Jim Wert pots some cuttings from wandering
jews. They will ail become lush hanging baskets
under his expert care.
UNCLAIMED FREIGHT CO. AND LIQUIDATION SALES
WE DON’T HAVE END OF THE YEAR SALES DAYS
OR SALE FOR INVENTORY TIME OR PRESIDENT
BIRTHDAYS OR COMPANY’S BIRTHDAY OR
HOLIDAY SALES - WE HAVE A SALE 365 DAYS A
.. YEAR - DUE TO DEALERS REFUSING MER
CHANDISE DEALERS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS -
AND LIQUIDATING FOR LARGE MANUFAC-
TURER IN APPLIANCES AND FURNITURE AND
HANDLING CLOSE OUT FOR LARGE CHAIN
STORES.
25 - CHAISE LOUNGE CHAIRS - REG. $269.95 OUR
PRICE $59.95
40 S-ROCKERS - UPH. - REG. $129.95 OUR PRICE
$49.95
50 - POOL STICKS - REG. $9.95 OUR PRICE $3.50
144 - DELUX PHOTO BOOKS - REG. $7.95 OUR
PRICE $2.50
36—12 VOLT EXT. CORDS - REG. $10.95 OUR PRICE
$5.00
FURNITURE FROM DESIGN AND DISPLAY
STUDIOS ON FLOOR NOW - WHOLESALE AND
UNDER - WELL NAMED BRANDS.
36 - DELUX CASSETT RECORDERS - REG. $89.95
OUR PRICE $32.50
15 STEREO COMP. SETS-AM-FM STEREO-8
TRACK-SPEAKERS & JACKS - REG. $229.95 OUR
PRICE $119.95 UNDER WHOLESALE
15 - SAME AS ABOVE WITH PHONO - REG. $309.95
OUR PRICE $179.95
15 SAME AS ABOVE - REG. $299.95 OUR PRICE
$169.95
100’s OF OTHER COMP. SETS W-TURNTABLE &
SPEAKERS - UNDER WHOLESALE PRICES
96 - BAR STOOLS-PINE, MAPLE - REG. $89.95 OUR
PRICE $38.00
61-40 PC. FLATWARE STAINLESS STEEL - REG.
$59.95 OUR PRICE $12.00
LIGHTERS - REG. $5.95 OUR PRICE $2.50 BUTANE
LARGE SELECTION OF LAMPS
250 SETS END TABLES REFUSED, REFUSALS &
FACTORY DISCONTINUED MODELS UNDER
WHOLESALE
30 50 PC. FLATWARE SETS - REG. $89.95 OUR
PRICE S2LOO
BAR & STOOL SETS, VAC’S, HOPE CHEST,
GRANFATHER & GRANDMOTHER CLOCKS
6 - SOFA’S - REG. $589.95 OUR PRICE $149.95 &
$169.95
5 - 3 PC. MODERN SOFA, LOVE SEAT, CHAIRS -
REG. $729.95 OUR PRICE $289.95
10 - ODD CHAIRS - REG. $209.95 OUR PRICE $49.95
& $69.95
30 3 PC. EARLY AMERICAN LIVING ROOM
SUITES - REG. $729.95 OUR PRICE $339.95
Greenhouse
[Continued from Page 42]
but Jim said, “In October, November and December, I
used 1700 gallons of oil. In January, I used 2300 gallons.
It’s much more than I expected.”
To conserve as much as possible, Jim spent 90 hours
installing plastic material over the glass roof. He
explained that the greenhouse needed paint and
caulking, but he chose to use the plastic which is
designed to laid two years. He said it is specially
treated for use on a greenhouse so it won’t yellow, and
it is stronger than plastic used on homes for insulation.
He said further that the plastic gives a dead air space
which helps with insulation.
Financing such an operation is no small matter. The
cost of the roof and materials was $2OO, which casme'
out of a fund of $5OO that he had saved to start the
business. He was able to save some money from a lawn
business he maintains in which he cares for 12 lawns
during the summer. He also grew about an acre oft
vegetables which he sold at Root’s.
He said he was able to defer payment on the poin
settias, which meant he could sell them first. He has
established credit with local greenhouses, enabling him
to continue to expand and grow.
Jim is quick to express his appreciation to local
greenhouse owners who have been helpful to him, giving
advice as he got started. He specifically mentioned
Arthur Miller of Miller’s Greenhouses, Landisville;
Charles Ruhl of Ruhl’s Flowers in Mount Joy; Ray
Lefever of Lefever’s Flowers, Lancaster; and Ruth Nolt
of Landisville.
He adds that a big source of information and support is
his course at Mount Joy Vo-Tech and floriculture
teacher Dan Helwig.
But, he said, “I learned a lot from experience.” He
said, “One of my biggest mistakes was with my
25 KING SIZE, HEADBOARDS • REG. $109.95 OUR
PRICE $15.00
40 - PINE, MAPLE, DINING ROOM OR KITCHEN
SETS, TABLE, 4 CHAIRS, LEAF REG. $239.95 OUR
PRICE $99.95
2 TON HAND HOIST PULLEY’S - REG. $49.95 OUR
PRICE $25.00
ALL SIZES AIR IMPACT WRENCHES, AIR SAN
DERS, DRILL SETS.
