plant-available form of nitrogen. 



C:N Ratio 



The C:N ratio provides information on the potential 

 availability of nitrate-N (NO,-N) for plants growing in 

 the compost. A wide value of 20-30:1 will likely lead to 

 N immobilization by microbes which can effectively 

 compete with crops for the NO^-N. An ideal C:N ratio of 

 10-12:1 is needed to assure N availability for plant 

 growth, but few composts have such a narrow ratio. If 

 test results show abundant concentrations of NO,-N, or- 

 ganic-N, or total N — even in the presence of a rather 

 wide C:N ratio, the long-term availability of N for plant 

 growth may be satisfactory. 



Take-home Messages 



• Ask your compost supplier to provide you with prod- 

 uct specs (preferably for your batch) including pH, 

 soluble salts (EC), and ammonia. (You can alsotest 

 pH and EC in your greenhouse with inexpensive 

 meters. Ongoing monitoring is also important.) 



• Composts vary greatly between products and even 

 between batches. Not all composts are created equal. 



• Composts can definitely have a place in ornamental 

 plant production. 



Dr. George Estes is Professor of Plant Biology, Department of 

 Plant Biology, Spaulding Life Science Building G48, \Jniversity 

 of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824. His phone number 

 there is 603-862-3220. 



MICHAUD 



Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc. 



Route 85, PO Box 334, Exeter, NH 03833 

 (603) 772-3698 



Wholesale & Retail 



Annuals, Perennials, Nursery Stock, 



75 Chestnut Hill, Rte 190 

 Stafford Springs, CT 06076 



W. H. MILIKOWSKI, INC. 



Greenhouse Supplies & Equipment 



Plants Bulbs 



All Your Greenhouse Needs 



Grow With Us 



David E. Goudreault Conn. 860-684-5811 



NH & Maine Representative Out-of-state 800-243-7170 



ext. 723 



The Grififn Guru 

 Filter First 



Sometimes we hear something so many times 

 that we |ust don't hear It — a point that my wife 

 will confirm. 



During the changeover our company just made to a 

 new supplier of ail those Irrigation tubes, buttons, and 

 drippers, it was again stressed that the best protection 

 against clogging is to Install the proper filters. 



So let's put In one of those filters to protect all 

 those tubes, buttons, and drippers.. .but hold on for 

 just a minute: the solenoid valve says, "What about 

 me?" and, before you could redesign the system, the 

 injector pipes up (no pun intended): "And what about 

 me? I don't want untimely clogging either." 



1 will say that, during my years with the Call Fire 

 Department, I was amazed at what we would find 

 caught in the pump screens — things that had come 

 through the water mains of our town's distribution 

 system. 



With something as complex as a master filter at the 

 start of your water service or as simple as a screen 

 washer at the end of the hose, you'll be best served if 

 you niTER FIRST. 



/^ ^-j <^\ Coritainer-Grown 

 :^^qJJ/\ <2h (jhrubs, Roses 



/^ylilies 



FARM 



Davis Brook Farm 



io6 Bonds Comer Road, P.O. Box 476 

 Hancock, New Hampshire 03449-0476 

 Phone/Fax 603-525-47x8 



George M. Timm 

 Owner 



Garden Center 



Consultations and Landscaping Designs 

 Greenhouses, Nursery, Craft, and Christmas Shop 



656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A) 



Manchester, NH 03109 



(603) 625-8298 



APRIL a. MAY 1997 



