Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 120, No. 23, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Page: 6 of 43
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Hams Countu Leader Tuesday, November 13,2007
County Agent’s
Notes
by Stephen Gowin
County Extension Agent-Agriculture
<£T:T-.,rc r'T-.' ~c~r-±
I found tins article in a Hor-
ticulture Update Newsletter and
found it to be quite interesting.
I know that there are not many
of you out there producing Com-
mercial Live Oak Seeds but these
methods could be used from a
homeowner s standpoint d vou
want to grow a lew trees for
your home law ns. I hope that this
information will be useful
(omimrciallv Producing
Live Oaks From Seed
h\ Austin Stockton mu!
Davit! /.. Morgan
list’ oaks base been grown
commercially in Texas since the
early 1900s. They are excellent
landscape trees that contribute
to property values in all parts
ot the estate. Many Texas live
oaks are surrounded bv histori-
cal circumstances and are held
m high esteem There are several
Texas species commonly known
as "live oak." each of which is
native to a particular area of the
state, yet only two are commonlv
grown commercially (Quercus
virginiana. native to least Texas
and along the Gulf Coast, and
fusiformis, Edwards Plateau. Rio
Grande Plains. Blackland and
Grand Prairies. West Cross Tim-
bers to the Red Riven.
Propagators could benefit by
selecting acorns from the most
desirable trees native to that par-
ticular area of the state. Char-
acteristics worth noting when
choosing a mature tree as a seed
source are desirability of leaf
color and shape, drought tol-
erance, absence of galls, trunk
form, vigor and umbrella-shaped
canopies. Growers should under-
stand, however, that oaks are
wind pollinated. The undeter-
mined pollen source in the forma-
tion of the acorn may dilute the
desirable characteristics sought.
Trees standing side by side in the
nursery row may exhibit sepa-
rate. distinct characteristics and
variations, despite having been
selected as acorns from the same
"mother tree."
Acorn Collection
Acorns are collected in the
autumn months, from October to
December. It is not uncommon
for. acorns to geminate while on
the trees. Ripe acorns can be
picked before they fall; often
it is wise to do so in order to
escape weevils (Curculio spp.)
which attack those that full to the
ground. Acorns that are brown in
color are physiologically mature;
those which are yellowish are
not ripe. As a rule of thumb, a
mature acorn will snap cleanly
from its cup without leaving a
tissue residue.
Acorn Treatment
Discard acorns that float ill
water along with those that show
pin-si/ed weevil exit holes.
Live oak seeds frequently con-
tain weevil larvae that prevent
germination. Larvae in sound
acorns ("sinkers") can be killed
by immersion in I 20' F water for
30 minutes. (Warming: Higher
temperatures may kill the seed.)
Acorn viability is adversely
affected by dry storage. If acorns
lose as little as 15 percent of
their initial moisture, percent
germination may be reduced by
one-third; 20 percent moisture
loss may reduce viability by %
percent. This is why acorns that
have been laying on the ground
for two days may not germinate.
II stored in damp peat moss,
acorns will germinate and may
remain healthy for a short peri-
od ol time. After four or more
weeks storage in wet peat they
will begin to rot.
Nursery Practices
Ideally, acorns should be plain-
ed immediately after collection.
No scarification or stratification
is required: but any remaining
cups should be removed.
Acorns initially may be sown
in flats in the greenhouse to be
planted later, sown outside in
nursery seedbeds, or seeded
directly in nursery rows. A well-
drained growing medium is pre-
ferred for germination in flats.
Flats should be at least six inches
deep. Covering the bottom of the
flat With copper wire mesh pro-
motes an extensive, well-devel-
oped root system. Seedling tap
roots are killed when they touch
the mesh, and lateral branching
is encouraged. This type of root
System is ideal for continued
growth in one- and three-gal-
lon containers. Seedlings may be
moved to containers during the
spring following fall germina-
tion.
Acorns may be sown in out-
door beds. Organic matter and
fertilizer can be incorporated
■ into the seedbed soil at planting
time if required. Weed control
is essential. Pre-plant fumiga-
tions and pre-emergence and
post-emergence herbicides may
be required to control weeds.
Manufacturer's label directions
should be followed explicitly.
