Invasive Plants May Be Top Environmental Issue
UNIVERSITY PARK, (Centre
Co.) The most pervasive envi
ronmental threat of the 21st
century may be cloaked in the
guise of ordinary and often
attractive plants, said a horti
cultured scientist in Penn
State’s College of Agricultural
Sciences.
“Most people aren’t aware of
the ecological damage invasive
plants are inflicting on our bio
diversity, our wildlife habitat
and our native plant species,"
said Larry Kuhns, professor of
ornamental horticulture. “Com
pared to invasive plants and
weeds, the chemical pollutants
of the ’6os, ’7os, and ’Bos will be
considered an easy cleanup.”
Kuhns says an invasive plant
is defined as a plant that grows
aggressively, spreads and dis
places other plants in an ecosys
tem. A small number of invasive
species are native to
Pennsylvania, which means they
grew in the state before settle
ment by Europeans. Most inva
sive species, Kuhns explains,
were brought to Pennsylvania
from other continents. These
Cruel
In the pre-teen and adoles
cent years, a parent’s comments
said in jest can be taken serious
ly by the adolescent, causing
self-doubt and insecurity.
Said to a young boy, “When
are you going to start growing?
“Your sister is going to beat
you;” and “Look at the peach
fuzz.”
Said to a young girl, “Do you
think you’ll ever have a shapely
figure?” “You’re just a tomboy,
you’ll never become a lady.”
So-called humor or teasing by
a parent is actually worse than
slapping a child across the face.
It amounts to tearing a young
adolescent to pieces while every
one in the family has a good
laugh.
Some parents think this kind
of humor is good, that “it tough
ens them up!”
species often are called “alien,"
“exotic,” “introduced,” or “non
native.”
“These plants have been
introduced in environments
where there are no diseases or
pests to control them,” Kuhn
said. “They often are silent
threats because most people
aren’t aware of invasive plants,
or don’t notice them spreading
into a new environment.”
Kuhns says many species
now considered invasive origi
nally were introduced intention
ally as landscape plants or for
other purposes. Kuhns listed 10
invasive plant species most com
monly found in Pennsylvania
ecosystems.
• Tree of heaven. This tree
has invaded many states. It pro
duces a huge amount of seed,
which is easily spread by the
wind along roadways. It grows
very fast - as much as 10 feet in
a single season - and can grow
more than 60 feet tall. It also
spreads by producing new
shoots from its extensive root
system.
Humor?
Actually, this primitive kind
of humor destroys self-esteem
and self-confidence in a child.
The child begins questioning his
normality and may set out to
prove to the “humorous” parent
that he is growing up by using
cruel humor/actions on his
peers, those he sees as superior
to himself, by turning to drugs,
or other anti-social behavior.
Don’t plant the seeds of sus
picion in your child. Children
are hurt by this bad form of
humor. What is needed most is
the parent’s reassurance that
the adolescent is normal, that
each individual grows and
matures at different times, and
that the parent supports the
individuality of each child.
Listen carefully to your
“humorous” remarks. Physical
hurt heals rapidly, but emotion
al hurt may take years to heal.
• Autumn olive. Introduced
as a wildlife cover, this shrub
produces large amounts of seed
that are widely spread by birds.
• Multiflora rose. This shrub,
classified as a noxious weed by
the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture, also was introduced
as a wildlife cover. Its seeds are
spread by birds. “This plant has
a biological control,” Kuhns said.
“A virus affecting it has spread
in the Midwest and has reached
Ohio.”
• Purple loosestrife. Another
Pennsylvania noxious weed,
purple loosestrife invades wet
lands and sites that have been
disturbed or cultivated. Its seeds
sire easily transported by ani
mals or vehicles. Its vibrant pur
ple flowers and long growing
season make it attractive to
uninformed gardeners.
* Japanese knotweed. Also
‘WondewefuT Things Comprise
(Continued from Page BIO)
Despite some disappointments,
hard work and perseverance often
pay off. Carrie reported that she
was at the bottom of the class in the
first showmanship event in which
she competed. She confessed that
she stood on the wrong side of the
sheep when showing it
She never made that mistake
again. By the end of the year. Car
tie won the Berks County Junior
Showman Award trophy. She als
has about 100 ribbons gathered
from the shows she has partici
pated in.
Carrie attends Strausstown
Elementary School. Her brothers
are active in Tulpenhocken FFA,
which is in the Hamburg School
District.
With all her earnings, Carrie is
planning to purchase a horse to
ride.
“I have a horse picked out to buy
as soon as I sell my steer and mark
et lamb,” Carrie said. She also
plans to buy another Southdown
ewe to increase her flock to eight
head.
