February’s commodity is cherries
HARRISBURG - President
George Washington, who chopped
down his father’s cherry tree, had
not yet learned the true value of
the tart red fruit. But later in life,
our first President felt right at
home in his orchards.
Pennsylvanians should learn
from him, because with nearly
200,000 trees, Pennsylvania ranks
fifth in the nation in the production
of red chemes. Pennsylvania
Agriculture’s commodity of the
month for February is the red
cherry.
Tart cherries can be purchased
canned, frozen or as prepared pie
filling Canned cherries are packed
without added sugar and are ex
cellent in meat entrees and frozen
desserts.
Cherry pie filling is also canned
but the cherries are prepared m a
thick, sweetened syrup. This
product is designed for quick pies
and desserts, and is also great for
poultry stuffing.
Frozen tart cherries are
prepared with additional sugar
and are normally packed in 30-
pound containers. Frozen cherries
are great in sauces, puddings,
cookies and cakes while the juice
from them is good in fruit
beverages and salad dressings.
The Pennsylvania Department
of Agriculture’s Division of Food
and Nutrition suggests that frozen
cherries should not be stored in
bulk as purchased. The containers
should be thawed just until the
juice melts while the cherries
remain frozen This helps maintain
the flavor of the cherries while
allowing the consumer to package
the fruit in convenient home
freezing containers.
The division also points out that
red cherries are high in vitamin A,
which is needed for normal growth
and for normal vision in dim light
Vitamin A is also important in
keeping the skin and inner linings
of the body healthy and resistant to
infection.
Red cherries contain Vitamin C
and calcium as well These
nutrients are important in proper
growth and formation of bones and
teeth and also m blood vessel
formation and the healing of
wounds.
February’s Pennsylvania
commodity recipe follows.
CHERRY-GLAZED HAM STEAK
2 lbs. sweet potatoes (about 6)
16 oz. can tart cherries
3/4 cup brown sugar
Decorate windows
to conserve energy
NEWARK, Del Worried about
utility bills’ Put your home fur
nishings to work to conserve
energy. Begin by taking a look at
your windows and window
treatments
Make use of solar energy to
brighten the home and reduce the
need for artificial light During
winter, allow maximum sunlight
into the home It’s one energy
source that is virtually free
To maximize sunlight use
lightweight casement fabrics on
windows Their open weave lets in
light and solar energy. They can be
teamed with heavier draw
draperies that will conserve heat
during the night
Windows shades can be used as
an alternative to draperies They
are available for most window
sizes and can be installed in a short
1 Tbsp. com starch
l‘/z in. thick ham slice (fully
cooked)
Cook unpared sweet potatoes in
boiling water for 15 minutes. Peel;
halve lengthwise. Dram cherries,
reserving juice; add water if
needed to make 1 cup liquid. Add
liquid to brown sugar and corn
starch; stir m cherries and sweet
potatoes Cook uncovered over low
heat for 15 minutes. Slash fat edges
of ham Broil or pan-broil 12-15
minutes on each side for codk
before-eating ham.
To serve, put ham m center of
warm serving platter. Arrange
sweet potatoes and cherries
around ham.
tune. Traditional roil shades are
available in many colors and
patterns. Roman or bamboo
shades also add vaneity.
Consider energy-saving colors,
such as pale yellow and white,
which reflect light, making your
rooms look brighter These rooms
will take less wattage to light when
electric light is needed.
Other pastel shades, such as
pink, green and blue, will reflect
some light. Dark colors browns,
golds, earth tones, rusts and reds
soak up light. Rooms decorated
in tnose colors need more artificial
lighting.
Choose light finish or wood
paneling, as the darker finishes
seem to swallow light The same is
true of wallpapers.
“Light” and “bright” are also
the key words for room fur-
Patz
★ Bant Cleaners, Manure Pumps,
Manure Stackers, Silo Unloaders,
Bunk Feeders, Feed Conveyors
MARVIN J. HORST
DAIRY EQUIPMENT
1950 S. sth Avenue, Lebanon, Pa. 17042
Phone: 717-272-0871
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 7,1981—C41
Soybeans respond to potash
COLUMBUS, OH - The
economics of potash use on
soybeans was excellent in two four
year trials at Ohio State University
and Ohio Research and
Development Center, according to
Jay Johnson of the University.
At Springfield, 120 pounds per
acre of K2O increased eight
bushels per acre and boosted profit
to $35.20 per acre. At Wooster, 200
pounds per acre of K2O increased
the yield 10.6 bushels per acre and
boosted profit to $41.72 per acre.
The economics of the last in
crement of K2O applied was also
very good, the Ohio State specialist
pointed out. Going from 80 pounds
per acre of K2O to 120 pounds per
acre of K2O returned 210 percent
on the investment
Soybeans responded so
significantly to potash that
Johnson reached four conclusions
about potash on soybeans. (1)
Soybeans respond to potash with
significantly increased yields. (2j
Soybean yield response to potash
occurs over a wide range of soil
test levels (3) Soybeans respond to
higher soil test K than com. (4)
The amount of potash now being
used on soybeans is too low.
Johnson explains, "The almost
linear yield increase with higher K
rates means the 120 pounds per
acre of K2O could have been too
low for maximum yields.”
nishmgs.
When arranging furniture, be
careful not to obstruct heating
vents. Arrange furniture to take
advantage of the sunlight. Fur
niture placed close together makes
the living area seem cozier and
warmer.
When ail the data (yield, soil test
level, and K2O rate) were sum
marized from over 700 plots,
soybeans needed a higher soil test
level than corn.
For silt loam soils, the optimum
soil test for corn is 265 pounds per
acre of K. And the optimum soil
test for soybeans is 325 pounds per
acre of K-or 60 pounds higher than
for corn-according to recent data.
On a silty clay loam or clay, Ohio
specialists recommend building to
a soil test of 370 pounds per acre of
K for all crops except soybeans.
For soybeans the optimum soil test
should be 430 pounds per acre of K
for this soil, they advise.
The trials also showed soybeans
respond to potash when direct
applications are made in the
spring or fall preceding the crop.
“This refutes the idea that
soybeans respond only to residual
fertility,” Johnson emphasizes.
“Soybeans do respond to direct
application of potash ”
The Ohio scientist believes many
fanners are probably missing
higher yields “because of the low P
and K use in most states. ’ ’
A folder descnbing these studies
is available thomgh the Potash &
Phosphate Institute, 2801 Buford
Hwy., N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329.
E,
I'M
NOT
L10N...
THE CLASSIFIED LIVESTOCK SECTION
HAS BEASTLY SELECTIONS!
DURABLE, ENGINEERED
STRUCTURAL STRENGTH
UP TO 40# ROOF & 25# WIND
PARTY
Construction Co., Inc.
1218 STEUBEN STREET
UTICA. NEW YORK 13501
Telephone Area Code 315 714 5593