New Plant Fad Flourishing
By HELEN HOWARD
SUff Writer 1
Women throughout the nation have joined the plant fad
in recent years. Home decorations include a hanging
basket and potted plants used in various points.
While a green thumb is believed necessary for the care
of these fragile plants, a new growing system is
flourishing.
Women in the Warren County area have had a chance
in recent weeks to view the Luwasa Plantsystem. The
new system is explained in a home-party plan. At least 10
home-parties have been held around the area recently.
Mrs Toni Mesick of Raleigh is a Deco consultant for
the area. The idea is similar to Stanley or Tupperware.
However, plants are available at the home-party on a
cash-and-carry basis.
Swiss horticultural scientists developed the new
system about 16 years ago. The sister company, Green
Thumb Co., brought the scientists' concept to the United
States. Later the idea was purchased by Ralston Purina.
Deco-plants Corporation derived from the checker-board
family.
The hydroponics chemical growing system has been
used in hospitals, doctors' offices and restaurants for
some time. Now the idea is spreading to the American
housewife. The system takes the guesswork out of when
and how much water. Best of all, it eliminates problems
for those not fortunate enough to own a green thumb.
The Deco consultant explains three unique features for
the new system: living stones, liquid nutrient and a
window in the container.
The living stones are man-made expanded clay
aggregate which supply clean stable support for the
plant and a constant flow of nutrient to the root system.
Mrs. Mesick advises, "The stones never wear out.
They can be willed to your grandchildren."
The stones can be washed and reused again and again
and therefore are more practical than soil.
The nutrient is also important. The formula designed
by the Swiss scientists calls for one teaspoon to two
quarts of water or two teaspoons to a gallon of water. The
nutrient is mixed with the water each time watering is
required.
This system eliminates overwatering plants and
adding fertilizer Most of the plants only need water
every 10 to 21 days.
And it is easy to tell when the plant needs water. With
the system you do not have to feel the soil or catch the eye
of a drooping plant. The new system has a water line in a
window on the container. When the water line is low, you
fill it.
Mrs. Mesick said the only time you water the plant is
when the window is empty. There is an exception,
however. If you are going on vacation, you may fill the
window before you leave and the plants will take care of
themselves while you are gone.
As with soil-planted plants, light is an important
factor. The consultant explains the light requirements of
each plant she sells. Consumers are also given literature
on light requirements of all plants.
BULK
LIME
FOR
SPREADING
CALL 257-1115
Kerr-McGee
FARM CENTER
E. Macon St. • Warrenton
Aileen Marlin of Warrenton is one of many Warren
County plant lovers who are enjoying the ease which
Deco plantsystems give to the indoor gardener.
The literature states: "One fairly reliable rule of
thumb is based on leaf color; the more green the leaf, the
darker the location the plant will tolerate."
This means the greener leaf requires less light. The
more creamy the leaf, the more light the plant needs.
There is exception to every rule and Mrs. Mesick tells the
consumer which bright, green plants require good
lighting. Another
help in green thumb gardening is the stones.
With ordinary potting soil, disease and bug problems
exist. Leeching is often necessary. Consumers of soilpotted
plants may notice small white balls on top of the
soil. This has been determined to be a salt chemical build
up, usually caused by the salt content of the water.
With the Deco-plants, a consumer needs only to wash to
stones and the salt is removed.
Mrs. Mesick expressed the views of the corporation.
"■We feel that these systems will be all that is used in
homes in the next few years."
She added, "Anyone who has ever seen a Deco-plant
will come back for more."
The plants are grown near the equator. They are
strictly indoor plants for North Carolina consumers since
the climate here is cooler.
From the equator to the United States, the plants are
expected to be nationwide very soon. Deco-plant centers
are established throughout North Carolina at present.
What will happen to the soil-potted plants? You can
salvage your own plants and transplant them to the Jiew
system through processes demonstrated. The nutrient is
recommended to be used with soil at the consumers' own
risk.
The new system of plants requires no transplanting.
The stones never decompose or become hard packed and
the plants never get pot bound because the roots come
out of the bottom of the container and may be cut back.
Mrs. Mesick demonstrates her product to civic groups,
garden clubs and in homes.
With the fad of plants adding to the warmth of a room,
the new growing system may be in Warren County homes
in the near future.
At least 150,000 species of flowering plant are known.
Hutchinson Returns
From Naval Duty
Navy Boatswain's Mate
First Class Daniel C.
Hutchinson, whose wife,
Nina is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Leonard Joyner of
Route 2, Box 174E, Littleton,
recently returned from an
extended deployment in the
Mediterranean Sea.
He is serving as a Crewmember
aboard the amphibious
transport dock USS
Nashville, homeported in
Norfolk, Va. While deployed,
his ship operated as a
unit of the U. S. Sixth Fleet.
Hutchinson joined the
Navy in June, 1968.
Delivery
Points
Designated
Delivery points have been
designated by Flue-Cured
Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization
Corporation to handle
growers' carryover
toabcco in the N. C. Eastern
Belt, the N. C. Middle Belt
and the Old Belt of N. C. and
Virginia.
Carryover tobacco is
defined as tobacco produced
in excess of 110 per cent of
the producer's 1977 quota.
Tom Watson, ASCS supervisor
in Warren County,
estimated that only 10 or 12
producers in the county
would be affected by
excessive tobacco poundage
following Monday's close of
the Warrenton Tobacco
Market.
The majority of those
farmers will probably take
their tobacco to Fuquay-Varina,
the closest site listed
in the delivery points
announced this week by
Fred Bond, Stabilization
general manager.
