Vegetable Grafiting- Tomato By Mario Villarino
Since people first learned to graft plants, a myriad of grafting techniques have been developed. In The Grafter’s Handbook, Garner enumerates and describes some forty different grafts. Success in grafting depends not only on a technically correct graft but in preparation of the scion and rootstock for graftage.
Equally critical are the optimum time for grafting, and proper aftercare. With high labor costs, only a few of the more efficient grafts are utilized in United States woody ornamental nurseries, including the side veneer, splice (whip graft), and whip-and-tongue graft; use of approach and repair graftage is limited. With fruit crops, depending on the species, a number of different apical, side, and root grafts are utilized around the world.
Vegetable grafting has increased dramatically worldwide—and is commonly done in Asia and Europe where land is intensively used and crops are not rotated. Grafting onto rootstock resistant to soil pathogens and environmental stress helps increase yield and reduce chemical usage.
For example, some of the most important grafts with cucurbit vegetables (melon, squash) include hole insertion grafting, tongued approach, and one cotyledon graft (also known as the splice, slant, or the Japanese tube graft). Some robotic vegetable grafting machines can produce 800 grafts per hour. With the intention of learning current grafting techniques in Vegetables, The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension- Hopkins has organized the Tomato Grafting workshop in cooperation with the Hopkins County Master Gardeners.
The session will be conducted by Dr. Joe Masabni, Extension Vegetable Specialist in Overton. The Tomato Grafting workshop will be February 7, 2019 at 1:00 PM at the Hopkins County Extension Office located at 1200B Houston Street in Sulphur Springs. The cost of the training is $10. This training is a hand-on workshop limited to 30 participants in a first-come basis. Call 903-885-3443 to register. Attendees will keep 2 grafted plants (Maxiflora+Celebrity).
Easy, Breezy New Year’s Resolution By Johanna Hicks
While eating more fruits and vegetables and parking as far away from the supermarket as possible will help improve your health in 2019, here’s a resolution that can impact the lives of others — as well as your own life. Make a resolution in 2019 to focus on your driving and drive like you would want the person in front of you, behind you, and beside you to drive.
On many occasions, I have found myself behind or beside a driver who is either talking on their cell phone or looking at the phone at eye level with their wrist resting on the steering wheel. Needless to say, they often cross the striped or solid line, or dangerously weave back and forth. Put down the phone when you are driving and do not drive distracted!
Cell phones are a major distraction, but not the only distraction to drivers. Adjusting radios and GPS devices, loose pets, eating, and applying makeup while driving are just some of the other distractions when behind the wheel. However, research shows that texting is among the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. Sending or reading an average text message takes drivers’ eyes off the road for 4 to 5 seconds, which means at 55 miles per hour, a texting driver would travel the length of a football field without looking at the road — as if being blindfolded. Any time you take your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, and especially your mind off of your driving, you put yourself, your passengers and others on the road at risk. Resolve to not use your phone this year while driving. If you must use your phone, find a safe place to pull over.
Here are a few more driving resolutions for 2019: Drive the posted speed limit, slow down for construction and emergency vehicles, and always drive slower and more cautiously when weather conditions are bad. Keep the proper distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you, leaving enough room to stop in an emergency. Tailgating on narrow roads, or on major interstates only causes stress to both the front and back cars. Be courteous and only pass in passing zones when there is plenty of room to safely do so.
Take the few seconds to put on your seatbelt and make sure that all passengers are also buckled up. Take time to be sure that all children are riding in the correct car seat for their age, weight, and developmental stage. Also, get a car seat inspection by a certified child passenger safety technician to make sure the car seats are being used and installed correctly. Side note: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Department of Transportation are partnering to bring a Child Safety Seat event to Sulphur Springs on Wednesday, April 3, at the Lowe’s Parking Lot, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. We will inspect child safety seats and replace any that are not safe for the specified child, due to condition of the car seat, weight and developmental stage of the child. There is no charge, so write the date on your calendar and help us share the word. A previous event provided 33 new car seats for families.
