Page 12 - Free State Summer 2023

THIS BUSINESS OF OURS (Continued) flats of 100 plus seedlings for $50 each back in the late 70's
early 80's. In a good year success would be 50 or more of
those flats. I used to pack them up in old orange crates
and ship them by Trailways Bus to states south of us. A lot
of work for maybe $2500. Well 4 or 5 flats of pine seedlings
won't return that much in #1 containers but will be a lot
less work!
This year, the longer, cooler spring made moving the
winter production out into the nursery growing areas
much more pleasant. We would back 1 or more wagons
in before leaving for the day. Ready for the next morning
to be loaded while it was still cool before sunshine made
it too hot. On cloudy (or Canadian smoky) days we
could work most of the day. This has been a good year
for us and our wholesale customers; at least none are
complaining and most are happy. A

Betty Magnolia
they had it in stock. I received that one 3 days later;
then, a day or so later, we received the one from the first
company. We kept that one as a backup in case the first
one failed or got kicked or dropped.
Every year about this time, when we move plants around,
I always find little Loblolly Pine seedlings in containers as
a "weed". I would think a ‘free plant,’ but pull and toss
them out. This year I found a clump of them clustered
in a group of azaleas. As I was near our propagation
house, I dug them up and planted them in a 50-cell tray.
I thought maybe I'd fill it with close to 50. Everyday I’d find
a few, dig them up, and toss them into a flat in the mist
system. I'd come back and plant them later in the day. At
least one other employee besides Flo and I started adding
to the pile. Well, today I started on the fourth flat of 50.
Yeah, they look kind of silly, these tiny little things in the
flat; but in time I would pay $5.00 for them in a 1-gallon Well it's a start
container. After all its no more work than making a cutting
and buying seed and sowing it. And there was always Mike Hemming
the frustrating losing battle with mice. I remember long Eastern Shore Nurseries Inc
ago seeding flats of Deodara Cedar and having to screen 410-822-1320
them because 2 cardinals learned to fly in the top vents esn@goeaston.net
of the green house to get at the seeds - seeds that I had easternshorenurseries.com
harvested up in a bucket truck. And I hate heights. If the
birds, mice, and damping off were avoided, I could sell the
12 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News