In the years immediately prior to World War II, the writer was a young graduate student in Canada working on storage and ripening of pears. At that time, it was customary for Canadian housewives to put fruits on sunny windowsills to ripen them. Because it seemed illogical that light should hasten ripening, I decided to put a row of unripe pears on the laboratory windowsill and cover half of them with a black cloth. Fortunately, I checked pulp temperatures: those under the black cloth were several degrees warmer. Then I tried shading with a white-painted board. Better, but still quite…
Author: William
Obviously, it is well that autumnal climatic changes prepare perennials of the temperate zone for the rigors of winter. It might seem that if no winter was to be expected, such plants could grow happily in eternal summer. Or so thought the planners of the huge (1 hectare under glass) Devonian Gardens, located over a large shopping mall in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Their concept had been to surround the clientele with familiar summer vegetation in the depths of Calgary’s cold, snowy winter. It was a costly error. Deprived of their climate-induced cycle, the familiar native plants became spindly and unthrifty…
A very helpful specialist in seed science whom I consulted on the preparation of this chapter sent me, in addition to various published papers, a page-long list (which he considers incomplete) of textbooks, symposia, and so on dealing with the handling and storage of seeds. With temperature so often a critical factor in storage and germination of seeds, this account can be only the briefest of introductions for the no specialist. An important temperature-related difference should be noted between seed-bearing plants of the temperate zone and those originating in the tropics or subtropics. In areas that experience killing winter freezes,…
The first and most important step when starting a skincare regimen is to find out your skin type. This helps you choose the right products to use so that your skin benefits most, in the shortest possible time. Most cosmetics, cleansers, toners, facial masks and other products have the skin type they are best suited for mentioned prominently on the packaging. When shopping for products, make sure to pay special attention to this information. Another advantage of knowing your skin type is that you know which ingredients are likely to be harmful to your skin. For example, for those with…
Introduction Your next job is to forecast how much money you’ll need. You can’t make realistic financial projections in a vacuum; they must be integrated into a thought the plan. As a result, you’ll need to make a number of decisions about how your business will operate and forecasts of financial results. But don’t let this intimidate you. You’ve probably been thinking about the financial side of your business for some time. What Is a Profit and Loss Forecast? A profit and loss forecast is a projection of how much you will sell and how much profit you will make.…
Moving to a new home can be difficult for pets, especially with the stress of being moved to a new place. It is important to keep your pet safe during the move, and this guide will help you with that. Hire a professional pet moving company -Keep animals on leashes -Keep pets out of crates or carriers for too long -Be aware of their limitations -Provide plenty of water and food -Have everything ready well in advance How to Move Pets Safe To and From Home Some people are afraid of moving their pets because of the unknown. They are…
Introduction This chapter helps your writing process because it gives you an idea of what lenders and investors want to see in a finished plan. Your ability to understand your financiers’ motives can mean the difference between getting a loan or investment and coming up empty-handed. If you already have financial backing, you can skip this chapter. Many people and institutions are looking for sound loans and investments. From their side of the fence, it can often seem extremely difficult to find a good one. Many potential financiers have been frightened by news stories about small business financial problems, con…
Some people have a bigger problem than others when opening a new business. These are folks who are positively enamored with their business concept and are desperately eager to begin. They are so smitten and eager to start, they have no patience with the economic realities involved in their business. If you recognize this tendency in yourself, its extra important that you prepare a financial forecast carefully and pay attention to what it tells you. Just because you can’t be sure you will make money doesn’t mean you should throw up your hands and ignore the whole problem. You can…
Introduction This chapter helps you determine whether you have chosen the “right” business for you—one that you know, like, and will work hard for and that makes economic sense. Most experienced businesspeople complete several steps as a rough and ready template to decide whether to complete a plan. If your business passes all these steps with flying colors, it means it’s a good idea to write a full business plan (although it doesn’t guarantee success). On the other hand, if your proposal doesn’t pass, you’ll probably want to modify or change your plans altogether. Know Your Business One of the…
Introduction Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” said English poet and essayist Alexander Pope several centuries ago. He wasn’t describing people expanding or starting a business, but he may as well have been. Everyone who goes into business for themselves hopes to meet or surpass a set of personal goals. While your particular configuration is sure to be unique, perhaps you will agree with some of the ones I have compiled over the years from talking to hundreds of budding entrepreneurs. In practical terms, that means you must buy only the best goods for your customers. Anything that affects…