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3T EZ 3-in-1 Grafting Tool
This hand-held tool supposedly “takes [the] time and hassle
out of grafting, [and it is] easy to use to make accurate grafting
of scion (twig) to rootstock, no experience or skill required....
perfect clean cut for up to 3/4" [material diameter ].” The price
is $58.00 plus shipping from B&T Grower Supply, Inc. (10462
Hwy. 165, Forest Hill, LA 71430, phone 800-748-6487, web site
http://btgrowersupply.stores.yahoo.net. Replacement blades
are also available for $13.33 plus shipping per set.
If you try using this tool, we’d appreciate hearing your comments on its utility, especially with regard to successful grafting “takes.”
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At http://orb.at.ufl.edu/TREES/index.html you’ll find an
easy to use tool for choosing trees in the northeastern U.S. (Hardiness Zones 2-7) based on various user-specifiable site and
plant habit criteria. There are also recommendations for caring
for the trees and lots of color images. “This information was assembled through a grant from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service Northeast Region in cooperation with Rutgers University and University of Florida.”
Back to top of page Korean and Japanese researchers report that water stress when pear fruits are beginning to grow (up to a couple of months following blooming) tends to increase the density of undesirable lignified tissues (“stone cells”) in the fruits. The researchers speculate that lignification of cell walls is a defense against collapse of the walls when moisture supplies are low and water in the fruits moves to the leaves. Reference: Sang-Hyun Lee, Jin-Ho Choi, Wol-Son Kim, Tae-
Ho Han (Dept. of Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural
Science and Technology, Chonnam National Institute, Gwangju
500-757, REPUBLIC OF KOREA), Yong-Seo Park, and Hirosi
Gemma, “Effect of Soil Water Stress on the Development of
Stone Cells in Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. ‘Niitaka’) Flesh, Scientia Horticulturae 110(3), November 8, 2006, 247-253. (Elsevier, P.O. Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS.)
Back to top of page Good sanitation practices have been shown to reduce the risks of plant disease problems in greenhouses, but there has been little research on the potential effects of greenhouse sanitation on problems due to insect pests. Certainly, it is possible that discarded plants and plant parts might harbor some insect pests—but is this possibility a significant threat? University of Illinois researchers examined plant debris from commercial and academic greenhouse facilities in central Illinois over a period of several weeks, and they discovered various pest insects (including western flower thrips, fungus gnats, and whiteflies) in the containers used to store the plant debris before its disposal. The researchers conclude that plant debris should be stored outside greenhouses in order to minimize the chances for pest insects in the debris to infest greenhouse crops. An alternative is to make sure that containers for plant debris within greenhouses have tight-fitting lids—but some pest insects might escape from such containers when they are opened to add more debris. In particular, greenhouse operators with yellow clothing could attract some pest insects to themselves when they opened plant debris containers, and then they could carry the insects to crop areas. One way to reduce the chances of pest insects escaping from containers placed inside greenhouses is to put a sticky substance inside the containers to trap the insects. Reference: Brian K.Hogendorp (Dept.of Natural Resources
and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, 1101 W.
Peabody Dr., Urbana, IL 61801) and Raymond A.Cloyd, “Insect
Management in Floriculture: How Important Is Sanitation in
Avoiding Insect Problems?” HortTechnology 16(4), October-December 2006, 633-636. (American Society for Horticultural Science, 113 S. West St., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314-2851.)
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