AGRICULTURE
Many bulbs can be forced for early blooming
?Mulches are invaluable in any
planting area. They provide a
protective layer that will prevent
evaporation, control weeds, guard
against "heaving" from severe cold,
and when decomposing, enriches the
soU.
. Seashore gardeners can make use
Of several products of the beach and
marshes. Collect native eel grass and
other seaweeds. Round up scrub oak
leaves and pine needles. Find
yourself a salt hay connection.
; Eel grass has a nitrogen content of
about two percent, and will serve as a
> 1
Seasoned wood
is best buy
To get the far your dollar,
buy seasoned hjfrdjijgpdi.
"The amouiftfliMjbwood will give
)off is determiMp by its weight and
moisture contqjfllijjptfy its volume,"
??ays Dick AlliMA, forestry specialist,
North Carolinijfirte University. But
wood is solcyj^gMHiume in North
Carolina ? b/'fltfflck-up truck load
or by the cord^*rf
That is why^
amounts of ,
amount of
such as hick
^wice the hea
white pine.
The weight of t$ially <l?jr,w<tod per
cubic feet is ^?tt?wa'< Mtfedry. 46;
white oak, 45?r#d ask au0%CLch, 43;
sugar maple aniWrchvl2; ash, 41;
slash and longleaf pine, 40; red
maple, 37; lobolly and shortleaf pine,
35; sweetftim, tupelo, elm, sycamore
and Virginia pine, M; red cedar, 33;
ellow popular, ID; and white pine,
C
Any persoqjbuittyffwood also needs
to find out wwtinKras cut.- "Newly
cut or green wood may be up to 50
percent moisture," Allison says. It is
more difficult to bum and much of its
heat will be used to evaorate the
moisture in the wood rather than to
heat the home.
It takes six to eight months to dry
ire wood properly. Split wood dries
master. "Look at the ends of the logs.
Lots of little crcks means the wood
has started to dry," says the ex
tension forestry specialist.
The standard cord is the only
legally-defined measure of firewood
in this state. A cord is a pile of wood
four feet high, eight feet long and
four feet wide.
rife.
Give ASjpift that |
will be
remembered
all year long!
At W
Here's the secret? give a
gift subscription of this
newspaper to your special
friends. We provide a color
ful gift card to meet any
special occasion announ
cing you as the giver. Now
you don't have to worry
) about shopping for a hard
to find gift for that special
person to enjoy. Come by
our office or call today for
specific details on this con
venient, exciting giftl
The
Perquimans Weekly
Kmc 277
NC 17*44
fertiliser as well as mulch. Salt hay is
excellent, as it takes several years to
degrade.
Hurry Up and Wait
Many bulbs qualify for forcing,
which is defined as the deceptive use
of light and temperature, resulting in
blooming in 12 to IS weeks instead of
the usual span of five to six months.
Now that we are experiencing
some cool weather, we should plan
for our early spring treat. (Bulbs
forced in containers should be kept
between 40 and 50 degrees. )
This climate can be created by
using an indoors storage area such as
a cool garage or greenhouse, or using
a trench or cold frame in the out
doors, which protects bulbs from
excessive cold.
A favorite bulb for forcing is the
dependable and aromatic Paper
White narcissus, but why not try
tulips, hyacinths, iris reticulata,
scilla and crocus, as we suggested in
an earlier article?
While contatiners of plastic or
metal or ceramic composition will
do, most people prefer the old
fashioned clay pot. If you use new
one* for this method of growing
flower*, try to remember to soak the
pot* in water for 24 hours before
using them.
I have, however, had great success
with narcissus planted on top of
gravel, nestled in only enough to
insure stability, growing in a water
tight container, with the water filled
to the height of the bottom of the
bulb. Narcissus prepared in this
manner should be treated sub
sequently as any other bulbs we
discuss.
I have used a mixture of potting
soil, peat and sand, but John Pelring
of WGBH's Victory Garden writes in
Horticulture Magazine that they
have great success with perlite.
Now let's plant, counting on 12
weeks development before you want
the actual flower. I plan to start some
in the next three weeks, and stagger
the blooms over several weeks. Put a
piece of broken clay pot over the hole
in the bottom of your pot to prevent
soil from clogging up, or draining
out.
Fill pot half full. Put the bulbs in so
that their tops will be just below the
rim of the pot. Add more soil, stop
ping below the bulb tip. Put a label on
the pot; type bulb, color, when
planted, and a projected date of
removal from its storage area.
Water well. If pots are stored in
side, they must have complete
darkness and regular watering.
Outside, dig a bed three inches
deeper than the pots. Put sand or
perlite on bottom. Set the pots in,
cover with more sand or perlite, and
then place a six inch high mound of
dirt on top of that.
If you are concerned about
drainage you may want to dig an
auxilliary trench adjacent to the bed.
Water regularly until it freezes.
In ten to 12 weeks, check a pot for
visible roots around the drainage
hole. There will be some top growth,
which will be blanched white from
lack of light.
Move the pots indoors to a cool spot
with indirect light, watering well.
After a while the shoots will turn
green. Then it is time to put them in
full sun where it is about 60 degrees
at the maximum.
You may have to water them
everyday at this point. When the
flower appears, put in indirect light
to prolong blooming.
After flowering you can discard the
bulbs in the compost pile, don't just
throw them away. But Mr. Pelrine
encourages gardeners to give the>
bulbs another try. ??
He suggests nurturing the bulb*
while in the pot with half-strength,
ferilizer every two weeks. In the
spring, plant bulbs at the recom?
mended depth for another blooming
later on. Most of the time you will
have success.
See Us For Your Needs...
B&R Tractor, Inc.
Sales and Service
"Your Down East JD Dealer"
Hwy. 64 East (919)793-5128 Plymouth, NC
Live Out Of The Area?
Use Our New Watts Line 1-800-682-2401
Pa rt s & Service & Sales
Oscar Ross, Jr. General Manager
Gary Frymier, Sales Manager Elmer Oliver, Salesman