INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND FLORIDA
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES COOPERATIVE
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXTENSION SERVICE
VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
^B^Hf~e~e~tjjjcj^t
September 1, 1981
Prepared by Extension Vegetable Crops Specialists
D.N. Maynard
Chairman
G.A. Marlowe Mark Sherman
Professor Assistant Professor
J. M. Montelaro Ann McDonald R. K. Showalter
Professor Emeritus Visiting Extension Agent I Professor Emeritus
W.M. Stall
Associate Professor
J.M. Stephens
Associate Professor
TO: COUNTY EXTENSION DIRECTORS AND AGENTS (VEGETABLE AND
HORTICULTURE)
FROM: J. M. Stephens, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Vegetable Crops Department
1255 HS/PP Building
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: 904/392-2134
VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER 81-9
IN THIS ISSUE:
I. NOTES OF INTEREST
A. New Publications
II. PESTICIDE UPDATE
A. Permethrin Granted Section 18 For Tomatoes
B. Dacthal To Be In Short Supply
III. COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
A. Influence Of Length Of Season On Yield Of The Duke
Tomato Variety, Manatee-Ruskin Distric, Spring, 1981.
B. SULFUR: The Next Element That May Worry Florida
Vegetable Growers.
C. Weed Control In Crucifers
The Institute of Food end Agricultural Sciences is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research,
educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS, STATE OF FLORIDA, IFAS, UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATING
IV. HARVESTING AND HANDLING
A. Dietary Fiber In Vegetables
V. HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING
A. The Medfly And The Florida Vegetable Garden
B. Know Your Minor Vegetables Orach
VI. MASTER GARDENING AND YOUTH
A. Results Of The 1981 State 4-H Horticulture Events
B. Florida Master Gardener Advanced Training and
Recognition Program
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
I. NOTES OF INTEREST
A. New Publications
1. Cucurbit Variety Evaluation, Spring 1981, Report WG
81-3 by G. W. Elmstrom is available from the Leesburg, ARC,
P.O. Box 388, Leesburg, FL 32748.
2. Research Report CF 82-1, Results of Cabbage Variety
Trials -1980-81, by J. 0. Strandberg and J. M. White is
available from the Sanford AREC, P. 0. Box 909, Sanford, FL
32771.
3. Sweet Corn Cultivar Trial, Zellwood Florida, CF 82-
2 by J. M. White is available from the Sanford AREC, P. O.
Box 909, Sanford, FL 32771.
4. Exhibiting Florida Vegetables, VC Fact Sheet 32 by
S. D. Gray and J. M. Stephens is available from the Publi-
cations Distribution Center, Building 664, University of
Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
(Maynard)
II. PESTICIDE UPDATE
A. Permethrin Granted Section 18 For Control of Leafminer
On Tomatoes
A Section 18 exemption has been granted for the use of
permethrin (Ambush, Pounce) for the control of leafminer on
tomatoes in certain counties in Florida. The counties in-
cluded in the exemption are Gadsden County and all counties
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
south of and including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola
and Brevard.
Permethrin is labeled at the rate of 0.05 to 0.1 lbs.
A.I. per acre per applicat-ion. A maximum of ten (10)
applications is authorized. The exemption will expire June
30, 1982. Other restrictions are specified. Read the label
and follow all specifications.
B. DCPA (Dacthal) To Be In Short Supply
A major factory explosion has stopped the production of
DCPA (Dacthal). I have been informed by a representative of
Diamond-Shamrock that the warehoused material will not be
adequate to supply the demand for the herbicide this year.
Specific decisions have not yet been made whether to
rebuild the plant as before or buy an intermediate product
that is needed in the formulation from another company.
No new product will be available for sale until probably
1983.
(Stall)
III. COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
A. Influence of Length of Season on Yield of the Duke
Tomato Variety, Manatee-Ruskin District, Spring 1981.
