What is Dill?

By Timothy Tungsten

Dill is native to the Mediterranean region and its history goes way back to ancient times. It is mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions where it goes by the name of `ammisi'. The Greeks and Romans, who spread it as far as the northern Alps during their campaigns, called it `anethon' from which is derived the botanical name.

They are frost-resistant and their leaves may be snipped the whole year long without affecting the plants in any way. However, they should be fed frequently and should not be cut too close to the ground so as to avoid damaging the growth centres. Chives may be propagated from seed, but home-growers usually increase them by splitting up older clumps and replanting the offsets, which gives earlier yields. The only requirement is plenty of light.

Chives should be freshly cut before serving. They have a very mild onion flavour without the biting quality and are used not only as a herb but also as a garnish on many cold and hot dishes. They should never be cooked - when used as a garnish for hot dishes chives should be sprinkled on top just before serving.

They are popular in cheese spreads, on bread and butter, in scrambled eggs, salad dressings and cold sauces, sprinkled on buttered boiled potatoes and as a garnish for assorted cold meat platters. In winter they arc a welcome source of Vitamin C.

In order to have fresh dill in the garden the whole year round it should be sown in succession from March till late July. The leaves will be ready for picking within six weeks of sowing. Dill is an annual herb and plants sown in spring produce seeds in the autumn of the same year.

Until recently the housewife used either fresh or dry garlic bulbs, but nowadays, thanks to modern methods of dehydration, it can he obtained in shops in the form of dry pieces, flakes, grains or powder, all of equally good.

About the Author:

When Alcuin, famous early medieval scholar and adviser to Charlemagne, asked his sovereign what a garden herb is he received the succinct reply: `Friend of physicians and pride of cooks'.

Growing Fig Tree in Your Garden

By Jerry Peterson

There is no doubt that most people are too kind to figs and thus they don't crop. They have been grown successfully in Great Britain since the time of Henry VIII. There are signs that the Romans may have brought the fig with them hundreds of years before.

Morello cherries are usually budded, though there is a variety in Kent known as the Wye Morello that grows well on its own roots.

As the short growths made each year are those that bear the fruits, the only pruning done should be a cutting back hard to form new branches as replacements. Figs seem to have wood buds almost anywhere on their branches and so one can prune to almost any point. For the first five or six years little pruning is necessary, but once quite big trees have been formed, about 25 per cent of the wood should be removed each November, this being done by cutting down one quite large branch almost to its base. This I find it gives better results than cutting out a number of widely distributed branches.

The method of training is, of course, on the fan system, and wires are therefore provided at 18 inches apart so that the branches may be tied in. It is easy fe,x a fig to cover a wall space of about 35 feet on a wall 15 feet high. Such a tree, of course, bears prodigiously. But even young trees four years of age will bear twenty to twenty- five fruits if they are happy.

Pruning is indeed a very difficult job because, as has already been said, the fruit is borne on the length of thin young wood which grew during the previous season. On a fan-trained tree, therefore, one has to be constantly cutting away the older wood and tying in the new wood. With bush trees, it is advisable to cut back some of the older branches each season the moment the leaves have fallen, and then, if there are any young growths in the centre of the bush, these will have to be cut back in February, the pruning cut being made just above a pointed single shoot bud. It is the double buds that are the fruit buds.

It is not advisable to grass a fig down but it is equally important to allow no cropping or cultivation within 12 feet of their sterns, for such cultivations will only encourage strong growth. It does pay, therefore, to mulch the soil in a half-circle around the trees and a fine sedge peat may be put on an inch deep. The alternative is to grow the fig in a corner where the soil can be well trodden down and not disturbed at all.

About the Author:

An early spring brings the blossom of fruit trees in your garden before the air is warm and dry.

How to Find Parking in Laguardia Airport

By Steve Marine

Don't avoid parking at Laguardia Airport because you're frightened of city drivers, traffic or trouble finding a spot.

The truth is that Laguardia Airport New York offers many different parking choices, including hourly lots, short term parking and long term parking. Being aware of them before you go can make your time parking at the airport easier.

If a family member is going to drop you off, there's an hourly metered lot by the Marine Air Terminal at the Airport. A shuttle runs from there to other terminals, so don't rule it out if your flight is at the other end of the airport. You can only park there two hours maximum, though, so don't use this lot if you're taking a short flight and plan to be back the same day.

Daily parking at the Airport includes parking garages and lots, of which there are seven. Each has handicapped spots and there's at least one located near each major terminal, so this is a good option. You can also leave your car for up to 30 days, but this is more expensive than using the long-term lot. However, they don't charge more than 30 dollars per 24 hour period, which makes it a bargain to park there compared to New York City parking garages!

The long term lot at Laguardia Airport New York is close to the Central Terminal Building and has shuttles to and from the other terminals to make it a location for convenient parking. The airport charges $30 for the first day, which is the same as the short term parking, but only $5 per each successive 8 hours. This is the cheapest option if your car is going to be there overnight.

People with disabilities have their own special reduced rates for parking at the airport. This is helpful because it means if the daily lots are more convenient but they're going to be gone a long time they don't have to pay extra.

Laguardia Airport New York offers many different payment options. Cash is acceptable, of course, but you may be surprised to learn you can pay by check. EZPass, Discover, Carte Blanche, Visa, Mastercard, Diner's Club and Amex are all also accepted there, so there shouldn't be anyone who can't find a way to pay for their parking at the airport.

There are also discounted private vendors who offer parking near Laguardia Airport New York. One such company is called Airpark. They charge significantly less than the parking at the airport and promise to drop you off at the terminal and pick you up when you return. (There's a toll-free number you call to notify them you've arrived.) This is a great option for people who want to save money.

As you can see, parking at Laguardia Airport offers enough different choices that anyone can find a workable solution to this issue.

About the Author:

Martin Donowan investigates US airports infrastructure. Read his report on How to Find Parking in Laguardia Airport.