In Fuquay-Varina, Tobacco
Growers Services, Inc. is
designated as open for
scheduling and receiving
tobacco from Nov. 28-Dec. 2.
Other points designated
by the general manager are
Austin Carolina Tobacco
Co., Kinston; Smothers
Tobacco Warehouse, Reidsville;
and Commonwealth
Tobacco Company, Kenbridge,
Va.
Producers who plan to
deliver tobacco to one of the
above points should obtain a
marketing card from the
Warren County ASCS office
prior to delivery.
Deliveries should then be
scheduled by telephoning
Stabilization's representative
at any of the designated
points, beginning Monday,
Nov. 28, between 9 a. m. and
4 p. m. in Fuquay-Varina,
the number is 919-552-2231.
The Kinston number is
919-523-8086.
All tobacco should be
delivered in standard tobacco
sheets which will be
exchanged when the delivery
is made.
County supervisor Watson
said an official government
tobacco inspector would
grade, weigh and then store
the tobacco brought in for a
nominal fee, not expected to
exceed one cent per pound.
The tobacco will be
offered tor sale as soon as
possible after July 1, 1978.
Tobacco which does not sell
for a satisfactory price will
be tendered to Commodity
Credit Corporation for loan
under the 1978 program.
Proceeds from sales or
loans advanced, less expenses
incurred for storage,
fumigation and insurance
during the carryover period,
will be distributed to
participating growers after
july 1, 1978.
All participants must be
members of Stabilization
and will be asked to sign an
agreement making Stabilization
the agent for handling,
servicing and sale of
tobacco.
Watson said the number of
growers expected to be
involved in the carryover
program is more than last
year due to the poorer crop
yield this season.
A large portion of tobacco
sales in the Warrenton
market have gone to
Stabilization this year, he
added.
Tobacco Tobacco
Yeargin's Warehouse Will Have A
Clean Up Tobacco Sale, Monday,
Nov. 21, 1977
Yeargin's Warehouse
Oxford, N. C.
Agriculturally
Speaking
By L. B. HARDAGE
if County Extension Chairman
All farmers and homeowners
are invited to attend
the new Central Carolina
Farm and Home Trade
Show in Smithfield on
Thursday, Dec. 1 and
Friday, Dec. 2 at the
Carolina Farmers CooperaEnterprise
Women
Have Program
LITTLETON - Helping
handicapped at Christmas
was discussed as an
upcoming project for the
Baptist Women of Enterprise
Baptist Church which
met recently.
Meeting at the home of
Mrs. M. J. Umphlett on
Roanoke Avenue, the group
heard a program, "Christ in
You," given by Mrs. Lula S.
Kidd.
Mrs. S. B. Bobbitt, leader,
reported on a meeting of the
Cullom Baptist Association.
Refreshments were served
by the hostess to other
members, including Mrs.
F. E Bobbitt, Mrs. A. C.
King. Mrs. H. H. Shearin,
Mrs. J. B. Stansbury, Mrs.
George McMahan, Mrs. E.
C. Reid Sr.* Mrs. Douglas
Reid. Mrs. R. A. King and
two new members, Mrs. E.
C. Reid Jr. and Mrs. James
Briggs.
Houston Returns
Home From Navy
Navy Chief Hull Maintenance
Technician Robert E.
Houston, whose wife Judy is
the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. George T. Edwards of
Rt. 2, Henderson, has
returned from an extended
deployment in the Mediterranean
Sea.
He is serving as a
crewmember aboard the
aircraft carrier USS Independence,
homeported in
Norfolk, Va. While deployed,
his ship operated as a
unit of the U. S. Sixth Fleet.
Houston joined the Navy
in September 1965.
Grower's were invited to
meet in Raleigh last Friday
for the 1978 Flue Cured
Tobacco Quota Meeting in
which quotas for the
upcoming year were discussed.
Final quota determinations
will be announced Dec.
1 by the Secretary of
Agriculture.
Spices and Herbs
Spices are parts of plants, such
as the dried seeds, buds, fruit or
flower parts, or bark of roots of
plants, usually of tropical origin
Herbs are from the leafy parts of
the temperate-zone plants
tive Warehouse, according
to L. B. Hardage, county
extension chairman.
The show opens at 11 a. m.
and runs until 9 p. m. each
day. Admission is free
Special entertainment will
include the National Hollering
Champion at 1:30 p. m.
on Thursday and Ray
Wilkinson, television farm
editor and humorist on
Friday.
The purpose of the show is
to give farmers and homeowners
an opportunity to see
the very latest in farm
machinery, services, and
supplies. All major brands
of bulk barns, harvesters,
tractors, cultivating equipment,livestock
equipment,
farm chemicals and other
items will be displayed. Low
energy housing supplies and
home appliances will also be
featured.
The ladies will especially
enjoy seeing a special
Holiday Crafts Show conducted
by extension homemakers.
An advantage offered by a
Trade Show of this type,
Hardage said, is that it gives
farmers an opportunity to
do a lot of "shopping
around" in comparing quality
and prices of equipment
offered by all the major
manufacturers in just a
short period of time and
with little travel involved.
The purchase of needed
farm equipment before Jan.
1 may also enable farmers
to take advantage of the 10
per cent investment credit
on their income taxes for
1977.
The Carolina Farm and
Home Trade Show is a
community project that is
being sponsored by the
Agricultural Extension Service,
Young Farmers Com- "
mittee, Johnston County
Agri-business Council,
Smithfield-Selma Chamber
of Commerce and Smithfield
Tobaco Market.
The public is invited and
urged to attend.
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U.S. 158 BYPASS
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