And last but not least, be a role model for the teen drivers in your family and for their friends. Show them what it means to focus on your driving. Making a resolution to improve your driving habits in all of these driving areas may very well save your life and the lives of others on the road.
4-H Sewing Fun Day and Mystery Tour
Every January, 4-H members in the Fashion and Interior Design project have the opportunity to expand their skills. A fun day has been planned for Hopkins County 4-H members and guests. The day will include a mystery tour, make-and-take projects sewn on sewing machines, and much more. Here are the details:
- When: Saturday, January 26
- Where: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, Hopkins County, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs
- Time: meet at the Extension Office at 9:45 a.m. We will carpool to our mystery destination and return to the Extension Office for the remainder of the workshop We will dismiss around 2:00 p.m.
- Bring: $5, sewing supplies such as pins, sewing scissors, tape measure. Several sewing machines will be available.
- Lunch will be provided.
- RSVP: 903-885-3443. We need to know how many are coming so we can adequately prepare.
Closing Thought
One in five children reported that they don’t spend enough meaningful time with their parents. Find special times to share with your youngster – Boys & Girls Club survey, 2012
Recipe of the Week
Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower, rinsed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 scallions, diced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Directions:
- Remove core and wash cauliflower, then let dry completely. Chop into florets, place in batches into a food processor, and pulse until cauliflower is the size and texture of rice.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and scallions and stir until soft, 3-4 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and add cauliflower.
- Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently, until cauliflower is slightly crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. Add salt and pepper.
- Remove from heat and place in a bowl. Toss with cilantro and lime juice.
Serves 6.
Nutrition information per serving: 45 calories, 2.5 g total fat, 0 saturated fat, 0 cholesterol, 210 mg sodium, 6 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber
Source: Dinner Tonight – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
North Hopkins Panthers, Lady Panthers Basketball Schedules
On Tuesday (January 22nd) the North Hopkins High School Basketball will be playing in Martins Mills in the O’Neal Weaver Gymnasium.
The JV will start the games at 4:30pm.
Followed by The Varsity Girls at 6:00 pm.
And ending the night with the Varsity boys at 7:30.
Boys Basketball schedule
Girls Basketball schedule
Monument to 2008 State Champion Wildcats Placed at Prim Stadium Thursday, January 17, 2019
Wildcats Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Greg Owens said that the 10th year reunion of the Football State Championship was celebrated Thursday with the placing of a monument at the front entrance at Gerald Prim Stadium. Coach Owens said with the renovation of Prim complete, he wanted to honor the great achievement of the 2008 football team. Coach Owens said Tony Bassham of Memorial Monuments made the special stone and erected it with the assistant of a lift from Matt Kitten with Westway Feed.
High School Seniors Can Earn Money in Project Celebration Video Contest
PARIS – High School seniors in TxDOT’s nine-county Paris District can earn some extra dollars for their Project Celebration events by participating in a fun video contest that highlights safe driving.
Students work in teams to write, shoot and produce a short video Public Service Announcement (PSA) that emphasizes the dangers teen drivers sometimes face, such as distracted driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts, or driving under the influence. In doing so, they earn a mini-grant from TxDOT to spend on their celebrations.
“The 1st Place team in our area contest will win $1,500, the 2nd Place team will win $1,250, and the 3rd Place team will win $1,000 for their events,” said Monica Yates, TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist based in Paris. “Teams who participate but don’t place will be awarded $600. We also have mini-grants available for schools that need help funding their Project Celebration events but don’t want to participate in the PSA contest.”
Project Celebration events are conducted by educators, parents and community partners to help keep students safe and alcohol-free throughout the school year, especially during school-related celebrations. The activities provide students ongoing education on the dangers of impaired driving, with concentrated education scheduled around events such as spring break, prom or graduation.
The rules of the PSA contest are simple and easy to follow, but contest entries are due in early March, Yates said.
Those who want to learn more about Project Celebration and the video PSA contest should contact Yates at (903) 737-9292 or [email protected]. More information on Project Celebration is available online at www.txdot.gov, keywords Project Celebration.
Game Day: Wildcats, Lady Cats in Tournament Play Thursday
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ soccer teams return to the pitch for tournament games on this game day Thursday (January 17).
