Another mallow
RD: From the small photo
in the October issue of RD I can say your mystery plant is a
type of mallow, in the Hibiscus family. You printed another weedy
mallow photo in an earlier issue, possibly the same weed. Remember?
More about Apple fruit borers: In Ontario and around Fredericton,
N.B., there are so many wild and neglected apple trees that it
becomes difficult to keep favored trees free of pests. We tend
and spray our trees but the wild ones keep the insect pest cycles
going.
Pruning, good aspect, and fertilizing certainly help the trees.
I will use a dormant oil spray in spring 2009, my first time.
A soap spray helped foliage this past June. What can readers
tell us about resistant varieties and sticky fake-apple traps;
actual results? I have never gone into this.
Robin Day
Merrickville, Ont.
That velvet touch
RD: Regarding the query
on a mystery plant (Letters to RD, Oct.08 issue, page 55): This
is one of the Mallow family Velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
and is rare enough to cause comment and questioning. It usually
comes in packs of bird seed, and the seed casings are unusual,
and look like a crimped pie crust, hence the alternative name
of Pie maker. I believe that in Alberta this is known as a noxious
weed. The plant is from 1'6" to 6' in height with leaves
which feel velvety. Yellow flowers in the leaf axils. Grows easily
in poor ground.
Cecily Moss
Tatamagouche, N.S.
(Thank you, Cecily. This sounds
like one more of those alien, potentially-invasive plants, we
allow in even welcome in all in the name of adding
color and variety to the landscape and fattening dickey birds.
DvL)
Lots of Barn swallows
RD: Just wanted to let
you know that we had a lot of Barn swallows here this year but
I didn't see any Tree swallows. We live in Lockhartville in eastern
Kings County, N.S.
June West
RR Hantsport, N.S.
Disappearing Barn swallows
RD: In reference to the
article in Rural Delivery's September 2008 issue ("Swallows
gone: oblivion?" by Sylvia Saunders) I am sending you this
picture. I photographed this Barn swallow on the 19th of May
2008 at the address below. There was a pair of birds and they
tried to nest in our new barn, which is unfortunately too small.
After a while they disappeared.
Thierry Msika
RR, First South
Lunenburg, N.S.
(Headed north to Lockhartville,
no doubt. Thanks Thierry. DvL)
Depressing
RD: Seeing the ATV ads
in Rural Delivery is really irksome. My husband did not want
me to renew my subscription because of them. The destruction
they do in your neck of the woods is so depressing.
After thinking about this for some time, I realized I don't
want you to be injured by my cancellation, e.g. support for your
magazine, and so will renew my subscription. I really am disappointed
with their inclusion in a magazine I've enjoyed for many years.
Fran Cushnie
Sussex, N.B.
(Fran, we understand your unhappiness
and will continue discussion with ATV distributors in attempts
to direct promotion to the intelligent use of these machines.
We will set a target date in the new year after which we will
not run advertising that in our opinion encourages tear-up-the-back-country
ATV use. Your patience is appreciated. DvL)
Exciting seminar and conference
RD: Recharged. . . better
informed. . . brimming with new ideas. . . that is how I feel
after leaving the exciting Alpaca Canada seminar in Halifax's
Exhibition Park on Sept. 26 along with the Pacafiesta and The
Atlantic International Fibre Fiesta held at the same location
Sept. 27 and 28.
The Alpaca Canada Seminar was a full day of fabulous speakers
educating us on the alpaca world. Alonso Burgos Hartley, general
manager from the experimental alpaca improvement farm "Pacomarca"
in South America, talking about new breeding technology of embryo
transfer used in Peru and Australia; Cameron Holt, senior consultant
of Alpaca & Specialty Fibres International School of Fibres
speaking about the fiber and what we need to be looking for,
and Martin Gooch, director of the Value Chain Management Centre,
talking about the great challenges ahead of us in education our
country about superb alpaca fiber.
Many of us get involved with alpacas because we love the animals.
These beauties are providing us with the best fiber and we can't
just shear it and let it sit in a corner. We need more Alpaca
Canada members to expand our industry. As for the Pacafiesta,
it was a fun-packed weekend with lots of demonstrations. The
animals themselves were given centre stage, where they shone.
The judging, from the animals to the yarn and garments competitions,
was professionally done and exciting.
As for the fashion show, all I can say is I wish more people
had been there to see the first class items our members created
and proudly displayed. Paris would have been envious. We are
blessed with gifted members. Way to go. . . and thank you!
Brenda Urquhart
HighTales Alpaca Farm
Portage Vale, N.B.
(See story about Pacafiesta page
23.)
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