11 LOVE SEATS - REG. $329 - $429 OUR PRICE
$89.95
16 2 PC. EARLY AMERICAN HERUCLON &
NYLON - REG. $529. & UP OUR PRICE $269.00
15-3 PC. SOFA, LOVE SEAT, CHAIR - REG. $599.95
OUR PRICE $329.95
ALL TYPES SEWING MACHINES, CAB. & PORT.
200 RECLINERS -UPTO 50 PERCENT OFF ALSO
WALL SAVERS
12 BUNK BED SETS, INCL. BEDDING - REG.
$309.95 OUR PRICE $149.95 & $169.95
30 DESKS, ALL SIZES, WHOLESALE & UNDER
40 - COMPLETE BEDROOM SETS & ODD PCS
16 BLOOD PRESSURE TEST KITS - REG. $32.00
OUR PRICE $16.00
135 TENNIS RACKETS, ALUM - REG. $39.95 OUR
PRICE $15.00
36 - UNIVERSAL %” DRIVE RATCHET - REG,
$12.95 OUR PRICE $4.00
36 - ADJUSTABLE WRENCH SETS, 6, 8,10,12,15” -
REG. $49.95 OUR PRICE $23.00
19— CAR BOOSTER CABLES 16’ LONG - REG. $34.95
OUR PRICE $15.00
PLIERS - ALL KINDS SOCKET SETS, MANY MORE
TOOLS TO CHOOSE FROM.
28 - 5 PC. DINING ROOM SETS, WOOD MAPLE,
PINE - REG. $269.95 OUR PRICE $139.95
70 - SETS SINGLES, DOUBLES, QUEENS & KINGS,
BOX SPRING & MATTRESS - WHOLESALE AND
UNDER - 202-250 7 312 COILS SETS, REG. FIRM &
EXTRA FIRM
300 FRAMES - BED RAILS WHOLESALE AND
UNDER
MANY MORE ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM - IF YOU
DON’T SEE IT - ASK FOR IT. - FULL WARRANTY -
FINANCING THRU BANK, ACCEPTANCE CORP.,
LAY-A-WAY
3019 HEMPLAND RD., LANCASTER, PA.
PHONE 717-397-6241
NEXT TO 14 LUMBER CO.
HOURS: MON.-FRI. 10 A.M.-9 P.M.
SAT. 10 A.M.-5 P.M.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Feb. 26,1977
kalanchbes. I bought 200 for $lOO and fertilized them and
burned the roots off.” So now he has tiny plants with
pretty blooms and he just hopes they will grow out and
save his investment.
Another problem he had was with ventilation in the
Fall which caused some of his plants to be burned from
being too hot. Another serious problem developed when
he sprayed some plants for aphids during the sunny day
when he should have done it at night or on a cloudy day.
This cost him some trouble with the leaves on otherwise
beautiful plants.
Jim is philosophical about these problems, however,
and says that he feels he has learned more in his own
greenhouse than be would have had he worked for
someone else. And he says, “I never had any serious
problems.”
Operating a greenhouse involves a lot of record
keeping. Jim says, “I keep all my bills and record
everything that I sell at market.” He also said that the
distributive education teacher at Mount Joy Vo-Tech is
going to work with him in setting up a complete
bookkeeping system.
Jim is also learning the pricing of plants for selling. He
said he establishes a price which will “get my money
back, with very little profit.” He figures die cost of fuel
oil, supplies, and a little labor.
Dan Kewig, Jim’s floriculture teacher, says that
Jim’s outstanding work in his greenhouse and vegetable
projects helped him win a gold medal for his
miscellaneous floriculture project book. Helwig says it’s
“tough” for someone to go into the greenhouse business,
and expressed confidence in the work Jim does. He said,
“With his experience and perseverance, he will have a
good opportunity to work toward amanagementposition
in a greenhouse, or will be in a good position to go into
business fulltime for himself.”
Jim is president of Plants Unlimited, the FFA chapter
at Mount Joy Vo-Tech, a position which he says is
helping him become less nervous before a group. He had
played football from seventh through eleventh grade,
but couldn’t go out this year because of the work at the
greenhouse. Jim is a member of the youth group at
Landisville Church of God.
Jim says he gets a lot of satisfaction from working
with plants. Just walking into the greenhouse and seeing
growing plants gives him a lot of joy. “I like to look at
everything,” he remarked.
But he realizes that his current level of business is not
profitable enough to support him, so he’s unsure of his
future. If his Spring and Summer is successful, he says
he may try to open an additional bouse. “I would like to
extend my varieties,” he explained.
Despite all the bard work and the few setbacks, Jim
says, “I would start over again. I really like it, and I’ve
learned a lot.”
Jim got this start by purchasing nearly 900
poinsettia cuttings. He has just a few plants left
from his initial investment
43