The Lady Cats are playing in a North Forney tournament and their first match is underway. The Lady Cats are playing Rockwall Heath in a pool play match that started at 11:45 a.m. The Lady Cats also have North Lamar and North Mesquite in their pool. The Lady Cats are seeking their first win of the season and they enter play Thursday with a 0-5-2 record.
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ soccer team is playing in the Ice Bowl in Richardson. The Wildcats open play against South Garland at 3:05 p.m. on the B Field at Richardson J.J. Pearce High School. The Wildcats are in the Tundra Pool with South Garland, Dallas Kimball and Sabine. The Wildcats enter the tournament with a season record of 2-3-1.
Both tournaments run through Saturday.
Wildcats’ Wade Attends College Football Combine
Wildcats’ football inside linebacker junior Kylan Wade attended an invitational combine for top college football recruits in Texas held last Saturday (January 12). The combine, sponsored by Dave Campbell’s Football Magazine, took place at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst.
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra said Wade was excited to attend and had a good time. Coach Guerra said Wade wants to have a great senior year and to impress people. He said it was a good chance for Wade to showcase his talents. Coach Guerra called Wade a go-getter. He said like all players he has moments when he needs to settle down some but Coach Guerra added Wade gives tremendous effort, loves the game, is athletic and finds a way to make plays.
Coach Guerra said Wade was excited about the competition he faced during the combine. He said linebackers did stop and go drills and also worked on pass rushing, pass drops and quick foot movement. Coach Guerra said Wade was good in pass coverage for the Wildcats. He said Wade was used a lot more in pass coverage this past season than in previous years.
Wade had a sack this past season and was second on the team in tackles and assists totals. Wade had 42 tackles and 31 assists for a total of 73.
Former Lady Cat to Play Volleyball at SFA
Former Lady Cats’ volleyball player Sheretta “Rita” Hill will continue to play college volleyball at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches. After earning her Associates Degree at Tyler Junior College in three semesters, Hill was recruited by SFA and is enrolling this semester.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said both TJC and SFA are really, really good programs. He said Stephen F. Austin has an amazing tradition in volleyball and gets a lot of backing. Coach Maness said he looks forward to seeing Hill grow at that level. He said there was a lot of buzz about Hill’s player at TJC. Coach Maness said Tyler Junior College coaches realized that Hill had a high ceiling when she played for the Lady Cats and they were able to hone her skills. He said Rita was hard to stop as a right side hitter for TJC.
Coach Maness said he took his Lady Cats’ team to see Hill play as Tyler Junior College faced Trinity Valley. He said Hill entered the game and preceded to have four kills in a row. Coach Maness said TJC and Trinity Valley are a part of the best JUCO conference in the nation, hands down. He said since Hill was able to compete at that JUCO level, she would do very well at SFA.
Texas Rangers Fan Fest 2019
2019 Fan Fest Presented by Dasani will feature autograph sessions with current Texas Rangers players with individuals signing in the Capital One Club, Hyundai Club, Visitors Clubhouse and Jack Daniel’s Club.
Other highlights of the 2019 Texas Rangers Fan Fest Presented by Dasani:
–Interactive Question & Answer sessions with Rangers executives, players and announcers in the All You Can Eat Porch
–Behind the scenes look and informational sessions of the construction at Globe Life Field
–Whiffle ballpark and inflatables on the concourse
–Free tours of the Rangers clubhouse and dugout
–Free play in the Rangers Kids Zone and autographs by Rangers Captain
–Rangers Baseball Foundation Sale
–Food and beverages on sale at The Short Stop Grill, The Chipper, Rebecca Creek Saloon, and other Ballpark concession stands
–Merchandise on sale at the Grand Slam Gift Shop in centerfield and Pro Shop at Home Plate.
— Free access to the batting cages
You can win free tickets to this event. To enter, like this post on Facebook, and make sure you like KSST’s Facebook page. Tickets must be picked up at the KSST Studios, 717 Shannon Rd east. Winners will chosen at random, and announced via Facebook. Winners will be contacted via Facebook as well.
