THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411190071
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
IF YOU'RE ONE of those readers who requested the reprint on plants that repel moles, please excuse the delay. I lost the original and had to request another copy from Doc and Katy Abrahams in Ithaca, N.Y. Requests should be filled within 30 days.
While you wait, here's some advice from Alice Upham Smith, one of this country's respected landscape architects. Smith is in her 80s, and she passed along this advice, given to her 25 years ago.
She says: ``Dig a hole in an active mole run. Pour in about half a cup of calcium carbide. Don't smoke, because it's flammable. Cover the hole with dirt again and then pour water on it. The calcium carbide becomes acetylene gas, which kills the moles. It is not harmful to anything above ground.
``If the runs are extensive, do several spots at once. We did this on the golf course at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., one year, and I think they used too much of the chemical, because they found dead moles up on the surface afterwards. Usually they just expire underground in the tunnel and that is the end of the trouble.''
Garden writer Graham Brown of Corvallis, Ore., adds: ``Calcium carbide can be purchased from welding supply houses which use it to manufacture acetylene gas. It is available in two- and 50-pound cans as manufactured by Union Carbide Corp. It isn't easy to find, since many welding supply houses do not carry it for consumer consumption. However, I have found that some places will package a small quantity for a homeowner at a cost of $2.50 to $3 per pound. Calcium carbide is no more dangerous than many other products which are used every day'' SOURCE FOR TOUCH-ME-NOT SEEDS
Ruby R. Tayloe of Suffolk writes: ``At the time I had a request for touch-me-not seeds, I did not have any. Now I do have. If anyone wants some, please send me a stamped envelope, and I will be glad to share them. I have sent some to the readers who did write me, but I am afraid I have missed some calls. If I have, those folks should just send me a stamped addressed envelope. I have enough for 49 more readers.'' Write to: Ruby R. Tayloe, 610 Azalea Court, Suffolk, Va. 23434. A FIELD OF DREAMS
J.C. Raulston of North Carolina State University is one of the most recognized horticulturists in North America. In ``The NCSA Arboretum Chronicles,'' he has chronicled the eight-acre field of dreams that has become one of this country's most influential public gardens. The book is a 450-page soft-cover bound compilation of arboretum newsletters written by Raulston from 1982 to 1991. To order, write The NCSU Arboretum Chronicles, Dept. of Horticulture, NCSU, Box 7609, Raleigh, N.C. 27695-7609. Make checks for $35 payable to the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc. ``FLOWERS REDISCOVERED''
If you want tips on cutting, conditioning and pruning flowers or on creative ideas for containers from plain vases to decorated pitchers, you'll want ``Flowers Rediscovered.'' In 1985, the book by Tom Pritchard and Billy Jarecki of Pure Madderlake in New York, sold 45,000 copies at $45 before going out of print. Now it's been revised and reprinted in paperback, selling for $24.95. Any bookstore can order it for you. CAMELLIAS STILL AVAILABLE
The Virginia Camellia Society has a few plants left from its fall sale earlier this month. Included are some rare japonica and sasanqua varieties of camellias. They can be picked up at the home of Doug Simon in Norfolk. All are $15 each. Call 622-6510 for varieties. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ROBERT STIFFLER/Photo
Harry Heal of Suffolk cranks down his martin house to clean it and
prepare it for next summer. Martins are desirable, because they eat
thousands of mosquitoes.
by CNB