The Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-05-09, Page 36Erosion
Grasses have long been recog-
nized for their excellent soil -holding
ability against ravages of wind and,
water erosion. Soil lacking plant
cover is easily washed from even ,the
slightest slope to end up in streams
and lakes as silt.
Silt -filled Streams, lakes and
reservoirs destroy • recreational
uses, add to water pollution and cre-
ate flooding problems. 'Grass sod:.
holds -soil in place, and .a healthy„.;
turf encourages rapid movement of
rain water into the soil, as well.` •
Pestieid.es Help Lawns
Kentucky bluegrass lawns are
exceptionally tolerant •of pesticides
used to 'control weeds. disease,
and bugs. if home protectants are
used as directed, a good lawn will
npt be injured, •but instead will
grow even better freed of the pests.
PAGE 8B--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1974
,
Perenmal Plants Pay Off
A profusion of color and besot+.
from spring through autumn.+tilt
plenty of bloontis for indoor arrange
nients or table decorations—then
are the rewards in store when +oui
add perennials t� your gardening
plans. Perennials keep paving oft
year after year without replanting
and this is the time to get started.
1?t< choice you can make is wide
as to 2k+fors, sires. blooming times.
!Nation, landscape layout, and so
on, so planning your perennial
plan'ttttgs is a tine opportunity to
\errise sour own creiiti°ve flair.
Your garden center or mail-order
There's More To The Che rry
Than Me.I Meets TI,e P
Kings; • have' planted them. Young
lovers have romped.under them for
centuries. New York City's great
'diagonal concourse—Broadway—
was
oncourse Broadway—was re-routed around one of them.
'And a president, 'in his youthful
exuberance, is' alleged to have de-
secrated one.
The principal in each of the above
instances was the -cherry tree, 'im-
ported • into this country prior to'
the 1670's. Nearly 300 years later,.
the cherry tree provides Americans
with some 500 million pounds of
fruit' annually. while providing.
growers an annual income of about
$70 million.
Today, there are about 1,150
`different varieties of cherry trees',
with the most popular being the
r , sweet and the tart. Though cherry
trees are hardy --they grow in all
states of the continental U.S.—the
largest cherry growing region in this
" country ••is Michigan. wh.ich • is
responsible for over half of the
nation's production. , Cherries are
also grown in quantity in New York,
Wisconsin, "Pennsylvania, Washing-
ton, and C,a ifornia.
Modern. agricultural practices.
including the controlled' use of
.r pesticides. 'have resulted. in record
" production of t,wo to three tons of
cherries• per. acre, Pesticides lave
also extended the marketing season
by eiiminating diseases—b'rown,rot
and leaf •spot. Fruit 'flies:. which
plagued such early planters 'as
George Washington's father.., have
also become, part of history through
the proper use of pesticides.
While nearly everyone' is familiar
with the legend. surrounding George
Washington—he not only cut down
a cherry tree. but his mother's gar-
den stakes as well—probably few
are aware that a cherry tree influ-
enced the 'direction of New York's
famous Broadway.
At the corner of 10t1•1 Street and
ington ,used cherries to, make pies,
puddings. and wine. -Today onl\'
the,imagination limits. the cherry's
- use, Recipes for cherries now
include soup, muffins, chicken and
ham glazes and even pizza. •Imagine
what Tin ure lyrics will be to "Can
She Bake A Cherrv'Pie. Billy'Boy?"
Broadway, there was an inn belong-
ins tory Mynheer Brevoort, with a
• cherry tree in thfe courtyard. City
planners. in what might be consid-
• ered an enlightened moment. de -
tided to sure the tree and changed
the' direction of Broadway slightly
to the west. This major traffic
b artery thus owes its course to a
cherry tree.
Perhaps more people than streets
o'we their direction 'to cherry trees:
In England and other countries,
young people used. to gather in
cherry orchards ostensibly to bar-
gain for the fruit. Out of this was
born -the concept of "Cherry.f:"air_s"
which, according to one British
authority, were always "boisterous
and temporary." "Cherry fairs"
passed into everyday language as a
synonym for fleeting, care -free.
Nearly 2.000 years ago, the cherry
tree came into its own in the western
world when triumphant emperors,
returning from battle brought the
tree from the eastr'th'.fir nati,r'
lands' in Eabpe. Much later King
Henry VIII was so taken with
cherry trees that he ho '2 .trrt's
planted.
In 1912. Mrs. William 11t,u,srd
Taft, wife of the President. planlerl
the first cherry tree, in VV,t0iIngt.n.
