
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                    TAG: 9406170093 
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G2    EDITION: FINAL   
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER 
DATELINE: 940619                                 LENGTH: Medium

BUYERS BEWARE WHEN PURCHASING TOPSOIL

{LEAD} Here is a ``buyer beware'' situation that area homeowners need to understand. I refer to bagged ``topsoil,'' which is used locally in huge quantities. We sell 15,000 bags or more per year. I estimate there are more than half a million bags sold locally each year. Incredibly, there are no state or federal requirements on content or labeling requirements for products sold as ``topsoil.''

Several years ago I was offered a very good price for a truckload of bagged ``topsoil'' from a respected source. Shortly afterward, I noted that material spilling out of several broken bags seemed to contain a lot of small bark pieces and sand. The supplier said it makes its ``topsoil'' by mixing bark residues with sand. In fact, many of the largest suppliers in the industry make their ``topsoil'' in a similar fashion. Do they carefully age, mix, process, control and perform pH or other tests on these ``topsoil'' products? Perhaps so, but my main objection is their calling this artificial growing medium ``topsoil.'' The truth is, anything could be in these products, so let the buyer beware.

{REST} We have gone back to a true ``topsoil'' product, not bagged by a company that processes bark mulches. Our ``topsoil'' product contains 10 percent aged and composted cow manure, 20 percent sand and 70 percent quarried natural peat. Our tests have revealed no high pH problems. The product looks dark and rich, even when dry. The good news is that this more natural product is not necessarily more expensive than the bark-residue-and-sand mixtures.

W.J. Greene, Kempsville True Value Hardware

All I can add to W.J. Greene's comments about topsoil is ``amen.'' I'm against government controls on what we buy, but the topsoil, peat and bark industries are asking for government intervention.

I've bought the stuff W.J. Greene refers to that is half sand. Although sand probably will help our ``Kempsville clay,'' it should not be labeled ``topsoil.'' ``Hole filler'' would be more accurate. Unfortunately, if you need soil there seems to be little choice except to buy this stuff. It sells from 95 cents to $1.50 per bag. Greene's special mix sounds good. If readers know of good topsoil that is available in this area, please write.

Do you have information on a large flowering tree called ``Emmenopterys Henryi''? It's a form of kiwi fruit from China.

Dorothy Pefley, Virginia Beach

Experts at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Center say that Emmenopterys Henryi is a deciduous tree that grows to 100 feet tall. Leaves are 4 to 7 inches long. It has many flowers and is showy in bloom. White seed capsules, containing numerous seeds, follow the blooms. You're correct that it is a native of China.

Pinckneya is a closely related species, native to the southeastern United States. It has a yellow bloom and has a common name of ``Georgia-bark'' or ``poinsettia tree.'' It is a shrubby 35-foot tree.

Neither tree is related to Actinidia (kiwi fruit), and neither bears edible fruit. Closer relatives of kiwis are camellias, gordonia, franklinia and stewartia.

I have been an organic gardener for years. I have found commercially available organic fertilizers to be fashionably high-priced and prettily packaged.

I finally found an economically priced source in plain brown bags but had to buy it in large quantities. If your readers will contact me, I will pass the savings on and reduce my stock of blended blood meal, rock phosphate, fish meal, kelp, green sand, gypsum, etc.

We grow organic vegetables and herbs as well as specially produced cut flowers and decorative foliages. Many restaurants in this area as well as in Norfolk and Virginia Beach rely on us for organically grown vegetables.

I also have a landscape business. Unfortunately, some who hear the word ``organic'' think of it as star-gazing. The sales tactics often used make it hard to understand the connection between the ladybug and the great bald eagle. You and I know that preventative measures are best.

Ken Whidbee, Box 452, Wanchese Produce, Wanchese, N. C. 27981

Call 1-(919)-473-5678 or 1-(919)-473-1168

I certainly believe in prevention of problems, whether it means painting the house or encouraging lady bugs. You're right in that many people associate organic gardening with star-gazing, but I believe that is because of some of the wild sales pitches used by the organic folks. Moderation is always wise, and somewhere between chemicals and organics is the wise road to follow. I am sure you will hear from readers who want your fish meal, kelp and so on. by CNB