Seed may be broadcast or
drilled into rows 8-12 inches
apart. Generally, sowing 4.5
pounds of acorns per 100 square
feet will provide a seedling den-
sity of 10 per square foot. This
rate allows for an anticipated 30
percent loss in seedling num-
ber due to environmental condi-
tions and culling. Acorns should
be planted 1-2 inches deep. An
organic mulch applied to the
seedbed will conserve mois-
ture, protect against soil rust-
ing and cold temperatures, and
help control weeds. Covering the
mulched seedbed with hardware
cloth will protect acorns from
birds and rodents. Remove the
screen before seedlings touch the
metal.
Seedlings generally remain in
the seedbed one year. They may
then be transplanted to nursery
rows for additional growth.
In some areas, direct seed-
ing of nursery rows is practiced.
Acorns are sown 4-6 inches apart
and three inches deep in rows
4-6 feet apart. These dimensions
may require modification with
soil type, maintenance practices
and digging equipment selected.
(General Consideration
If the nursery is located on soil
containing some clay, trees can
be balled and burlapped when
sold; the procedure is more dif-
ficult on sandy soils, and trees
may have to be boxed. Soils
should he well-drained and of
moderate to good fertility for
optimum growth.
Source and quality of irriga-
tion water must be considered.
Fertility rates will depend upon
soils. County agricultural exten-
sion agents can provide soil and
water analysis procedures.
Brookshire
to sponsor
Christmas
food drive
The 26th annual Spirit of
Christmas Food Drive, spon-
sored by Brookshire Grocery
Co. and the Rains County Good
Samaritans, begins on Saturday,
Nov. 17.
The food drive provides food
for needy families in the Emory
area at Christmas.
"We have always had tremen-
dous community response to the
food drive." said Sam Anderson.
BGC's director of public rela-
tions. "This has grown into one
of the largest priv ately sponsored
charitable efforts in the region."
Area residents may make
donations by placing non-per-
ishable food items in designat-
ed bins located in participating
Brookshire’s or Super I Foods
stores.
People are asked not to donate
homemade goods or items in
glass jars. Bulk items, such
as flour, sugar and corn meal,
should be donated in smaller
sizes to allow for more variety
in the boxes given to the recipi-
ents.
In addition to the public food
donations, each family will
receive at least one roasting hen
from Brookshire Grocery Co.
Members of the participating
service organization will sort,
package and distribute the food
to the families before Christmas.
All food collected in the area
will be distributed in the Emory
area, families assisted by the
Spirit of Christmas Food Drive
are selected by local relief orga-
nizations or government agen-
cies according to need.
The Spirit of Christmas Food
Drive began in 1982, when 92
families in Tyler received assis-
tance.
Denita Young
Rains County Extension Agent
Family <S Consumer Sciences
\Zicki i Cahi
& Cat&mq
903-473-2113
Fruit Bouquets
Cookies • Cakes
Party Trays
CATERING FOR
ALL OCCASIONS
One of the latest health con-
cerns you are hearing about in the
news is MRSA, which is methi-
eiUin-resistant Staphylococcus
aurea. This bacteria causes skin
infections that are resistant to
many antibiotics. This infection
is treatable, but if left untreated
it could result in. serious health
consequences, infecting the
blood and bones.
At one time these infections
were primarily contracted in hos-
pitals or nursing homes. How-
ever, today that is simply not the
case. Large numbers of infected
people are being reported from
schools, sporting teams, and
gyms.
According to Janet M. Pollard,
MPI1 and Carol A Rice, Ph D.
R.N., you will likely contract
the staph bacteria through skin-
to-skin contact with an infected
person or coming in contact with
items that have the bacteria on
them. You are more susceptible
to the infection if you have dry
skin or openings such as cuts or
scrapes on your skin.
Some of the symptoms to
w atch for are sores that resemble
spider bites, painful, red bumps
or blisters on the skin, and cuts
that are swollen and tilled with
pus. It is important to seek medi-
cal attention if you have any
of those symptoms. The infec-
tion will only worsen if you do
not begin a course of prescribed
medication from a medical pro-
fessional.
