46
—Lancaster Farming, Saturday. April 14. 197:
Coal Waste Seen Useful
In Greenhouse Operations
Burned anthracite coal waste carnations, roses, azaleas,
from mine spoil banks is a African violets, and many other
plentiful and inexpensive sub- potted plants. If can be prepared
stitute for the tons of topsoil used by crushing and double screening
annually by greenhouse the refuse for about 50 cents per
operators in the Northeastern ton. This does not include price
states, says Dr. John W. White, per ton and delivery cost,
associate professor of Prices of current soilless media
floriculture at The Pennsylvania range from 4to 7 dollars per ton,
State University. plus delivery costs. Truck
From experiments at Penn shipping would cost about 25
State, Dr. White found that such cents for the first mile to cover
coal mine wastes are as effective loading and unloading, and sto 8
as soil in growing greenhouse cents for each additional mile,
plants-and less costly. Inert and Such prices could make in
stenle as a growth medium, cinerated anthracite a “best buy
incinerated anthracite enables for greenhouse operators even in
greenhouse operators to com- New York, Philadelphia, and
pletely control plant growth while Baltimore, Dr. White points out.
using specific fertilizer solutions. Shipping could be handled by
Dr. White and associates trucks in bulk loads of sto 20 tons,
estimate that over 900 million with delivery in one day.
tons of anthracite mine refuse The study was made with the
exist in piles or banks m nor- cooperation of Dr. H. Beecher
theastern Pennsylvania. Fires in Charmbury, Assistant Dean for
these coal banks have produced Planning and Development,
vast quantities of incinerated College of Earth and Mineral
mine wastes For the nor- Sciences. Dr White and
theastern states at least, this associates are affiliated with the
useful greenhouse material is Agricultural Experiment Station,
often lower in cost than soil, Dr. College of Agriculture.
White affirms Inexpensive and readily
The material has been used available growth media for
successfully with peat moss and potted plants are critically
essential fertilizer in growing needed by greenhouse operators,
VALLEY ROAD
WOODWORKS
Christ Stoltzfoos, Green Tree
BOX 354, QUARRYVIUE, PA.
Dr. White claims. About 6000
acres are covered by
greenhouses in the country.
Growers of potted plants use
around 2 million tons of topsoil or
a suitable substitute in producing
container-grown plants.
Some samples of burned an
thracite were found to contain
appreciable quantities of
sulfates. Such materials required
extensive leaching before plants
could grow.
Happy
Homemaking
By BARBARA BAKER
A handy gadget around the
home is a homemade
“height hook.” Use a wood
en handle from an old broom
or mop and insert a two-inch
nail in the end. Bend the
nail to form a hook. It may
be used to remove things
from high shelves, lift cur
tain rods and take pictures
off the wall.
Kitty odor can be removed
with a solution of half white
vinegar and half warm
water. Apply to spot, let
stand for five minutes, then
blot up with paper toweling.
By unscrewing and remov
ing the plastic handle, an old
skillet can give double serv
ice as a baking pan.
Certainly Lasso' plus
alrazine controls
fall panicum.
Plenty of growers last year learned
late in the season that the “foxtail”
they thought grew through their
herbicide was really fall panicum.
And plenty of growers this season
will learn that if you tank mix Lasso
plus atrazme, you control fall
panicum. Plus you’ll control foxtails,
crabgrass and other annual grasses
READ LANCASTER FARMING
FOR FULL MARKET REPORTS
P. L ROHRER & BRO., INC.
Smokitown, Po.
\ i
Fall Panicum
... and lots of broadleaves like
smartweed, pigweed, and lambs
quarters. Lasso plus atrazine
for your corn.
That’s what you expect
from your herbicide!
HEMICIOE ir II .
Monsanto
397~5J5%9