D.C. While the frees, a gift of
• Japan, "do not hear edihl fruit,
• they are renown for their 'l. Ii,:'ate
pink blossom.
lt'is recorded that Martha Wash
Create u
wildlife refuge
Your own yard can be
where wild animals are the stars and
people are the audience. Colorful
birds�.fe-tiding their youngsters, fish,
weaving among 'the water lilies
dragonfliesdarting above a little
pool, timid .little outdoor crea-
tures picnicking on the lawn—all
this and' more , is a most• rewarding
gift nature has for you.
Any yard of any size .even a win-
doH•"bx, if that's all the space you
have—can become.a wildlife haven
with good planningand Very modest
cost. The simple . basicneeds are
food, water, and protective cover,
all designed for the kinds of guest's
you wish as backyard neighbors.
The American Association --.6f
_
Nurserymen .has a few !pointers on
the subject—and suggests that
further information is available
from almost any AAN member
garden center or from the National
Wildlife- Federation, 1412 .16th
Street. Washington... D.C. 20036,
whish has published an authorita-
tive article on the subject:
To meet the.feeding requirements
of wildlife in your :urban setting.
the AAN suggests a variety of
vegetation—from berries to nuts—
to meet year-round needs.
Tie wildlife's critical need for
water can be met with a simple bird
bath or ground watering' device.
(It's a good idea to keep this type
of waterr;ource elevated 'to 'protect
against cats and 'other predators.)
However, the most desirable and
attractive approach is a small pool
with an area large enough to sup-
port 'plants that grow, in water as
well as around the edge.
Your ,animal tenants will need
protective cover, and this will vary
depending on the :different spe-
cies ... rock piles or stone walls
for some, brush piles or dense
shrubs for others, evergreens and.
other, trees or bushes for. some.
These additions to your landscape
provide a home base, a source of
food in some cases, and a safe
haven for the birth and raising of
young. All this can be arranged to
meg the needs -of wildlife guests
while it is pleasing to your eyes' as
well.
Even if space allows only the
preparation of a window box, it is
possible to create a wildlife refuge
in miniature by, including those
.s'ame three elements: food, water,
cover.
The important need is to restore
some balance of nature to a brick
and asphalt environment. As an-
thropologist Rhoda Metraux has
written, "Only, when• man has in-
corporated into the urban setting all
that he' once gained through living
4n nature will he be fully and faith-
fully urbanized."`
nurseryman can advise you about
the right selections for your particu-
lar conditions of sunlight, soi1,1
drainage; and flowering seasons.
As a general rule, the best results
will be achieved by trun-splunting
perennials you select from a reliable
source, and a' few gardening sug
gestions have been provided by the
American Association of Nursery-
men.
The first step into prepare thesoil
by spreading organic fertilizer gen-
erously (about two inches deep)
over the planting area. Work the
material, into°t`he top eight inches of
soil,, then rake the area evenly. •
Plant, the flowers about 12 to 18
inches apart to give them ma3cimunt
room ,for healthy growth. The ,hole'
prepared for each plant,..should be
about twice` the `width and depth of
the roots.
Place the plants in\the holes,
making sure the stem parts are
standing up straight. Pack the soil
tirmly around them. then water
the planting area thproughly.
a stage Grass Fights
OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE AT ITS BLT. Colorful gardens blending in-
to a servicable lawn of attractive modem varieties.
A Sitfrr,t Battle--
Healthy,
attle-
Healthy, green; vigorou-rgra,s in
home lawns, parks and roadsides
wages an effectiVe,0.silent battle
against all major forms, of environ-
mental pollution, according to turf
grass researchers at many land-
grant universities.
CARROLL'S
LANDSCAPING &
GARDEN CENTRE
Just north and east of Parade Square
VANASTRA 482-9565
H4
NOW!
55'c
PER BOX'
We'll loon you
*ANNUALS when r
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when
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make
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purchase
*VEGETABLES PLANTS
ROSES
7 VARIETIEB) AVAILABLE
FROM $ 1.4 9
We are dealers for;
OD 4
PLANT CARE PRODUCTS
eu)
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We can otter you.eepert advice on your gardening
problema.,,,,Mr, Cerro, le training In Landscape
Technology at Humber College a pAor to coming
to Clinton last season. spent 2 years
with • nursery In Tllleohburg
• ,,4
• Choose from three models to
handle soil preparation chores FYr
with ease.
• Digs easier, deeper, faster with
specially designed tines that
pulverize packed, grassy soil,
• Removable transport wheels and
adjustable depth bar simplify
handling. r
• Weight is over tines,
where it works for . not',
against you
RAHAM ELECTRIC
62 Cambria Rd. N. 'Goderich ' 524-8670