. ( ' SECTION * - PAGE S - PL AINDE ALER - WEDNE8DAY, OCTOBER H, 1979 Town and Country Tips by Dave Plocher Extension Adviser, Agriculture, McHenry County Frost Damage -Late corn and soybean fields should be on the look out since the average frost date is Oct. 9th. Even more cause for concern is that one year in 20, frost hits by Sept. 22. Com needs about 60 days between silking (pollination) and physiologic maturity (30-35 percent moisture). Soybeans are mature when the pods are bown and the leaves are yellow and dropping. 32 Degrees F No Magic Number • Scientists may seem confused about what con stitutes a "killing" frost. But there are good reasons why they are often reluctant to name one guilty temperature. While some use the standard 32 degrees , others point out that frost damage can occur at temperatures as high as 36 degrees and in some cases may not occur until the ther mometer dips to 28 degrees. 'The important thing is not the air temperature but the temperature of the leaf itself," explained Richard R. Johnson, University of Illinois agronomist. "On a still, clear night, leaves radiate heat out of themselves. Therefore, they can be at freezing temperature when the air is above 32 On the other hand, if leaf tissue is really high in salts, sugars and organic acids, temperatures may need to drop to 28 degrees to cause ice crystals to form. This is because these solutes lower the freezing point of water. Frost damage occurs when ice crystals from inside the leaf tissues. The cells expand and when thawing occurs several hours into the morning, the contents of the cells rupture within the leaf. A "water- soaked" appearance results and a quick end to furrier photosynthesis Occurs. Don't Use Paraquat to Dry Beans - Paraquat should not be used on soybeans until they are mature or ready for frost. Earlier treatment can lead to yield losses and slower drying of beans. Paraquat should be used only to dry weeds-not to dry soybeans. Horticulture Research Reports Available - Two new horticulture publications are available. "Horticulture at the Dixon springs Agriculture Center," a 55-page report of research conducted during 1978 at the Dixon Springs research center, Simpson, is available free of charge. "Proceedings, 19£9 Illinois Community-Farm Market Conference" is also available^ for a small charge. Both publications may be ordered by writing William Courter, Dixon Springs Agricultural center, Simpson, 111., 62985. Crop Production - The latest USDA estimates predict that world crop production will be the second largest ever. This would be about 5 percent less than last year. As important as the size is the distribution of this crop. Wheat production outside the U.S. is expected to be down by nearly 12 percent with the U.S.S.R. production down 25 percent. Coarse grain production outside of the U.S. is projected to be 5 percent lower. Again Russia's reduction is large at 20 percent. An expected large world demand and a declining production outside the U.S. gives a strong likelihood for record U.S. exports. If the current USDA estimates holds up the United States would account for 50 j)ercent of the world's wheat exports and 70 percent of the world's coarse grain exports in the 1979-80 crop year. Total exports are expected to near 5.1 billion bushels. This will surely place a rather great burden on an already strained transportation system. Beginning Tax School - We still have slots open in the 5-day Beginning Income • Tax preparers school. The dates of the school are Oct. 24, 26, 29, 31 and Nov. 2. Contact Helen at my office, P.O. Box 431, Woodstock, 111., 60098 or phone 338-3737 or 4747 for application forms. Prepare Machinery Before Harves - Remember harvest safety begins with a pre-season maintenance check. The first step in a main tenance check should be a review of the operator's manual. This is important, even for experienced operators. Check for loose or missing nuts, screws, shields and sheet metal. Immediately replace any missing parts. - Also, clean the combine by removing trash, rodent nests and oil and grease buildup. This has a double purpose: it makes safety sense and improves the combine's efficiency. Check belts, chains and other drive components, keeping an eye out for frayed belts or loose or sloppy bearings. If you don't think a component will last through the harvest season, replace it. As you know, har vest time is a critical period. You have 20-22 days on the average to harvest your crop. A day out for repairs will put you behind. Properly maintained equipment is also less likely to plug. And less plugging means there is less chance that a farmer will try to unplug the machine while it is running. This is a major cause of combine accidents, accidents that lead to deaths, loss of limbs, and maybe even total disability. Waste Disposal - Large livestock producers have one problem in common - large amounts of animal waste. High fertilizer costs are only one factor that is adding value to animal wastes. To use manure efficiently and the environmentally safe way it is important to know the fertility value of the waste product. Under normal conditions the manure should not be applied to the level of the nitrogen needs of the crop. Apply to supply the crop with its phosphorus needs. Supplemental nitrogen can be added. High phosphorus levels may interfere with the uptake of trace elements. Application time and method are very important. Studies have shown that waste applied to bare soil will decrease erosion of the bare soil. Also shown was the manure ap plication increases percolation through the soil. Manure in jected in the fall and spring allows for less loss of nutrients and a marked decrease in odors associated with liquid manure spreading. • • The best counsellor is. the one who gives you no advice. •T. 471CMHTRY CUM RB., WOOBSTOCK 4400 W. RTK. 120, if HOWS: MULT 9 HI •, SiNBAY 10 Ml * WE HONOR E>.!' '1 ^ J J" nor̂ s - Every Zenith® IV Reduced Super reductions on assorted cabinet styles, screen sizes color TV's with quality system 3 features. *Every black and white TV reduced •Every 13" diagenal celer TV reduced •Every 17" diagenal celer TV reduced •Every 19" diagenal celer TV reduced •Every 23" diagenal celer TV reduced •Every 25" diagenal celer TV reduced Hjrg ^2$ Every Zenith® Stereo Reduced All New 1980 Modular Stereos Rich Zenith® sound at prices that will be music to your ears! Sleek stereo component system! Famous quality craftmanship. Hear them today! fgMjXH Clock Radio Wake up to Zenith® i Sale and Savings on quality clock/radios like these I Now at Hornsby's Family Centers everywhere! Shown In the car Is David Byron of McHenry, and James Strandberg, of the Firestone Tire and Rubber company, a sponsor of the Western U.8. 