Country Lore: February/March 2007
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Location is important. You want these curtains to be attached to the rafters inside the building so they’re well protected from the rain. They should be close to or against a south or southwest wall, because that’s where the roof will be most warmed by the sun. Also, put them in buildings with high rafters so the bats are not disturbed while you’re working inside.
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This method turned out to be more efficient than just hanging the stuff over the rafters because there’s more space for the bats to get into. It’s like replacing a single family dwelling with an apartment building, and it really works.
I think my method is probably the cheapest and most successful way to make a permanent bat house. It also recycles materials that would otherwise go to the dump or burn pile. One word of caution though: Don’t store anything important underneath the bat house — bats have sticky droppings (which do make good fertilizer).
Michael J. Spadoni
Rail Road Flat, California
Right Tires for Rough Ground
Five years ago I retired from Florida and moved to the back woods of Waynesboro, Tenn. My first riding mower spun out on curves and stuck in small holes. This was disappointing until my son, who owns an ATV store, suggested putting wide knobby tires on the front and tractor tread 1 inch higher on the rear. This change was a revelation! I drove that mower for two years and then passed it on to my son, whose three acres were rougher than mine.
If you mow on rough, hilly ground and need better traction, check with your mower’s dealer about the best tires for your brand of mower.
Maynard M. Mitchell
Waynesboro, Tennessee
Parsnips, a Sweet Root
Parsnips are a versatile vegetable to use in soups, stews and as an accompaniment to pork, beef or chicken. Plant the seeds in spring in loose soil that has been deeply dug. Adding compost or aged cow manure to the soil will help the parsnips grow long and straight.
The seeds are slow to germinate; it might take two or three weeks. Sow a few radish seeds in the parsnip seed row to indicate where the tardy parsnip seeds have been planted. Another way to mark the row and encourage germination is to put a board over the row where the seeds are planted. It will help keep the soil moist. Check each day and remove the board as soon as you see the little sprouts.
The long, pale roots may be pulled at the end of the summer, but if you leave them in the ground until the following spring, you’ll be rewarded with sweeter roots.
Grace Case
Cordova, Illinois
Free Solar Hot Water
