84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 5, 1998 All Gardens Great & Smai by York Co, Horticultural Agei Tom Becker Drying Plants From The, Garden It’s not too late to start drying annuals and perennials. The best time to gather flowers, herbs, and plants for drying is when the plants are at full bloom. Strip off the leaves, tie the stems tightly together and keep the different types of plants separate. Some annuals good for drying are cockscomb, annual statice, strawflowers, and globe amaranth. Perennials include yarrow, blue salvia and perennial babies’ breath. Wild plants worth collecting are Queen Anne’s lace, goldenrod and thistle. The easiest method is to air dry plants. Hang bunches of 10- 12 stems upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated area like a closet or attic. Remember to keep drying plants out of direct sunlight. For herbs being dried for their fragrance or flavor use a portable laundry rack or wires strung across a wall in a dry room. Cut annuals at the soil line and perennials about one third down the stem. Include as many side branches as possible. Since herbs are a food item, they require special care prior to drying. Herbs are at their peak flavor just before flowering. Wash the herbs lightly in cold, running water to remove any soil, dust, insects or other for eign matter. Drain foliage on an We watch over every step in the manufacture, assembly and construction of your building. Morton operates five manufacturing facilities, strategically located to serve you efficiently. Our high-volume buying power enables us to purchase the finest raw materials at the lowest possible price. Components for your structure are manufactured, fabricated and assembled under the watchful eyes of quality control experts. We maintain a fleet of company-owned and operated trucks, enabling our drivers to unload your (gliding materials quickly and safely. From that point, a crew of company-trained, company-employed, and company-insured construction professionals takes over. They are trained to follow the most efficient and safe construction methods possible, and are supplied with state-ofrthe-art equipment and quality materials to make your facility something to be proud of for years to come. absorbent towel and let it dry before moving to the final drying step. Collect them for drying.at this time. To prevent flowers in the composite, family like Queen Ann lace flowers from closing, air dry them right-side-up. A cane-seated chair works well. Chicken wire or cake cooling racks also work. Dry vines on window screens or racks. This preserves their vining shape and prevents all the flowers from being perfectly straight. Fragile stems and flowers to be used for decoration should be reinforced with thin wire before drying. This allows you to han dle the dried material more eas 'ily. Many herbs and thin-petaled flowers and plants dry within three weeks. The thickness of the stems and plant parts deter mine the actual length of time needed. Do not rush the process or handle the plants during the drying period. Blossoms and stems with high moisture content do not air dry well. One method uses a dry ing agent such as silica gel, sand or borax. Another drying method places plants upright in water. Wait till the water evaporates. Lavendar and chives dry better using this method. To maintain the shape and texture of delicate flowers and 4-H J^^HAPPENINGS Wayne Steer Show The 1998 Junior Market Steer Show was Thursday, Aug. 13 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Homesdale. There were 26 animals at the event and the judge for the evening was Larry Weaver of New Holland. The grand champion steer was shown by Julie Olver of the Bethany Ag and the reserve grand champion steer was shown by Nick Nebzydoski of the Pleasant Mount Go-Getters Club. The division winners were: champion lighweight, Darryl Marshall and reserve champion lightweight, Daryl Burleigh. leaves, layer them with silica gel in an airtight container. Silica gel, a granular drying material that looks like sand has blue indicator crystals that turn pink, when they have become saturated with water. Recharge the gel by heating it in a 225 degree oven for several hours to restore the blue color. Silica gel is usually available from