Can you Two cries for help! I had a request from a gentle- man who wishes to remain name- Icss. He would very much appreci- ate help in obtaining any informa- tion on the growing of hops for beer-making (humulus Jupulus), also if anyone knows where he might obtain roots of this plant. I know that beer-hops are grown out in the Fraser Valley where you may have seen the huge frames used to support their rampant growth, but, locally, they seem to be hard to find. Help, anyone? The second ery for assistance really comes from me. It is in relation to a request for a poem published in The Review about two years ago. Mrs. M. De Sutter recalls the last line which reads “You are nearer to God in your garden than anywhere else on earth” and’ would really appreciate the whole poem. It seems familiar lo me, but that is as far as I can go. Help! It is hard to believe, but it’s true . our silly apricot tree is beginning to blossom and it is far too cold. I have yet to see a honcy bee. I suppose the tree expects me to climb a ladder and do the pollinating with my make-up brush again this year. I honestly don’t feel like doing it, that tree is getting far too tall, but if all the buds on it open, there is a possibil- ity of a bumper crop, so if no bees appear I suppose I am in for it. Because we were away during the time I usually prune the fruit trees, the apricot is just as big as it was last fall. I have managed to prune the green gage and the Italian prune trees, and the pear, but still have the two apple trees, plus the crab to do. Since I really want to dwarf these trees, espe- cially the crabapple, I may just remove all crossing branches now, and do the major pruning in June and July. It is harder to see the skeleton branches at that time, but thats the proper ume to do your pruning if you are trying to restrict growth. Our silly apricot is starting fo bloom I had a call from a very ambi- tious young woman this past week. She is intent on cultivating over two acres of farm land locally to gtow vegetables. ORGANI- CALLY! _ My fiat is really off to her because this is a tall order. Her most pressing problem seems to be an infestation of wireworms. This is not unusual, according to my reading, if the cultivated land was previously in sod (which it was). Many of you may never have seen one of these hardshelled little brutes since they live underground, feeding on seeds, seedlings and the Toots of established plants. They are particularly difficult . . . the Suggestion being regular plough- ing every week Or so in the fall to unearth them and allow birds to cat them, to destroy their egg Stage, and perhaps crush the adult bee- ues. Another suggestion is to plant patches of com, of which wirew- orms are especially fond, as sub- Stitute food for them. The idea is that they will pig-out on corn roots, then tend to leave the rest of your crops alone. Another sugges- ion was to cut up potatoes, thrust a long stick through the pieces so you'll be able to relocate them, and then bury them down an inch Or so, pulling the pieces out every few days to destroy the wireworms found feeding in and on them. One book mentions disinfecting the soil with carbon bisulphide. A hard decision for her to make as an organic gardener, the poor lamb. I suggested she talk with someone at either Bordens Merchantile or Buckerfields in Keating. These firms deal with farmers’ problems on a regular basis, and perhaps may be able to help, but organi- cally? Well, just maybe, if she is Cloches and frames On a small scale and for little or no cost, small cloches can be made from salvaged clear plastic containers. Or more elaborate ones (such as those in the graphic above) can be used. But by cutting away the base of a plastic container, you’ve got a cloche for a small group of plants. Make sure you push the cut- away end of the container about one centimetre into the soil. Remove the cap on hot days or to apply water. Lettuce grows particularly well under these containers. MACHINE RENTALS Ask us to show you how a Thomas loader can work and save for you. WE’RE EQUIPPED TO HELP! NEW & USED SALES —~ we 0% to 7.9% Get out that bag of fertilizer a Cup of some sort, and make a trip around the garden. Give rhododen- drons at least a cup of it sprinkled on the soil under the leaves right Out to the outside edges. Azaleas could use just less than half a cup, lilacs (depending on their size) would be happy with half a cup, up to a full cup. Things such as clematis, in fact all shrubs It’s Spring TeeReview Wednesday, March 21,1990 — C4 : help us out? and ‘vines will thank you for a boost just as they begin their “Spring growth. Don’t neglect the perennials such as delphiniums, iris, Oriental poppies, etc., but please don’t let chemical fertilizer sit on plant leaves, wash it off if you have an accident. All this fertilizer should be raked lightly into the soil. At this | time of year one can almost: depend on the rain to wash it in. MARTENS - Rotovating ° Light to medium duty b JACK MARTENS & BACKHOE SERVICE FREE ESTIMATES TRACTOR ackhoe services 655-3060 727-8153 4, Financing “~— Available DID YOU KNOW WE SELL A FULL LINE OF UTILITY EQUIPMENT TRAILERS « Local Owner Operated ¢ Fast - Courteous Professional Ss COMMUNITY SEPTIC TANK SERVICE “YOUR DEPENDABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICE” 9620 WEST SAANICH ROAD FRANK DREW 656-3288 24 Hrs. Needs BOOTS A GARDEN and WORK WEN? ¢ SHIRTS « GLOVES ° JEANS ° HATS - COVERALLS > CAPS Ss « WORK * SHOP COATS « APRONS e RAIN GEAR and...a lot more! - RUBBER ONLY 99 ain (Limit 2 Pair per, customer) © © WORK WEN? 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