Tomato production practices, such as method and rate of
fertilizer application, mulching, fumigating, time of
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
planting, pest control, and irrigation are quite uniform
throughout the Manatee-Ruskin area. This uniformity makes
possible interesting comparisons of varieties and other
production variables under commerical conditions.
The Duke variety was the leading variety in the Spring
1981 production season for this tomato growing district.
Manatee County Extension Agent, R. T. Montgomery, Vegetable
Program Assistant, E. H. Shannon, and this specialist
studied the performance of the variety Duke at three
different harvest dates to look at the influence of length
of season on yield and quality. Blocks of seven plants from
each of three farms on three different harvest dates were
observed. Each plant was cut off at the soil line and
subjected to uniform measurements of yield, size, and grade
of fruit; plant weight (stem and leaves); and stem
diameter. Per plant and farm averages were recorded and
between-farm and between-harvest-period averages were
compared. All fruits were ring-sized individually and
placed in the 4 grade-size categories used by the Florida
tomato industry. The per plant averages of the 3 farms at
the three harvest dates are shown in Table 1. It is
interesting to note that 53% of the marketable yield at the
first harvest was in the extra-large and large size
category. On the second harvest date this proportion stayed
about the same; but on the third harvest date these two
largest sizes accounted for 66% of the marketable fruit.
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
Table 1. The number and weight of marketable fruit of the
Duke tomato variety at three different harvest
dates, per plant averages, 3 farms each date.
Date of Extra Large Large Medium Small Total
Harvest No. Wt.* No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt. No. Wt.
22 Apr. 16 7.6 10 4.2 12 4.0 11 2.6 49 18.4
30 Apr. 18 9.1 19 7.0 14 4.5 19 4.8 70 25.6
6 May 26 12.7 24 8.9 17 5.6 9 2.2 76 29.5
*Pounds per plant.
The fresh weight of the stem and leaves, and stem dia-
meter of this variety at the three harvest dates are shown
in Table 2 along with total fruit set. The reason for the
small difference in top weight at the third harvest date is
probably due to the drying and loss of lower leaves. The
total fruit set figures show that this variety produces
about 70% marketable size fruit within the normal harvest
period. An extended harvest period may have allowed more
small fruit to reach the larger sizes.
A word of caution should be made in regard to comparing
these yield figures with the standard three continual-pick
harvests. The destructive harvest used in this study show
only the yield and growth condition at a single date rather
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
than accumulative yield. Table 1 reflects the shift in
sizes by dates such as Extra Large increasing from 16 to 26
fruit per plant.
Table 2. The fresh weight of top, stem diameter and total
fruit set of the Duke tomato variety at three dif-
ferent harvest dates, 3 farms each date.
Date of Stem-Leaf Wt. Stem Diameter Total Number Marketable
Harvest Kg. Lbs. mms. Fruit Set/ Fruit %
Plan t
22 Apr. 3.4 7.6 18.4 85 58
30 Apr. 4.7 10.5 19.6 100 70
6 May 4.4 9.8 20.5 106 72
This study helps to understand this fairly new tomato
variety which produces such a large proportion of large
fruit. With caution, yield and growth projections from a
per plant to acre basis can be made. In a 7260 row feet
"acre" of plants spaced 30 inches apart there are approxi-
mately 2900 plants. The green top weight of tomatoes in
this "acre" would weigh 14.5 tons and produce (24.5 Ibs x
2900) 71,050 lbs of fruit or 2368 30-lb boxes.
The manufacturing plant of 29,000 lbs producing 71,050
lbs of fruit per row acre is rather impressive. Each pound
of top produced about 3.45 pounds of marketable tomatoes.
(Marlowe)
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
B. SULFUR: The Next Element That May Worry Florida Vege-
table Growers
Until recently, growers received more than an "adequate"
supply of sulfur for their soils from the atmosphere. Sul-
fur originated in the so-called "dirty" fossil fuels-- oil
and coal. Since the advent of the Clean Air Act, this is no
longer the case. In fact, in the estimation of the writer,
sulfur deficiency could be the next headache for the Florida
vegetable grower. Extension agronomists are already recom-
mending supplemental sulfur for some agronomic crops in
North and West Florida. These areas of the state are isola-
ted from the large population centers, and their associated
"air pollution".
