Harvesting Evergreen Brush and Ferns

Transcription

1 Extension Circular 296 January 1959 Harvesting Evergreen Brush and Ferns Extension Service Institute of Agricultural Sciences State College of Washington Pullman, Washington

2 Harvesting EvergrE Salal, evergreen huckleberry and sword ferns are used by florists throughout the nation for wreaths, sprays and bouquets. These three plants grow compatibly with the major forest cropthe trees - in certain areas of Northwestern forests. They can be a source of annual income while waiting for the tree stand to develop. In Mason, Kitsap, and parts of Pierce and Island Counties- where they grow best in this state - their harvest is a six million dollar business each year. The plants grow generally along the west coast of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, but they are commercially important only in forest areas where soil and moisture conditions and the degree of shade are right. Managing the Forest Ferns, evergreen huckleberry and salal all grow best in the deep forest where tree crowns are elevated and the humidity is quite uniform. They thrive in the deep loose organic mantle found in the older forest stands. Plants growing on open cut-over lands are not usually of high enough quality to sell. Where these plants grow, you can manage the forest to increase the quantity and quality of evergreen brush aqd ferns. Prune off the lowest limbs of overlapping trees to increase the amount of light. Keep an adequate overstory cover of trees to assure enough shade and moisture. Harvesting Harvest brush and ferns carefully and in moderate amounts to maintain the health and vigor of the plants.

3 ~en Brush and Ferns These plants can usually be harvested about any time during the year except during the spring when new growth is tender and easily injured. If you do not own the land ~here you intend to pick brush and ferns, get the land owner's permission before harvesting. Sword Fern Select the best fronds -clean, bright tips that are at least 25 inches long. Fronds must have complete tips and they must be relatively free of insect and disease damage. Torn or missing petals will also cause rejection of the fern. Never remove more than one-fourth of the leaves of any plant. Research has found this much can be removed without stunting the plant's growth. Torn, m1ssmg and damaged petals cause a sword fern frond like that at the left to be rejected. The fern at the right has only a few defects and would be accepted.

4 Salal Evergreen Huckleberry Sword Fern Do not harvest during the late summer when the underside of the leaves is covered with a rusty brown dust coming from millions of spore sacs along the edge of each leaflet. Experiments have also shown that sword fern plants are weakened if they are heavily picked in October while they are storing up food for next year's growth. The plants that grow in the more open areas should be harvested ear 1 y in the season after new growth has stopped. They are injured by the surnmer sun and are more quickly discolored by insect attack. Plants that are growing under alder should be harvested next and before autumn. Falling alder leaves tend to discolor and stain the fern leaves. Harvest the plants growing under Douglas fir trees next. Ferns grow best under dense cedar and spruce stands and these ferns can be left for picking the following -spr-ing without loss of quality. Cut off the fronds with a special, small, curved knife that fits over the finger. Tie the fronds together in flat bunches of 50. Include a few extra fronds in each bunch to allow some culling at the packing shed. Lay bunches flat on a pack board or roll in burlap to carry out of the woods. Handle carefully from woods to market to prevent tip breakage. And, keep the ferns cool and moist while you take them to the processor.

5 Evergreen Huckleberry Pick flat sprays 25 to 30 inches long. The spray must be well filled in, not thin and narrow. It must lie flat. The leaves should be glossy and have a good dark green color. Avoid picking sprays that have insect or disease damage. Sprays with too many discolored leaves are rejected. Never take more than one-fourth of the leaves - and always keep the crown of the plant. If only the marketable sprays are taken, there is little danger of injuring the plant permanently. Harvest any time after the spring growth has hardened off. Break the spray from the plant cleanly. Old plants that have heavy wood will produce better if you trim out the old wood. This makes new sprouts form lower on the plant. Pack in flat bundles for easy transportation from the woods. The bundles for delivery to the processing plant should weigh around 1 Ys pounds dry or 1 Ys pounds wet. Keep them from drying out. Full, well filled-in sprays of evergreen huckleberry, like the one at the left, are accepted. Thin, narrow sprays, like the one on the right, are rejected.

6 Skimpy salal sprays. left. will be rejected. Full. flat sprays. right. will be accepted. Salal or Lemon Leaf Select sprays from semi- shaded areas with dark, waxy, green leaves. Yellow or brown leaves will cause the spray to be rejected. Pick sprays that are free from insect or disease damage. The sprays should be full and flat. Leave the undeveloped sprays for future harvest. Sprays may vary in length from 16 to 3 5 inches. Never pick more than one-fourth of the plant. This much may be harvested without permanent damage. Harvest any time except for a short period during the early part of the growing season. Break the spray from the plant cleanly. Pack into flat bundles of about 1 Ys pounds dry or 1 Ys pounds wet. Do not let the plants dry out before delivery to the packing plant. This circular was prepared by the Washington W oodlana Council in cooperation with Knut Lunnum, Extension Forestry Specialist, State College of Washington. Published and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and Jun~ , by the State College of Washington Extension Service, C. A. Svinth, Director, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperatin,e.