Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Nov. 3, 1983, edition 1 / Page 9
Part of The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
A historical look at the sa.ssnfra.ss plant ? Bring try In for rooting. Vine* trailing from a graceful vase make a refreshing green arrangement for the bouse. After rooting, plant out ride about one-half Inch beneath the ?aiL Three rooted cuttings per square yard is suggested. ' ? Check boxwood, hollies, asaleas, gardenias, roses and rhododentrons 'tor nematodes, this condition is ?identified by poor growth, low vigor, ? bellowing or bronzing, loss of leaves, >^tem die-back and failure to respond t|o fertilizer. J' ? Sunflower seeds discarded by ^Mrds at feeding stations should not *te added to the compost pile. Like ?Valnut trees and several other iflants. sunflower seeds secrete a 'substance that inhibits growth of ^surrounding plants. ? Got a sunny window sill? Try some winter postage stamp gar dening. You can grow parsley, cherry tomatoes, chives, radishes and basil. use ? oasic poiung sou, provide steady moisture, adequate drainage, regular fertilizer and you'll have a teeny culinary treat for the whole family. Hidden in one corner of our yard are the compost piles, "Old Pile" (or Big Guy), "New Pile" and "Whew File." the latter still retaining to some degree aromas such as left over cabtfcge from last night and maybe this morning's coffee grounds. . About the middle of September we turn everything over with a speading fork, preparatory to dressing the winter garden with "Old Pile." This requires chopping through a dense layer of Vinca major and cutting down various saplings that have presumed upon the premises during the summer. I was quite surprised by the number of sassafrass suckers that had taken over one corner. While cutting back these intruders I chewed a piece and enjoyed its ?jtakostrfergottea taste. - - ' There's a lot to be said for Sassafrass. In fact, a lot of it I'm not I even believe. \ First of all, a little background. JjSassafrass is in the laurel family. It fc a small tree usually, but capable of ^becoming quite tall in the South, luxuriously frangrant flowers bloom ^in April and May before its leaves Cappear. r Outstanding, however, is its flamboyant autumn color. One of the Eat pleasures of canoeing here on Perquimans River is drinking in red, yellow and oranges of Jtassafrass and other showoffs, ^eluding the sumacs, that thrive in Jhe dry woods on each side. <?', These are our substitutes for the )all showing of vaious hardwoods, Sjrhich are located in other areas of jne stale Thousands of years before paniards supposedly discovered trass (they called it salsafras) hile simultaneously supposedly ivering Florida, Inidans in the reat Lakes region of North America lad been making tea of its leaves and its bark in water for a edicine to reduce fever. That, it mi, is only the beginning. Joan Parry Dutton, "Plants of 1 Williamsburg," explains it French Huguenots in South are credited with naming it it. | Claimed a cure-all by Dr. Nicholas ponardes, a Spanish physician, the root bark began selling at in easing ly higher prices. It became oldest commercialised crop in i America. [She goes on to say that Hariot, iving found the tree growing oa inoke Island, described it as "a I of the most Sweet and pleasant I aad of rare virtues in medicine the cure of many diseases." iptaia John Smith exported back to the Mother that time, says Mother Earth lagasiae July/August IMS, did all of the following: chronic rheumatism, gout dropsy, relieved eye in smation, eased various femal , acted as a disinfectant in ?rgary, cared several skin only get along with themselves ? who else could ever come near enough to propose friendship T The volltlle oil of sassafrass was mixed with boiling water for many purposes. Only four or five drops were utilxed at one time, however, as more of the substance would cause vomiting, dilated pupils, stupor, spontaneous abortions and collapse ? perhaps even death. The FDA in the 60's fed 600 pounds of dried sassafrass to three mice over a four day period and pronounced that the chemical consituent safrole could cause liver cancer in rats. So there was a brief ban on the sale of sassafrass tea. However, nutmeg, pepper, star anise and ordinary China tea were still sold. They also contained safrole. Maybe you can figure it out. I like sassafrass, both the taste snd the odor. I am particularly addicted to Creole cookery and cannot imagine a gumbo, sans file powder, which is dried and ground ssssafrass leaves used for thickening, flsvoring and aroma. r30% to 50% ow Woterbeds at Sleep Quarters 1 505 W. Ehringhaus St. Elizabeth City Come by and let Jennifer help you 335-2997 Simfriu keeps root beer from tasting like Dr. Pepper. There are also sassafrass candy sticks, presumably still a best-seller in Williamsburg. I can see why Columbus was successful in pacifying his mutinous crew, convincing them that land was near when the fragrance of sassafrass trees wafted over strange waters. That fragrance was something they could Identify with, since for the last three week* they were getting more and more discouraged, more depressed, more confused. Even the graffiti was frustrating: They had referred to earlier ships' logs, pured over every code book in the Admirality, all in vain. Until God or Isabella enabled them to translate "See Rock City" into Spanish, there was no way of knowing who the real enemy was. I rz I The first all-professional U.S. baseball team was founded in 1870. Its members were known at that time as the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Alexanders Appliance Sales & Service 405 W. Grubb St. Hertford, N.C. 426-7383 WE ARE DEALERS FOR Amana ? Westinghouse ? Kelvinator ? Maytag Snapper Mowers 24 HOUR SERVICE "We iterrice irltat rr vryhodv sellx" We're having a Sidmatb Sale, This Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ?FEATURING? SUNGLASSES MAKE-UP SMURF ITEMS HAIR CARE ITEMS VITAMINS Woodard's Pharmacy CHURCH ST. HERTFORD, NC 426-5527 Introducing AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTANDS IN Hertford hardware Woodards Pharmacy The Perquimans Weekly SUBSCRIBE TODAY Have the Chtmul Mtrier delivered to your door every week for Try. us out and discover what's going on in the entertainment world I an entire year! *20.80 <? Clip ond moil thi? coupon, along with your ch?ck or mon?y order to: Jht Cktmtl Mtrhr P.O. tm 771. [Mm, R.C 27JJI
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 3, 1983, edition 1
9
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75