Carrie has her brother John to
thank for introducing the family to
raising sheep. John is said to have
had no interest in schooling, but
“took a shining to sheep.” So his
called Japanese bamboo, this
plant spreads along rivers and
in soil. It grows to nearly 10 feet,
but provides little cover or food
for wildlife. Its spread by seed is
limited, but it has an extensive
root system, which makes it dif
ficult to control.
• Phragmites, or the common
reed. Common to wetland areas,
this plant has native and intro
duced varieties. It forms huge
colonies, pushing out native
plants and wildlife.
• Canada thistle. This is a
Pennsylvania noxious weed that
spreads by airborne seeds. It
creates serious problems in farm
crops.
• Poison hemlock. Unrelated
to the hemlock tree, this herba
ceous plant is what the philoso
pher Socrates mixed into a drink
to commit suicide. “It’s related to
water hemlock, which happens
patents purchase a few market
lambs and a breeding ewe, and the
test is history.
John also got a Simmental to
raise for 4-H competition. Now the
whole family is into raising
purebred Simmentals.
"Simmental’s ate the most
popular,” John said of all beef
breeds. "Simmentals have inherit
able characteristics —size, big,
lean, and good milking mothers.”
If it’s a black Simmental, they
are right up there in placings with
Angus, but if it’s ted, it comes in
second
With the herd, Carrie has a red
heifer that she is raising to show.
Her father, Michael, said that
state fair funding should be
adjusted for fair premiums. He
said that kids can make about $ ISO
a sheep but only $25 on a steer.”
Carrie has one steer and six
sheep that she shows at Kutztown,
Allentown, Olcy, Reading (if they
have it), Farmington Fairs, NJ.,
and Keystone International Lives
tock Exposition (RILE).
Carrie also participates in lead
line competition at KILE. With the
help of her mother, Carrie sews her
own outfit and shows a yearling
ewe for the lead line competition.
Judging is done on the lamb, the
outfit of the exhibitor, and the
exhibitor’s ability to handle the
sheep in the show ring.
Carrie takes dance classes twice
NOTICE: FARM
OWNERS
Goodville Mutual Is
One of the Top 5 Farm
Insurance Companies
in Pennsylvania
WANT TO KNOW
Liz Martin
Martin Insurance
Agency
459 C N. George St.
Millersville, PA 17551
(717) 872-7756
Toll Free
1-877-791-5235
www.martlninsunance.com
Affordable insurance for
farm, home, vehicle,
and small business.
Agent for Goodville Mutual
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, October 16, 1999-Bit
to be more poisonous than poi
son hemlock,” Kuhns said.
• Japanese stiltgrass. An
annual grass, it has invaded
woodlands across the state. It
has been a hindrance to forest
regeneration, Kuhns says.
• Mile-a-minute vine. A
Pennsylvania noxious weed, this
plant’s range is expanding
through the state. It can grow
six inches a day and more than
25 feet in one growing season. It
can smother small saplings and
seedlings in developing forests
or reforested land.
“Invasive plants threaten the
habitat of two-thirds of all
threatened and endangered
wildlife species,” Kuhns said.
“The best way to control these
plants is to familiarize yourself
with them and work with local
officials and agencies to start
eradication programs.”
weekly. “I love jazz, aero, Polyne
sian dancing,” Carrie said.
She used to do modeling, but
dropped it because she did not
have enough time.
Another unusual accomplish
ment for Came was holding the
record at Allentown Fair for the
chin-up challenge in the 14-adult
ages. Although she is only lOyears
old, Carrie competed in the
advanced group and held the title
for three days.
Here is the poem that appears in
a book. The poet, George Kersh
vcl, who goes by the pen name
Willie Everfoe Knormale, wrote
the poem about Carrie.
The first-year 4-H freckle-faced
lad received more approval than
her entry did. The calf was
groomed but only graded fair. The
kid was shy with long, red hair.
Her two big brothers showed
her what to do. She said, “I wanna
be good like you."
Well don't show off. Keep him
looking neat. Don't let old clumsy
go stepping on your feet. If he does
a “dirty " when the judge walks by,
look the other way—keep your
chin high. Smile just a little in the
photo line, but don’t do that dumb
little pantomine.
Now listen here. Sis, whatever
you do. Please make Mom and
Dad proud of you
And she sure did wait ’til next
year— she ’ll be showing a prize
winning steer.
IT CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR,
EASTER MONDAY, ASCENSON DAY,
WHIT MONDAY, OCT. 11. THANKSGIVING,
ftaillTlH CHRISTMAS & DECEMBER 26TH
FISHERS FURNITURE INC.
NEW AND USED FURMTURE
USED COAL & WOOD HEATERS
COUNTRY FURNRURE 4 ANTIQUES
BUS. HRS. BOX 57
MON.-THURS.SS 1129 GEORGETOWN RD.
FFB, Sfl, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503
Sibling Support
Willie Everbe Knormale