4-H Engineering Event. A, 1979 graduate of McHenry Community high school, David Byron was one of two 4-Hers chosen to represent Illinois in event which wa s held In Omaha, Neb., on 8ept. 29-22. Representing the state in the automotive event, Byron has been active in 4-H for nine years and specialising In the "Petroleum Power Projects." The automotive contestants were evaluated on a written exam, a safety and maintenance inspection and a driving skills test. This was the first time that Illlmeis has ever had representatives in the national event. Byron Is current^ attending the Wyoming Technological Institute In Laramie. Vegetables Versus Frost The season is upon us when hard frost will be here to stay. Those vegetables worth har vesting should be picked now; those tender crops not ripened yet will need some protective coverings when temperatures fall below 32 degrees, ac cording to Martine Rugen, assistant horticulturist at McHenry county Extension service. The general condition of the plant and its location may extend or decrease the plants to tolerance to frost. Frosted plants turn black, glazed and wilted^when frost injury occurs. Very hard vegetables can withstand freezing and frost to temperatures of 26 to 27 degrees. These include kale, kohlrabi, rutabaga, turnips, broccoili, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, horseradish and winter onions. Horseradish and parsnips can winter over in the soil. Most can be stored in a cold moist area like an outdoor nit or interior storage area in the basement. A listing of these are found in Vegetable Gardening in Illinois Circular 1150 and USDA Storing Vegetables and Fruit in basements, cellars, out buildings, and pits, Bulletin no. 19. These are available at the Extension office at 224 Judd street in Woodstock for a small charge. They may be ordered by mail to P.O. Box 431, Woodstock, 60098 or by phone at 815-338-3737 or 4747. Protect those warm season crops such as tomatoes, pep pers and eggplant with plastic or a blanket secured at the soil line to form a pocket of warm air. A thick leaf covering above the soil or a thick mulch will prevent the soils heat from rising and warming the covered plants. Do not leave the covering over the plant longer Jhan necessary. When tomatoes are picked, keep in a 50 to 60 degree area, out of direct sun. They will not ripen when refrigerated ac cording to Nancy Moore, home economist Extension adviser. When ripened vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and zucchini . are frosted, cook immediately or preserve while still frozen. If allowed to thaw, they will begin decaying. For more information on storing or freezing, call us at the Extension office, 815-338- 3737 or 4747. - "The Matchmaker" Opens Johnsburg Drama Season "The Matchmaker", a comedy by Thornton Wilder will open the 1979-80 Johnsburg high school theatre season. "The Matchmaker" will be presented on Nov. 9 and 10 and is the first of four productions to be held throughout the course of the school year. The Wilder play takes place in the year of 1900 and concerns a rich widower, Horace Van- dergelder. Vandergelder employs a matchmaker, Dolly Levi, to find him a new wife. The comedy deals with human situations and is rich with wit and humor. Directing the fall play is Mr. Roger Zawacki, the assistant director is Ms. Candy Hildelrandt and the technical director is Mr. Bruce Pierson. Senior Pam Wroblewski will act as student director for the play. The cast consists of students from all four classes-freshmen through seniors. The role of Dolly Levi will be played by senior Suzette Walter. Kellie Fleming will play Irene Molloy, a young widow who Dolly sets up with Vandergelder. Other female cast members are Laura Schratt, Cherly Burkhardt, Cindy Ahlert, Karla Moe, Debbie Swinford, and Kathy Lampi. Playing the role of Horace Vandergelder will be sophomore Mark Leslie. Tom Liston and Joe Kalisik will play Vandergelder's two over worked, underpaid clerks Cornelius and Barnaby. Other male cast members are John Armon, Joe Kost, Brent Birkhoff, Rich Klein, and Gary Selof. . "The Matchmaker" will be performed in-the-round in Johnsburg high school's new auditorium. The performances on Nov. 9 and 10 will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. Johnsburg high school's second production will be the school's annual Winter dinner- theatre. Two one-act plays will be preceded by dinner prepared by Ms. Judy Cam- melot's food-service classes. Mr. Dan Stanowski and Ms. Candy Hildelrandt will be directors of the Winter play to be presented on Jan. 11 and 12. Reservations are required for the Winter dinner-theatre and will be accepted beginning in mid-December. The third production scheduled is the school's annual variety show, which is an original musical revue. Various students will be writing skits to be performed at the variety show on Feb. 22 and 23. The final scheduled event is the school's musical. Under consideration is Cole Porter's "Anything Goes". The musical will be performed on May 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. Valley View Book Fair The Valley View Parent- Teachers organization is sponsoring a book fair to be held on Monday, Oct. 15. The fair is being held in order to raise funds to purchase a new intercom system for the school. Books for children raninging from the first through the fifth grade will be sold at the fair. The fair will be held at Valley View School, 6515 W. Route 120, McHenry, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. BEN FRANKLIN 1250 N. Green St. McHenry. III. [i] Widlit nd and 9* M d » t r l£ To tttt >od to * I" li) To Hm>; I" abooo tmi M Iff from tar ofeodfoW SALE ENDS OCTOBER 13th 25% off on Ordet Now and Have Y our New Diaper if: . in l ime foi the Holidays HI HUB . Whether new in town or redoing your present home, come in ond see why so many of your neighbors keep coming back to Ben Franklin for ail their Curtain ond Drapery needs. If you thought you couldn't afford the luxury of custom made draperies, you owe it to yourself to come in and see how inexpensively you can do your home in draperies made just fpr you! -