Consumer Q’s

Published 7:00 am Thursday, December 1, 2011

Question: Does the Georgia Department of Agriculture test kerosene?

Answer: Yes. Our most important test of kerosene is the flashpoint test. This test makes sure the kerosene has not been accidentally mixed with gasoline and become potentially unsafe. A small amount of gasoline will lower the flashpoint substantially and can make the kerosene too volatile to use. We also test for water, sulfur and other impurities.   

Q: What are the main dairy cow breeds in Georgia?

A: We have a little of everything including crossbreeds, but Holstein and Jersey are the two main breeds.

Q. For the past two weeks (mid-November) I have been finding these flat, red and black bugs in my office. A co-worker identified them as boxelder bugs and a reference book confirmed the identity. How can I get rid of them? Will removing any boxelder trees nearby help?

A: When cool weather arrives, boxelder bugs start looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Your office, as dreary as it may seem to you on Monday morning, is the boxelder bug’s idea of Miami Beach. The same is true of your home or garage. Boxelder bugs may become a nuisance during autumn when they cluster in large numbers on the sides of buildings and often find their way inside. The bugs are not dangerous, but if crushed they may stain walls and carpets and produce a foul odor. The main solution is exclusion. Seal windows, doorframes and any openings the bugs can crawl through. Sweep or vacuum the bugs. Make sure to empty the bag immediately so they don’t crawl out. Boxelder bugs feed primarily on seed-bearing boxelder trees, but they feed on many other plants as well. Also, they can fly up to two miles, so removing a boxelder tree is probably not going to offer much relief and can be costly if it is a large tree.

Q: Are poinsettias poisonous?

A: Poinsettias are NOT poisonous. Every year someone starts this untrue rumor. You can buy a poinsettia and enjoy its beauty without worrying about it harming you or your pets. Place a poinsettia anywhere that could use some floral holiday cheer: churches, schools, kindergartens, nursing homes – even as the centerpiece on your dining room table.

Here’s another bit of good news. There are more varieties of poinsettias than ever. If you only think of red poinsettias, visit a nursery, garden center or florist. You can even find some new and unusual varieties at your grocery store. Poinsettias available from Georgia growers may be red, pink, salmon, white or cream. Some are speckled or marbled or have other patterns on their bracts (the colorful structures that look like petals.) A few even have variegated leaves. Other recent introductions include ones with serrated bracts or with curled bracts that make the poinsettia look like a giant rose.

If you have questions about services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, visit our website at www.agr.georgia.gov or write us at 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Room 227, Atlanta, GA  30334 or email us at info@agr.georgia.gov.  To learn more about agricultural issues, get garden tips and find sources for flowers, livestock and other agricultural products, consider a subscription to The Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin. Subscriptions for Georgia residents are $10 per year. To start or renew a subscription, send a check or money order payable to Market Bulletin at the address above.