The best course of action to
avoid contracting a staph infec-
tion is through prevention. The
most important step is to prac-
tice proper hand washing, which
consists of using warm water and
soap. Other modes of prevention
include bathing as soon as pos-
sible after direct contact sports
or activities, and using an alco-
hol-based hand sanitiz.er if hand
washing facilities are not avail-
able. It is also important to keep
fingernails trimmed short to and
avoid artificial fingernails. Do
not share towels or other person-
al care items with others, most
especially in the looker room, or.
share towels on the sidelines of
a game.
Keep your skin moisturized to
avoid cracked skin, which is an
easy entry point for the bacteria.
The key to avoiding MRSA
is to be proactive and recognize
the early signs of the infection
For more detailed information
on this topic, visit Texas Coop-
erative Extension’s Family and
Consumer Sciences Web site:
http://fcs.tamu.eJu.
Baubles & Bows
Holiday program
set for Nov. 30
Setting a theme of "Baubles
& Bows,’’ Rains County’s Texas
Cooperative Extension scheduled
its holiday program for Friday,
November 30. at the Rains
County Fairgrounds in Emory.
The program gets underway
at 10:00 a.m. with great gift-giv -
ing ideas, demonstrations, reci-
pes, and door prizes. The cost is
$3.00 per person.
Don’t forget to drop by the
Christmas Cafe where the Rains
County 4-H Club will sell gour-
met coffee and desserts.
Local vendors will display
great gifts for all your holiday
gift-giving needs. Vendor booths
will be open from 9:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m. Admission after noon
is free.
The fairgrounds is located at
the comer of Hwy. 19 and Hwy.
69.
For more information, call
County Extension Agent Denita
Young at 903-473-5000, ext.
157.
BULL CHEEK COWBOY CHURCH
Highway 69 in Lone Oak, Texas
Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
and 10:30 a.m.
Pastor: Mike Moss
903-662-9577
“Living for the One
Who Branded Us...Jesus!"
www.bullcree-kcowhoxihurch.com
■ - X ~ — ' — - -- ‘N "5^
"■V
4
Sulphur Springs
Livestock
Commission Auction
The following is the report
of the Sulphur Springs Livestock
Commission’s auction held on
Monday, October 29:
Estimated receipts on 1,589
head, compared with 1,623 head
last sale.
STEERS
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1-800435-7427
RENT A TANK
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Specializing in Lake Cabins, Portable
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Castf, Check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover accepted
CHIPPED ASPHALT
Great for Roads, Driveways & Parking Lots
Dust-Free c
s Johnnie Stone ^
901-471-1514 • 901-141-1099 Cell
Under 300 lbs.. .
. . $ 100-152.50
300-400 lbs. . . .
.....$85-135
400-500 lbs. . . .
..... $85-115
Over 500 lbs.. . .
..... $70-100
HEIFERS
Under 300 lbs.. .
.....$85-135
300-400 lbs. . . .
.....$80-125
400-500 lbs. . . .
.....$75-102
Over 500 lbs.. . .
.....$70-100
I A A
SLAUGHTER
Packer cows.......$37.50-60
Packer hulls........$50-64.50
OTHERS
Stocker cows......$500-1 150
Cow/calf pairs.....$625-1 (XX)
Calves.............$10-450
WESTWAY
4 NOTICE V
Emory Veterinary Clinic
will be open Nov. 19-20-21
then closed Nov. 22-23-24.
The following week the clinic will be
open Nov. 26, 27, 28 & 29 8:30 to 5:00
then closed Nov. 30-31.
Regular hours will resume Dec. 3.
if
Feeding WESTWAY CONVERTER Liquid
Supplement provides essential
protein, energy, vitamins and
minerals which can aid in:
• Increasing dry matter intake
• Improving forage utilization
• Improving cattle’s condition
• Efficiency in breeding & calving
CONVENIENT
FREE-CHOICE
FEEDING!
For more information, contact Bubba
Brumit Farms 903-850-7941
‘Thank You for
your business!
VISA MaJ°r C redit Cards
Accepted
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Hill, Earl Clyde, Jr. Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 120, No. 23, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 13, 2007, newspaper, November 13, 2007; Emory, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth766018/m1/6/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rains County Library.