In 1993, the restoration of Mrs. Emma Pecunies' Vic- 

 tory Garden at Strawbery Banke Museum was started 

 with the help of information supplied by her son who 

 still resides in Portsmouth. The garden is planted on its 

 original location Photographs and oral history provided 

 the garden layout and varieties. The plot {41' x 34') is 

 bordered with flower favorites of Mrs. Pecunies and 

 granite stepping stones and the whole enclosed with 

 wire fence. Two silver maples on the west and south 

 sides of the garden (saplings in Mrs. Pecunies' time) 

 must now be considered for the shade they cast. Urban 

 renewal activities in the 1950s and early 60s left the plot 

 covered in gravel and rubble, much of which still covers 

 the original plot. Fifteen yards of loam and compost 

 were brought in to amend the soil. The fence was re- 

 stored according to Mr. Pecunies' descriptions and a 

 small remnant of the original found during grading. 



Despite the relatively poor growing season of 1995, 

 the Victory Garden at Strawbery Banke yielded fairly 

 well. The tomato crop was particularly good (which is 

 appropriate because tomatoes were emphasized for Vic- 

 tory Gardens because of their ease and safety in can- 

 ning and their vitamin C content.) Yellow Oxheart, a 

 large meaty type with a mild flavor and small seed cavi- 

 ties, and Beefsteak did equally well, providing good 

 crops of unblemished fruits. Black-seeded Simpson let- 

 tuce, growing in the shadier area near the maples 

 proved to be its reliable self despite the drought. The 

 Scarlet Globe and Icicle radishes were bountiful, but 

 Kentucky Wonder pole beans and Straight Eight and 

 Chicago Pickling cucumbers were only moderately suc- 

 cessful. Several heads of Savoy and Flat Dutch cabbage 

 were also grown with some heading problems (excessive 

 hot weather?) and the Long Island brussel sprouts failed 

 due to the heat and dryness. Leafy greens — mustard 

 and turnip — did especially well, as did Moss Curled 

 parsley. Dill, the only herb mentioned in Portsmouth's 

 records of its registered Victory Gardens, was in its glory 

 A fall planting of Bloomsdale spinach provided a good 

 early spring harvest this year. 



This year's plan includes greater attention to inter- 

 cropping and succession planting. Though the Pecunies 

 family grew their bigger crops such as winter squashes, 

 corn, and, sometimes, pole beans in their community 

 plot outside the neighborhood, we will represent some 

 of these here this year, saving room in the garden with 

 trellising where possible and employing the bordering 

 fence for vertical gardening as well 



In retrospect, standing at the entrance of the Victory 

 Garden, 1 think of the contributions of patriotic people 

 such as Mrs. Pecunies. Today, visitors to Strawbery 

 Banke Museum might be reminded by the Victory Gar- 

 den of the efforts of these people and, perhaps, specu- 

 late upon the value of such a small garden. In an era 

 when it is so easy to be removed from the immediacy 

 of food production and so easy to forget how areas 

 around shopping malls and their associated parking lots 



were formerly used, this recreated Victory Garden has 

 proven able to draw visitors into reminiscing about cer- 

 tain vegetables or about family activities during WWII. 

 And it even, on one known occasion, inspired the deci- 

 sion to grow a garden once again. 



]ohn Misenfieimer is a volunteer at Strawbery Banke Museum in 

 the horticulture and archeology departments. Strawbery Banke, 

 Marcy Street Portsmouth, NH, is open daily, \0am-5pm. May 

 through October For information, call 603-433-1100. 





PIONEER POINTERS 



The Cost of Receivable(s) 



ISSUE 



It is the middle of the season. You've worked hard to 

 grow, package, and ship your product. Normally, after 

 plant material has been delivered, it should stop cost- 

 ing you money. But more often than not, the sales 

 slips are put into the 'Receivable(s)' category, not to 

 be looked at for thirty days. Receivable(s) are unique 

 in that they make your financial statement look strong, 

 but unfortunately, you have nothing you can spend. It's 

 important that you ask three questions: Can I readily 

 generate a list of customers who owe me money? Does 

 it identify how long the money has been outstanding? 

 Is there someone responsible for customer follow-up? 

 EXAMPLE: You've shipped and billed an order for 

 $5,000. This order costs you $3,5000 to grow and was 

 funded by an operating line (cost 10%). At first glance, 

 you have a net profit of $1,500 — or 30% (not bad, even 

 by Wall Street standards). Assume that the account 

 takes 90 days to pay. You'll still have to pay the inter- 

 est on the operating line ($87.50) and you'll lose the 

 opportunity to invest the $1,500 (at 10% APR cost 

 $37.50). As a result, your net profit has been reduced 

 to $1,375— or 28%. 



SOLUTION 



Generate a list that allows you to view the receiv- 

 able(s) by customer, number of days outstanding, and 

 amount owed. Establish a program which rewards 

 prompt payment (cash discount), and penalizes late 

 payment (finance charge). Most importantly, follow up 

 with the customers to insure that the money is forth- 

 coming. (O.W.) 



Firs! Pioneer Farm Credit has an experienced consulting staff 

 willing to assist you in the area of financial management. For 

 more information, call the Bedford Office at 1-800-852-3252. 



IDNE 4- IDLV 1996 



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