Fortunately for the vegetable growers, the problem is
not yet serious in vegetable production. So growers need
not worry about applying additional sulfur to their soils at
the present time. However, a sulfur deficiency was found on
turnips in South Georgia in the recent past. The author and
others noted what appeared to be a lack of sulfur on mustard
from the Central Florida sandy soils over a year ago.
Sulfur deficiency can be easily confused with nitrogen
deficiency. The lack of sulfur, like nitrogen deficiency,
causes a yellowing of the lower leaves, and the yellow color
is almost white in appearance. On crops like mustard and
turnip, there is a simple diagnostic test to detect sulfur
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
deficiency. If one were to crush some normal green leaf
tissue from a mustard plant, it would give off the charac-
teristically pungent odor of mustard oil. By contrast, the
sulfar-deficient yellow leaf tissue, when crushed, is prac-
tically devoid of the odor of mustard oil. Sulfur is re-
quired in the synthesis of oil, and without sulfur, the
plant cannot produce mustard oil normally.
There is no need at the present time for vegetable grow-
ers to make a special attempt to apply sulfur. Many
fertilizers and amendments contain sulfur. Sulfate of
potash (K2S04) and epsom salts (MgSO4) both contain sulfur.
However, at some future date, it may become necessary to
apply additional sulfur to our vegetable soils. In the
meantime, growers should keep an eye open for possible
sulfur deficiency, and then call on the University
Specialists, if it is even suspected. We, too, are in the
learning stage when it comes to recognizing and diagnosing a
potentially new problem.
(Montelaro)
C. Weed Control In Crucifers
1980-81 has not been good years for herbicides in the
production of crucifers. Nitrofen (TOK) and CDEC (Vegedex)
have been withdrawn from use and now Dacthal is in short
supply.
supply.
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
There are two remaining herbicides that can be used for
weed control in crucifers, CDAA (Randox) and trifluralin
(Treflan).
Randox is labeled for cabbage only. It is a
preemergence or post transplant material that can be used on
both organic and mineral soil.
Randox controls germinating annuals, especially
grasses. It has proven fairly weak in broadleaf control.
Care must be taken in the application of Randox, it is quite
irritable to the skin, eyes and nose.
Treflan is labeled on several crucifers, but cannot be
used on the organic soils. Treflan must be preplant
incorporated and again has a better control on grasses than
broadleaf weeds.
Both herbicides should be used at less than the upper
limit rates if the crucifers are direct seeded.
Phytotoxicity has been seen when the labeled rates are
exceeded.
Joan Dusky, AREC, Belle Glade has submitted an emergency
specific exemption (Section 18) for the use of Dual for
several crucifers. If and when this is granted by the EPA,
I will immediately inform you.
This year, as never before, cultural weed management
practices should be practiced. This includes the following:
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VEGETERIAN NEWSLETTER
plowing at different times to change weed species survival,
cover cropping to suppress weeds, and land selection so that
non herbicide controlled weeds are not the predominant
species.
Methyl bromide is labeled for nematode control in cab-
bage seed beds. Fumigation will also control many weeds and
should be considered this year as an alternative to other
nematode control practices in seed beds. Broadcast and bed
fumigation can be contracted through licensed applicators in
several parts of the state.
(Stall)
IV. HARVESTING AND HANDLING
A. Dietary Fiber In Vegetables
Vegetables are an important source of fiber in the
diet. The increasing evidence that fiber is an important
health factor has focused considerable attention on dietary
fiber. American public interest in eating nutritiously is
greater than ever before, and nutritional knowledge is es-
sential for improved diets. Fiber in the diet was formerly
considered to be the indigestible part of foods, measured as
crude fiber, that had little influence on nutrition. Re-
search has shown that plant fiber includes a mixture of sub-
stances, including cellulose, that are partially digested or
changed by secretions in the intestines.
