This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

[GWL]: Newsy tidbits

Liz Ball said that the Phila. Inquirer reported that Burpee has filed for
Chapter 11.  Apparently George Ball is going to try to restructure and keep
going.
On the west coast, Northwest Horticulture has purchased the plant growing
side of Etera.  They will maintain the Etera brand on the cocoa pots sold in
retail.  They will be growing liners for other growers (something Etera did
not do) and will be growing perennials in one gallon pots, not branded.  The
web site side of Etera has not yet been sold, but apparently is expected to
be sold by the end of this month.
New products - Nancy and I have received for testing the new electric deer
barrier stakes produced by Woodstream.  I have not set them up yet, but am
impressed with the design and believe they will work.  The three stakes come
with cotton balls and a lure that smells like acorns.  Each stake has two 9
volt batteries that last for a year.  The scented cotton balls sit in four
little openings at the top of the stake which is about 2 feet long.  Two
thin wires sit above the cotton bait.  A charge is built up in the wires
that is released on contact with a tender deer nose.  It then takes 15 to 20
minutes to build up another charge; the shock then is not continuous.  The
concept is a good one for a suburban property.  You are to set the three
stakes in the area you are trying to protect.  Every few days you move the
stakes a few feet so the deer don't get comfortable with their location.
The bait needs replacing after rains or snow or every three weeks.
Essentially you are training the deer to the idea that the protected
property is not a great place to hang out because of those stinging stakes
that keep moving around.  The shock won't hurt a kid, but the kid is going
to set it off just once.  The set of stakes costs $62 and a bottle of scent
is $13 which looks like a year's supply; a sample comes with the kit.  The
stakes should be good for protecting vulnerable shrubs through the winter.
Woodstream has a rather nice web site at www.havahart.com.
I had not realized that Woodstream acquired the whole Ringer pesticide and
fertilizer line including Safer and the Consep products; all are for sale on
their web site.  They have also made a deal with Contech in British Columbia
to market their "Scarecrow" spritzing deer repelling device.  It is a good
device; one that I have tested.  It works on cats, dogs, deer, raccoons, and
sometimes squirrels.
I notice they also sell a zapper type rat or mouse trap.  I've got a call
into the company to see if it is one designed and built by Agrizap.  If so,
it is a very good product if the price is not too high.  I killed 16 voles
in two weeks with one a few years back.  I let you all know what I find out.
Later,

Jeff

------------------------------------------------------------
Join "USAttacked" now!
  http://www.topica.com/lists/USAttacked/
Send, receive and discuss with over 100 Americans.

Pass the word to garden writers, editors publishers, horticultural businesses about our list.

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bUrGSS.bVSZwB
Or send an email To: Gardenwriters-unsubscribe@topica.com
This email was sent to: topica.com@spamfodder.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index