What would you expect of a plant named Chittagong Chickrassy? Is it related to chickweed, or does it have to do with temple gongs and rickshaws? They tell us that the Greeks had a word for it, but so did the Romans. And when we mix the two and add a dash of patois from … Read more
How would you like to harvest a crop of vegetables without weeding, watering, spraying, or dusting? Or grow off-season crops such as head lettuce in August or carrots ready to harvest by Christmas? The modern miracle-mulch which has made this a reality in tidewater Virginia is aluminum foil. Aluminum foil is aluminum rolled very thin, … Read more
Anybody can do it! All it takes is a little bit of special plastic film called Polyethylene, a sharp knife, some moist sphagnum moss, and a little rooting powder. With these materials, any gardener can propagate new shrubs and trees without using a hotbed. New Polyethylene Film Experimentation John Creech of the United States Department … Read more
Plant and animal cells respire sugar. That is, within the cell, sugar is broken down in a series of steps, and the energy holding the various atoms of the sugar molecule together is transferred away for use within the cell. This breakdown, called respiration, goes on until each sugar molecule has been broken down into … Read more
Do you shy away from the term pH because it sounds mysterious and hard to understand? If you do, you’re missing a chance to grow better plants with less effort and at a lower cost. Using Thermometer Gardeners don’t hesitate to refer to the thermometer when frost threatens. They know that when the mercury skids … Read more
Malnutrition in human beings is considered a disease. But, for some reason, we do not think in the same terms as plants. Most gardeners feel that if a plant lacks some element, such as nitrogen, all that is needed is to supply the missing dement. Although partially true, this is only partially accurate. For example, … Read more
Deficiencies of plant-food nutrients are usually indicated by a general reduction of growth in garden plants. Chlorosis or poor foliage color often is also apparent. Likewise, the poor light and unfavorable temperatures to which houseplants are frequently exposed result in unsatisfactory growth and an anemic appearance. This condition may be due to these factors or … Read more
March 7, 1949, marked the 100th anniversary of Luther Burbank’s birth. For half a century or more, the public schools of the nation taught the children in the lower grades that Burbank was one of our national heroes, placing him on a pedestal almost alongside Washington and Lincoln. Garden clubs, too, have been effective in … Read more
You no longer have to rush to get all your shrubs and trees in the ground in the short spring planting time. Using Up-to-Date Nursery Methods With up-to-date nursery methods and the use of pots, you can extend the planting season to fit your convenience. If you live in a small town, and the local … Read more
The spring garden is coming along fast and needs immediate attention. Moisture is abundant, for the winter brought good seasoning weather throughout our area. April activity centers around bedding plants, lawns, roses, and many other miscellaneous jobs. Bedding Plants This term is often taken to mean only annuals, but it rightly includes biennials and perennials, … Read more