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  Dead Horse tubers @ 10,000ft
From: "Mr R.a McClure" <Rob.McClure at sci.monash.edu.au> on 1997.01.17 at 20:13:38(163)
To all those people who requested Helicodiceros / Dracunculus tubers
read on..............
On Monday I will send them up, up and away. I feel guilty sending
them to the frozen north, but travel will broaden their minds.

Mary Sizemore has very generously offered to be my US 'agent' so I am
sending the quite substantial box to her. ( Thank you Steve for your
offer but I decided to give you a rest ). I hope your USDA folks
don't waylay it like they did Wilbert's stuff but it is soil and
disease free so should be ok.

Here is the deal: If your name is on the list below you need to
send me $3 US to cover my costs. Cash hidden in a card or postcard of
your hometown is a method I enjoy ! American Express Money Orders are
an ok option but dearer for you. Personal cheques are useless, sorry.

Please send Mary a well padded envelope at least 30cm by 20cm just
to be sure (better roomy than squashed ). Pleases also send her
air-mail stamps to wherever you are. Send her lots of thanks too.
Her address is : Mary Sizemore
751 Deerfoot Road.
DeLand FL. 32720
(email: size@totcon.com )

So how do you grow the things ?
They grow very well in Melbourne's temperate climate. Zone 10 ish by
your standards. They are summer dormant and are happy to be dry then.
I grow them in pots and beds in full sun in sandy, well-drained soil
with organic matter added. They don't seem to need a lot of water
when they are growing. They respond well to fertilizers.
For all you people in the snow (it did snow here for a day about 8
years ago !! ) I suggest you pamper them a little in pots. I can't
imagine they would like to be frozen for months at a time..... but I
am only guessing .
They are very handsome plants when grown well.

US tuber recipients are :
Steve Hall, Linda Lopez, Mark Evans, M J Hatfield, Sylvia Correia,
Dr.Vic. Soukup, Roger Sieloff, James Waddick, Richard Mansell,
Doug Burdic, Carlo Balistrieri, Don Martinson, Alan Galloway,
George Tinsley and Steve Marak.

Non US recipients : Wilbert Hetterschied, Rand Nicholson and Eduardo
Goncalves , stay tuned I will be in touch by email real soon.

So there you have it. The tubers should be on US soil in about 12
days if all goes well.
Happy potting !
It's the weekend and I am heading back to the beach.
See ya,
Rob.

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