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H/7/1988-4-

July 5, 1988: page 3
small request would result in violent and withering admonitions....and we'd
talk about any culprits not present.

Questions:

Nancy Preuss questioned the function of one of Peter Chances rock-climbing
training aids in the back yards. Was told it helped one practice tightrope
walking - what every mountain climber needs to know... and parents need
not.
Eli Rogers inquired into the methods that the Pauls use to care for their
commercial vegetable and berry patches. John Paul explained that they have
two separate gardens and gardening styles. Between the 2 they employ a wide
range of techniques and approaches. They work a market garden whose
produce they sell at the Bethesda Farmwoman's Market. For this operation
they work intensively and as organically as possible. This market garden is
serviced by a drip irrigation system, companion planting, and black plastic
mulch. They also have a pick-your-own operation that is too extensive to be
operated intensively. For it they use overhead sprinklers that use more
water than their ponds can supply, and discrete but necessary applications of
insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
Mo Chance mentioned that his clematis blooms but the leaves turn yellow.
A deficiency was suggested as cause and after a number of possibilities were
brought up and discounted, permanganite was mentioned. A source was not
readily known but drugstores were said to be worth looking into.
Ellen Hartge wanted to know how to cut day lilies to best preserve the
bloom. No special technique involved. If there is color in the bud and bloom,
then it's worth cutting.
Also what do the Pauls consider to be the best rasberry varieties for the
area. For the spring bearers - Latham and Taylor. For fall crop - Heritage.
John Paul mentioned Titan, a much touted variety that he feels is short on
taste.
John Hartge has weeds 3 times higher than some very young Xmas trees that
they surround. Is the overgrowth good or bad? the 2 authorities on the
subject offered their advice: Buzz Husssman said to hack them down and
Caroline said to let them grow.
John Paul has blossom end rot on his red peppers. Epson salts were
recommended.
Buzz Hussman voiced many of our thoughts by thanking Rudi Hanel for the
talk earlier about the greenhouse effect.
Nancy Chance has the worst ever infestation of earwigs in her strawberry
patch. Adviced to put pieces of bamboo out and empty the earwigs hiding
within every morning into soapy water.
Mary Grady has hummingbird feeders but no hummers. Recommended to hang
feeders in sun alongside colorful flowers like fuschia.
Tom Farquhar gave a convincing testimonial to the effectiveness of the
"Gopher-it" mole & vole repelling gizmo. Said that pinwheels with their
stems in active runways also work to a degree but the Gopher-it seems to
keep a impressively wide patch free from the little pests.
Lydia Haviland recalled old minutes mentioning hydrangia with pink and white
on the same bush. It's said that ph of soil can effect color of flowers -
more acid the ph, the bluer the flower.
Betty Hartge asked about gypsy moths and the best way to dispose of the
egg clusters. Scraping clusters into soapy water or kerosene works. Vehicle