercial appli- cators who are certified in catego- ries Al (Agricultural Pest Control, Fruit), A2 (Christmas Trees), or H (Demonstration and Research where you have tested in one of the above listed categories). This requirement may also apply to commercial applicators in other categories who are employed by an agricultural establishment, such as a person holding a GI license who works for a nursery or grounds maintenance company. (It would not, however, include commercial applicators whose activities are non-agricultural in nature, such as residential or right-of way applica- tions.) All certified applicators who pass the worker protection exam will be considered qualified to conduct pesticide safety training of their workers and pesticide han- dlers, required under the stan- dard. Note, however, that certified applicators who have not yet passed the worker protection exam will not be considered qual- ified to train workers or handlers, and may have difficulty complying with that aspect of the Worker Protection Standard when it goes into effect on April 13 of this year. To obtain study materials for the WPS you can contact Faye Cragin or Dr. Stanley Swier at the UNH Cooperative Extension Entomology Department at 131 Main Street, Nesmith Hall, Room 23, UNH, Durham, NH 03824-3597 (phone 862-1159). There is no charge for the study materials but there is a $3 mailing charge. In addition to the EPA manuals, each County Co- operative Extension office has a videotape (3 hours long) of the January training session held in Durham. Tapes can be borrowed for a $5 returnable deposit. To schedule a WPS exam contact the Division of Pesticide Control in Concord (271-3550) or the agricul- tural resources educator in your County Cooperative Extension office. The Division of Pesticide Control is planning to schedule exams in each county. ^ Margaret Hagen is Extension Educator, UNH Cooperative Extension, Hillsborough County, her phone there is (603) 673-2510. 28 The Plantsman Wholesalers & Retailers •Poinsettias 'Annuals • Perennials Visit our 12 Greenhouses & Garden Center Claremont Hill, Newport, New Hampshire (603)863-1089 OPEN YEAR ROUND 'Potted Plants 'Seasonal Crops 'Supplies AUSTRIAN PINE, 5-8' height Beautiful, Heavy, Connecticut Valley Nursery Grown. Growing 500 Acres of New England's Finest Trees & Shrubs f^m ^^tF^f^T Trees Since 1929 f^ tnuiane tlltirsenes, mc. 604 MAIN STREET, CROMWELL CONNECTICUT 06416 / PHONE (203) 635-5500 / FAX (203) 635-3685 V-***l vT?)? ■Ayr'^-^y/afaaMttCTBa ."^:'^^i^A^ TWILIGHT MEETINGS Northern Nurseries Harrington April 28 meat-and-potatoes nursery" is how Bob Averell describes Northern Nursery in Barrington, host of the NHPCAs first 1994 Twilight Meeting, on April 28 between 5:30-7:30 pm. Bob (general manager) will give a tour showing "what we are, what we're about." He describes Northern (part of a larger organization) as a seven- acre re-wholesale nursery that caters to landscap- ers, retail garden centers, and municipalities. There are "no real specialties:" material ranges from ground covers to five- and six-inch caliper trees. This year, emphasis will be put on land- scape-size perennials in one- and two-gallon pots. Visitors will see how the seven acres are orga- nized, how material is handled, an irrigation system using both a well and a pond. "Meat-and-potatoes" is okay — that's what most of New Hampshire is about and this is a chance to preview the staples before spring planting begins. Directions: go north on 123 for a quarter mile beyond Lee Traffic Circle; go left on Pinkham Road (you'll see the sign) For information, contact Bob at (603) 868-7172. D.S. Cole Growers Loudon June 16 n |une 16, Doug Cole will host a Twilight Meeting at D.S. Cole Growers, Loudon; time: 6-8 pm. Summer (umbo Annuals and the first of the fall cyclamen crop will be growing in an eight-bay 33,000-square foot glass house with venlo-style roof made by Verbakel-Bomkas, of DeLier, Holland. The house has computerized environmental and irrigation controls; aspects of the operation include roll-out ebb-and-flo benches, an Echo revolving hanging bas- ket system, and a )avo potting machine with auto- matic fertilizer and label dispensers. This is an excellent opportunity to spend time touring one of New Hampshire's more state-of-the- art operations and visit with friends and NHPGA members. Directions: from 93, take 393 East onto 106 N, then left onto Village Road. D.S. Cole is two miles on the left, (from the east, take Route 4 to 106 N, etc.) For information, contact Doug at (603) 783-9561. NH PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION The Plantsman Editor UNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 43