ON THE SHELF:
BOOK ENCOURAGES PLANT BREEDING
Wish you could
find a disease-resistant rose in just the right shade of pink?
Make one.
Joseph
Tychonievich leads readers through the process of breeding new plant
varieties in "Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener: How to Create
Unique Vegetables & Flowers."
Tychonievich, an
avid plant breeder and a garden center nursery manager, encourages his
readers to try developing breeds that are suited to their climates and
their needs, not the needs of a commercial breeder. He instructs them
on cross pollination and selecting out the best offspring, teaches
advanced breeding techniques and a little genetics, and offers
instructions for specific plants.
"Plant
Breeding for the Home Gardener" is published by Timber Press and
sells for $19.95 in paperback.
WHATS NEW:
ORGANIC LAWN-CARE SYSTEM DELIVERED TO DOORSTEP
The makers of
Safer lawn and garden products are making it easier for
do-it-yourselfers to treat their lawns organically.
The company is
marketing a four-step organic lawn-care program thats shipped free
to the user. The system involves three applications of a slow-release
fertilizer and one application of a weed preventer.
The fertilizer,
Ringer Lawn Restore, is made of ingredients including poultry feather
meal, bone meal and soybean meal but no manure. It contains no
phosphorus, which is often found in excess in soil and can run off
into waterways.
The weed
preventer, Concern Weed Prevention Plus, is based on corn gluten meal.
A soil thermometer is included so users can apply the preventer at the
correct soil temperature.
The system costs
$250 at www.sendmesafer.com, but its on sale this spring and summer
for $199.99.
Q&A:
REPAIRING A DVD
Q: I have a DVD
that jumps and stops at a certain point. It appears to have some
scratches. How can I get rid of them?
A: Try cleaning
the DVD first. Netflix says you can use Windex and a paper towel,
although Id probably use a soft cloth. Wipe in straight lines from
the center to the outer edge, not in a circular motion.
If the DVD still
gives you trouble, try working a little toothpaste or wax into the
scratches, or use a liquid made for repairing CDs and DVDs, the
technology website Digital Trends recommends. Use several thin layers,
and let the disc dry a little while. Then buff it lightly, again
working in straight lines from the center to the edge.
Have a question
about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal
home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries
that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her
at 330-996-3756, or send email to