Tables of vegetable composition which report crude fiber
actually include only that portion of the total fiber left
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
after extraction with acid and alkali. Dietary fiber is a
more inclusive term for a complex mixture that includes cel-
lulose, hemicellulse, pectin and lignin. There are no com-
prehensive tables of dietary fibers for vegetables and its
significance in view of the changing attitude about the role
of fiber in man's food. Nutritional analysis should be a
regular part of horticultural research and extension, espe-
cially since vegetables provide more nutrients per calorie
than any other food category.
Refinements in the analysis of dietary fiber include the
acid-detergent method for more accurate measurements of cel-
lulose and lignin, and the neutral-detergent method (3)
which also includes hemicellulose. Dietary fibers (deter-
gent methods) in carrots, cabbage, broccoli and okra ex-
ceeded the crude fiber (AOAC method) (1) by more than 100%
in recent studies at the University of Florida (4). The 14%
cellulose in broccoli was 5% higher than the cellulose in
okra. Hemicellulose was much higher in cabbage, 6%, than in
the other vegetables. Lignin was less than 2% in all four
crops.
Among nine vegetables analyzed (7) for neutral detergent
fiber (NDF) and crude fiber (CF), potatoes were the lowest
with 4.7% by NDF and 0.5% by CF on a dry weight basis.
Green beans ranked highest with 22.0% NDF and 10.6% CF. The
pectin content of 2.2% (fresh weight basis) in carrots and
sweet potatoes (2) exceeded the cellulose components of 1.0
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
and 0.6% in these vegetables. The crude fiber of 1.0 and
0.9% for these crops (9) does not include the water soluble
pectin and therefore this component of dietary fiber is ex-
cluded.
The physiological functions of fibers in human food are
difficult to determine because of their unique physical and
chemical properties that vary with source, plant age, cook-
ing and digestion. Dietary fibers are recognized for their
water-holding capacity, gel filtration, cation exchange and
adsorption or excretion of other metabolites.
Scientific evidence on fiber in the diet was inadequate
for inclusion of dietary fiber in the 1980 Recommended Die-
tary Allowances (5) of the National Research Council which
publishes dietary standards for the United States. However,
the 1980 Dietary Guidelines (8) issued by USDA and
HEW recommend increasing consumption of complex carbohy-
drates for adequate starch and fiber. With the average
American diet relatively low in fiber, increases in vege-
tables, fruits and whole-grain cereal products were recom-
mended. United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association has
published a review (6) of many kinds of plant fibers plus
possible nutritional benefits and hazards resulting from
fiber in the diet. Industry is currently sponsoring pro-
jects to measure the nutrient content of vegetables for nu-
tritional labeling and use in promotion and point-of-sale
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
information. This update emphasizes the need for more fiber
research in the scientific community.
REFERENCES
1. AOAC. 2970. Crude fiber. Official Methods of
Analysis. Association of Official Agricultural Chem-
ists. Washington, D. C.
2. Briggs, G. M. and D. H. Calloway. 1979. Bogert's Nu-
trition and Physical Fitnes. W. B. Saunders Co.
Philadelphia, PA.
3. Goering, H. K. and P. J. Van Soest. 1970. Forage fiber
analysis. USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 379.
Washington, D. C.
4. Matthee, V. and H. Appledorf. 1978. Effect of cooking
on vegetable fiber. J. Food Science. 43:1344-45.
5. National Research Council. 1980. Recommended Dietary
Allowances. 9th Edition. National Academy of Sciences.
Washington, D. C.
6. Seelig, R. A. 1979. Dietary fiber a review. United
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. Alexandria, VA.
7. Spiller, G. A. and R. J. Amen. 1975. Dietary fiber in
human nutrition. Crit. Rev. in Food Sci. & Nutrition.
