Poll: Government is mishandling immigration
A poll conducted by United Press Int'l. and Zogby found that most Americans give President Bush and Congress failing grades on handling immigration. Just 3% favor Congress' handling of the issue, while 9% favor Bush's actions. Americans rank it the 2nd-most important issue facing the country, behind the war in Iraq. Only 37% favor outright deportation of illegal aliens, but about 1 in 4 believe they should stay if they have jobs and pass background checks. The Senate was scheduled to take up the immigration debate again last Thursday.
HVX inspection service now available
Growers can now submit hosta stock to a new inspection service to test for hosta virus X (HVX). The service was organized through Dutch growers and plant exporters, according to Plant Publicity Holland. "This voluntary certification process is now core to Holland's hosta production and ensures that the demands of the North American marketplace for high-quality plant material are being met," said Hen Westerhof, chairman of Anthos, the Royal Dutch Wholesalers Association for Dutch flower bulbs and nursery stock. The service uses the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to test for HVX.
Ball offers new shrubs, trees, perennials
Ball Ornamentals, the new division of Ball Horticultural Co., is offering bare-root liners of new trees, shrubs and perennials for the nursery trade. The company is looking for breeders and grower partners. Current Ball Ornamentals offerings include Photinia x fraseri Cracklin' Red and Fireball Red; Abelia 'Lavender Mist,' 'Plum Surprise' and 'Raspberry Profusion'; Physocarpus opulifolius 'Tuilad' and Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl.' Ball Ornamentals also offers grafted specialty products and grafted citrus and grapevine products.
USDA awards $1.75 million GWSS grant
USDA awarded a $1.75 million grant to Univ. of Calif.-Riverside to study glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) and Xylella, the pathogen responsible for severe damage to grape, nut and ornamental crops. There are 4 main Xylella subspecies, 3 in North America and 1 in South America. The South American variety feeds on citrus, but it has not yet crossed our border, said UCR professor Leonard Nunney. New Xylella strains are evolving, complicating the research being done on the bacterium. Each of the new strains of Xylella identified so far attacks different plants than the original Xylella subspecies. "That's worrisome. Clearly, we need to know more about the genetic basis of host specificity," Nunney said.
Horizon opens new wholesale facility
Horizon Nursery & Landscape Supply opened a wholesale landscape distribution center in Wildwood, Fla., northwest of Orlando. The 2-acre site is designed to service landscapers, nurseries garden centers and developers in Central and North Florida, including the Panhandle. This facility is part of the company's plans of "becoming a national supplier of wholesale and retail green products," according to a press release. The company will also open a state-of-the-art garden center in Vero Beach, Fla., this fall.
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