florists or their suppliers. The total silica gel drying process may take from two to four weeks. After the plant or parts have dried, remove them from the container and shake off the silica gel. Use them directly in a sealed container. Silica gel has also been sug gested as a drying method for fleshy or thick stemmed herbs. Thoroughly rinse herbs in clear, cold water, before using in sal ads, soups and other dishes. Any questions regarding the above article can be addressed to Tom Becker, Penn State Cooperative Extension at (717) 840-7408. m. MORTON W BUILDINGS 717/624-3331 3369 York Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325 800-447-7436 Champion middleweight was Ben Nogan and reserve champi on middleweight was Eric Cavage. Champion heavyweight was Julie Olver and reserve champion heavyweight was Nick Nebzydoski. Class placings are as follows: WAYNE STEER SHOW RESULTS Lightweight 1 Daryl Burleigh, 2 Jarred Burtelgh, 3 Heather Yedmak Reserve champion lightweight, Darryl Burleigh Medium lighwelght 1 Darryl Marshall, 2 Nicholas Brown, 3 Josh Swingle Champion lightweight Darryl Marshall Heavy lightweight 1 Matthew Shaffer, 2 Scottle Swingle Light middleweight 1 Charles L Megivem 11, 2 Tom Nebzydoski, 3 Roy Swingle Medium middleweight 1 Enc Cavage, 2 Luke Rogers, 3 Scott Malicky Reserve champion middleweight Enc Cavage Heavy middleweight 1 Ben Nogan, 2 Jessica Scull, 3 Shelly Woodmansee Champion middleweight Ben Nogan Light heavyweight 1 Julie Olver, 2 Andrew Krompasky, 3 Karen Munger Champion heavyweight Julie Olver Medium heavyweight 1 Nick Nebzydoski, 2 William Keyes Reserve champion heavyweight Nick Nebzydoski Heavy heavyweight 1 Enn Munger, 2 Matt Rutledge, 3 Sarah Graves 4-H Sheep Breeding Show The 4-H Sheep Breeding Show was Aug. 11, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Judge for the ev’ent was Tim Hall, Dalmatia. There were seven breeds shown at the event. The supreme champion ram was a Cheviot and was exhibited by Steven Propst of the Cherry Ridge 4-H Club. The supreme 908/454-7900 P.O. Box 126, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Illinois only, call 1-800-426-6686 champion ewe was a Montadaie and was shown by Michael Korb of the Cherry Ridge 4-H Club. Class winnners included: \ Cheviot »Class 103 Junior Ram Lamb 1 Steven Propit Champion Ram Steven Props! Class 106 Ewe, 2 years & under 4 years 1 Steven Props! Class 109 Junior Ewe Lamb 1 Steven Props! Champion Ewe Steven Props! Reserve Champion Ewe Steven Props! Horned Dorset Class 306 Ewe, 2 years & under 4 years 1 Theron LaTourelte Class 309 Junior Ewe Lamb 1 Theron LaTourette, 2 Theron LaTourelte Champion Ewe, Theron LaTourette Reserve Champion Ewe, Theron LaTourette Class 406 Ewe, 2 years & under 4 years 1 Matthew Weist, 2 Matthew Weist Class 407 Ewe, 1 year & under 2 years 1 Matthew Gilbert, 2 Kate Krempasky, 3 Matthew Gilbert Class 409 Junior Ewe Lamb 1 Ryan Diehl, 2 Matthew Weist, 3 Matthew Gilbert Champion Ewe Ryan Diehl Reserve Champion Ewe Matthew Weist Class 412 Ewe & Offspring t Matthew Weist Class 506 Ewe, 2 years & under 4 years 1 Jennifer Rickert Class 509 Junior Ewe Lamb, 1 Ryan Diehl 2 Nicole Diehl, 3 Emily Wood Champion Ewe Ryan Diehl Reserve Champion Ewe, Nichole Diehl Suffolk Class 903 Junior Ram Lamb 1 Matthew Gilbert Champion Ram Matthew Gilbert Class 906 Ewe, 2 years & under 4 years 1 Adam Diehl, 2 Mlchale Korb Champion Ewe Adam Diehl Reserve Champion Ewe Michael Korb Shetland Class 1006 Ewe, 2 years and under 4 years 1 Laura Talaga Class 1009 Junior Ewe Lamb 1 Laura Talaga Champion Ewe Laura Talega Reserve Champion Ewe Laura Talega Class 1012 Ewe & Offspring t Laura Talaga Class 1106 Ewe, 2 years & under 4 years, 1 Michael Koib, 2 Michael Korb, 3 Annie O’Brien Class 1109 Junior Ewe Lamb 1 Annie O’Bnen, 2 Annie O'Bnen Champion Ewe Michael Korb Reserve Champion Ewe Michael Korb tf / —-jj CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR, hgjßLjt EASTER MONDAY,ASCENSION DAY, WHIT MONDAY, OCT. 11, THANKSGIVING, mailllf CHRISTMAS & DECEMBER 26TH FISHER’S FURNITURE, INC. NEW AND USED FURNITURE USED COAL t WOOD HEATERS COUNTRY FURNITURE & ANTIQUES BUS. HRS. BOX 57 MON.-THURS. 8-5 1129 GEORGETOWN RD. FRI, 8-8, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503 Polled Dorset Hampshire Montadale