7:39-70.
8. USDA and USDHEW. 1980. Nutrition and your health.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Gov. Printing
Office. Washington, D. C.
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
9. Watt, B. K. and A. L. Merrill. 1963. Composition of
foods. USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 8 Washington, D.C.
(Showalter)
V. HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING
A. The Medfly and The Florida Vegetable Garden
With all the attention and news-service the Mediterrane-
an fruit fly (Medfly) is getting in the current eradication
campaign, many home gardeners are wondering what effect it
will have on their vegetable gardening activities.Most are
anxious to know that their garden vegetables do not contri-
bute to the proliferation of the pest, while others might
fear that the fly could become yet another pest injurious to
their vegetables.
Actually, at the current level of infestation, the Med-
fly should have little if any effect on what, when, and how
to plant vegetables in gardens anywhere in Florida. Vege-
tables are not included in the list of preferred hosts, some
of which are kumquat, sour orange, Surinam cherry, calamon-
din, grapefruit, mango, plum, roseapple, and guava. However,
at least two of the fruiting vegetables, tomato and pepper,
are on the list of host plants for the fly, and would be
subject to possible attack if the pest should ever become
heavily populated in the state.
Gardeners inside and outside the quarantine area, which
at this writing is centered in Hillsborough County, should
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
continue their normal gardening activities. Any vegetable
ordinarily planted at this time of the year may still be
planted and harvested. It is neither necessary nor sug-
gested that the gardener's pest control program be altered
in any way in an attempt to avoid or kill the Medfly.
Control of the Medfly within the quarantine area
should be left to the eradication efforts of the Division of
Plant Industry, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer
Services. Aerial spraying of baited malathion insecticide,
coupled with the release of sterile adult flies, probably
will be the primary methods employed for combatting the
fly. It is doubtful that Florida gardeners will have to
strip their garden produce and dispose of it even in the
event the fly is found in their area.
Since malathion is one of our safest and most commonly
used garden insecticides, most gardeners are already using
it to control other insect pests on vegetables. Therefore,
it is possible that a very small degree of protection from
the Medfly might result with regular spraying. It would be
advisable for gardeners throughout the state to be able to
recognize the Medfly and to take suspicious insect specimens
to their county Cooperative Extension Service Office for
identification. It is very unlikely that Medfly will show
up in a vegetable garden, but there is a remote chance.
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
The best way gardeners within a quarantined area can
assist in the eradication of the Medfly is to keep and use
all their vegetables at home. Since unfumigated host fruits
and vegetables will not be allowed out of quarantine area,
no gardener within the area should transport any form of to-
matoes or peppers out of the area. Better yet, a gardener
should not attempt to share any garden produce, particularly
fruiting vegetables, with friends or relatives outside the
quarantine area. Within this classification, most vegeta-
bles such as beans, eggplant, melons, and peas might not be
considered as hosts, yet should remain inside to remove any
question about their host possibilities. Leafy vegetables
such as celery, lettuce and cooking greens, along with other
forms of non-fruiting vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli,
and potatoes, could legally be transported in and out of the
area; however, since they could possibly possibly be carri-
ers of the insect in some unforseen way (soil on roots,
in containers, etc.) gardeners would be wise and helpful not
to transport them outside.
Many entomologists have called the Medfly the most
feared pest of fruits and vegetables in the world. However,
its presence in Florida is limited at the moment and should
not keep vegetable gardeners from "keeping on keeping 'em
growing".
(Stephens)
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
B. Know Your Minor Vegetables Orach
Orach (Atriplex hortensis L.) is a member of the Cheno-
podiaceae family. It is also commonly known as mountain
spinach, French spinach, and sea purslane. Some variations
of the name are orache, arache, and orage. The name derives
from the French "arroche", a corruption of the Latin
"aurago" (golden herb). It is sometimes called "salt bush"
due to its tolerance of alkaline soils.
