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FORUM 



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Welcome, 

 New Members! 



RONALD LAURENCE 

 135 Bow Street, Unit #8 

 Portsmouth, NH 03801 



NEWSKY GREENHOUSE 



221 Dame Road 



Durham, NH 03824 



Re: Legislative/Policy 

 Update 



On August 16, I participated in a 

 meeting with the New Hampshire 

 Farm Bureau concerning policy for 

 the coming year. The issues of the 

 definition of a "temporary" hoop 

 house, greenhouse taxation, and 

 greenhouse permits were dis- 

 cussed. All are seen as important 

 issues to address. The NHPGA is 

 currently working on these matters 

 with other agricultural groups, Ag. 

 Extension, legislative representa- 

 tives, and other key individuals 

 within the state. Commissioner 

 Steve Taylor has been especially 

 helpful and enthusiastic. 



As The Plantsman goes to press, 

 letters have been sent to three 

 key representatives to "get the 

 legislative ball rolling." At the end 

 of September, a meeting will be 

 held to lay out the ground work 

 needed for this process to begin. 

 NHPGA is trying to be proactive in 

 these areas before more problems 

 escalate. One thing to keep in 

 mind is that it is easier to kill a 

 bill than pass a bill. There's a lot 

 of work to be done in order to 

 work out details. If you have ques- 

 tions or input — or would like to 

 become involved, call me. Bob 

 Rimol, at Rimol Greenhouse Sys- 

 tems at 603-425-6563. 



CLASSIFIEDS 



FREE Hundreds of old clay pots, sizes 2 I/2-, 3-, 3 I/2-, and 4-inch. 

 Woodlawn Cemetery, Nashua, 603- 594-3354, ask for Howard or Dave. 



Call 



BUSINESS FOR SALE Plymouth area. Two complete greenhouses — one 80-foot, 

 one 100-foot plus extension (they'll need to be moved). Many, many extras — pal- 

 lets, Metro-Mix 510, seeders, dosatron, benches, displays, etc. All perennial and 

 nursery stock included. Only serious buyers need respond. Call 603-786-9979, 

 6:30-8 am. Ask for Bob or leave message. 



JOB OPENINGS van Berkum Nursery is a family-run wholesale perennial nursery 

 with a 'team' staff of about 10 people. We are seeking quality-conscious work- 

 ers with good people skills.' lobs start March-April. Assistant Propagator: Needs 

 quick hands for cuttings, division, seeding, potting; Truck Driver. Needs great 

 personality to deliver in our box truck around New England. Knowledge of pe- 

 rennials helpful. Our driver is our ambassador. Field Crew. Needs hustle and en- 

 thusiasm working on orders, maintaining plants, potting, and helping customers. 

 Please call Peter or Leslie van Berkum at 603-463-7663. 



V^NOTES 



We're soon approaching the point at which perennial growers 

 must begin overwintering procedures. Though some plants stay 

 vegetative throughout the winter months, most will drop their leaves 

 with the onset of cooler temperatures. It's important that a plant go 

 into complete dormancy before it's placed in any overwintering struc- 

 ture. The temptation for inexperienced growers is to cover their plants 

 too early. If the plants have not hardened off entirely, they may begin 

 to grow again in the overwintering structure. This, along with a sudden 

 drop in temperature, call spell disaster for certain sensitive plants. 



Thorough watering before overwintering will prevent the plants 

 from drying out. In conjunction with the watering, a soil-drench fungi- 

 cide (e.g., Banrot) should be considered to reduce disease and rot 

 problems that may develop during those cool moist months that follow. 



In late winter (end of February, beginning of March), be prepared 

 to vent in order to keep your structures cool and to reduce the mois- 

 ture and humidity that can build up inside. 



Fertilization with a product like Osmocote can be done in the fall, 

 provided that temperatures in your structures remain constant and — if 

 they do heat up to 70F or more — you're prepared to water. But remem- 

 ber — when roots break dormancy (about three weeks before the foli- 

 age), if a high level of salts is present, injury can occur. 



The three biggest factors contributing to overwintering losses are 

 age (younger plants have a tougher time than older); moisture (either 

 too dry or too wet); and disease (usually related to things being too 

 wet). 



\im Zablocki, Territory Manager, The Scoffs Company, Northeast, can be reached at 

 603-224-5583. 



OCTOBER't'NOVEMBER 1996 