Orach is a native of Europe and Siberia, and is consi-
dered to be one of the oldest cultivated plants. It is
grown as a substitute for spinach in Europe and in the nor-
thern plains of the U.S. It is seldom seen in the tropics,
but is occasionally grown in gardens in Florida.
Description-Orach is an annual plant grown for its
leaves, which are used like spinach. Leaves are arrow-
shaped, 4 to 5 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, slightly
crimped, soft and pliable. Stems are 5 to 6 ft. high, angu-
lar and furrowed. A rosette of leaves first develops, fol-
lowed by a seed stalk which may reach up to 8 feet.
Flowers, which have no petals, are small, green or red
colored.
Seeds are flat, russet-colored, and surrounded by a
light yellow leafy membrane. The plant also produces some
seeds which are black, membraneless, and often non-viable.
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
Varieties There are four varieties of orach which
have been cultivated over the years and throughout the
world. White orach is most commonly grown. The leaves are
very pale green, almost yellow. Dark Red Orach has dark
red stems and leaves. Green Orach, also called Lee's Giant
Orach, is a very vigorous kind, with a stout, angular,
branching stem. The leaves are rounder, less toothed, and
darker green then those of the white variety. The fourth is
a copper-colored variety which is rarely grown.
Culture Orach is a cool season vegetable, and should
be grown much like garden spinach. It is quick to bolt in
summer. In South and central Florida, plant in October
through January. From Orlando northward, plant seeds mid-
September through February.
Sow seeds one half to one inch deep in rows spaced
2 feet apart. Thin seedlings to stand 6-12 inches in the
row. Seedlings may be transplanted.
Use Leaves and portions of tender attached stems are
ready for harvest 40 to 60 days following seeding. Pick the
leaves as they are wanted. The leaves are eaten boiled like
spinach.
(Stephens)
VI. MASTER GARDENING AND YOUTH
A. Results of 1981 State 4-H Horticulture Events
The 1981 Florida 4-H Congress has turned to memories.
During the Congress, the State Horticulture Identification
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
and Judging Contest was held on July 28, 1981, with a total
of 14 teams participating in this event.
Marion County received first place honors with Brevard
and Volusia taking second and third place, respectively.
Ricky Jefferies, a Leon County 4-H Club Member, took
first place in the Horticulture Demonstration Event at State
4-H Congress.
Ricky along with Jeannie Piotrowski, Kim Ambrose, Rip
Haskins, and Tom Siverson (the Marion County team) will com-
pete at the NJHA Contest this year.
The National Junior Horticulture Association will hold
its Annual Convention this October 30, through November 2,at
Colorado Springs, Colorado. The meeting was last held in
Colorado (Denver) in 1970.
Congratulations to each winner.
(McDonald)
B. Florida Master Gardener Advanced Training and
Recognition Program
Approximately 95 Master Gardeners who volunteer their
time and skills working at their county extension office
traveled to Gainesville on August 25 and 26 for the "Ad-
vanced Master Gardeners Course".
Representatives from the six pilot counties,
Hillsborough, Dade, Brevard, Manatee, Polk and Volusia at-
tended the two-day program covering subjects from care of
house plants to IPM principles.
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VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER
The highlight of the event was the Recognition Banquet.
Each Master Gardener was awarded a certificate of completion
for the advanced training, by Dr. J. T. Woeste, Dean for Ex-
tension. Special recognition went to Bruce Lauenborg and
Larry Bearse, both Manatee County Master Gardeners who have
each volunteered 500 hours of service to their county.
The Master Gardener Program is expanding into three new
counties this fall. Orange, Lake and Osceola counties will
begin their course work on September 9, in Orlando. The
Florida program will begin its third year this fall.
(McDonald)
Statement: "This public document was promulgated at a cost
of $ 324.07 or 49 4 per copy for the purpose of communi-
cating current technical and educational materials to exten-
sion, research and industry personnel.
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