March 29, Monday -- Pearl Bailey born, 1918. Cy Young born, 1867.
March 30, Tuesday -- U.S. bought Alaska from Russia, 1867 (Seward's Folly).March 31, Wednesday -- Full Worm Moon. First U.S. dance marathon, 1923.
April 1, Thursday -- First day of Passover. All Fools Day. Rationing, 1943.
April 2, Friday -- Good Friday. First White House Easter egg roll, 1877.
April 3, Saturday -- Jesse James killed, 1882. Pony Express began, 1860.
April 4, Sunday -- Easter. Daylight-Saving Time begins, 2 a.m.
Ask the Old Farmer's Almanac: Any advice for getting rid of cold sores? What a pain! -- P.S. Riddle, Ore.
Answer: As with many ills, prevention is the best medicine. Some cold sore sufferers claim that you can feel one coming on by the strange, tingling sensation in your lips that precedes a full-blown eruption of these so-called "fever blisters."
Cold sores are a contagious viral infection of the herpes simplex virus, and it has been estimated that up to 85 or 90 percent of all Americans are bothered by it at one time or another. For about half of these people, the first eruption is the worst and then antibodies develop that drastically minimize, and in some cases, eliminate further difficulties. Babies can experience more severe difficulties from the infection, so consult their physician for advice. For the average cold sore sufferer, though, the blisters will go away by themselves in 7 to 10 days.
Prevention techniques center on avoiding contact with others who have a cold sore (no kissing!), avoiding contact with others' towels, razors, utensils, or toothbrushes, and practicing good hygiene, such as hand washing. Especially avoid touching your hands to your eyes if you have a cold sore, for the infection can be spread to the cornea.
If you do get a cold sore, try applying ice, aloe vera, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, witch hazel, Vitamin E oil, yogurt with active cultures, or buttermilk (choose one!), as frequently as convenient. Extracts of echinacea, nettle, myrrh, or goldseal are sometimes recommended by herbalists.
Zinc ointments or over-the-counter medicines with phenol may ease the pain. Avoid foods with arginine, an amino acid, present in chicken soup, colas, chocolate, seeds and nuts, gelatin, peas, kidney beans, corn, beer, and grain cereals. Eating yogurt, buttermilk, and L-lysine foods such as baked potatoes, flounder and brewer's yeast can help.
Reducing stress and boosting the immune system with echinacea has been recommended by some herbalists, as well. Finally, change your toothbrush, then keep the new one clean and dry. Dipping it in a germ-killing mouthwash, after use, can help prevent re-infection. If you develop a high fever or fever and chills, contact your doctor.
Ask the Old Farmer's Almanac: What's the best way to clean wicker furniture? -- S.T., Las Vegas, Nev.
Answer: Wicker is best cleaned with simple soap and water, using a mild soap, and a large pinch of salt. A small brush will help reach into crevices. Rinse well, and dry completely. For a finish shine, wipe with an oiled, flannel cloth.
For everyday care, be sure to wipe up spills quickly before they have a chance to seep into the crevices, if possible. A spritz bottle of warm water can help rinse away any stickiness. Dust regularly with a soft cloth or, better yet, use the small brush on your vacuum cleaner to pull away dirt and grime. If you do need to perform a more major overhaul, the trick is the keep the wicker wet for the shortest possible time. Choose a hot, dry day with a good breeze, if you can, or set up the fan. Take the piece outdoors for a quick hose-down with a pressure nozzle (gently now!), then wipe off as much of the water as you can with an absorbent towel. Put the piece in the sun for a final bake, to get all the moisture out of the weave. Finish, if you like, by polishing with an oiled cloth for that final sheen.
Ask the Old Farmer's Almanac: Can you help me decode the numbers on fertilizer labels? How do I know what to use? -- D.B., Vergennes, Vt.
Answer: The three numbers you see on bagged commercial fertilizers refer to percentages of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potash (K or potassium), always in that order. If the number is 10-0-20, that would indicate there's no phosphorus at all, for example. You'll notice that the organic fertilizers are high in nitrogen, as a general rule, so it's wise to combine these with compost or mulches or other organic substances. Lawn fertilizers, whether organic or inorganic, are also very high in nitrogen. Manures, whether cow, sheep, or chicken, have all three components in various degrees.
In the old days, of course, the only fertilizers were cover crops that were tilled into the soil, manures that were spread, or wood ashes and composts. The modern-day bagged and bottled sources are primarily for convenience, to save on the back-breaking turning and shoveling. Beware of fertilizing too heavily, or too close to plants, especially with the higher concentrates, or you may burn plants, especially the more tender herbs or fragile wildflowers. Some deep-rooted shrubs do well with the timed-release fertilizers that come in soil plugs.
One solution is to fertilize in preparation, a month or so before your garden gets going. Turn the soil and add whatever supplements you choose, then water well, and let the soil rest a bit before you plant. To know precisely what you need, a soil test can be useful. Ask your county extension office, or local farm supply store, then follow the kit instructions. There are do-it-yourself ones or others that can be sent off for professional analysis. At planting time, note the nutrient requirements of the various plants and spot-fertilize as needed.
Send your questions to: Ask the Almanac, The Old Farmer's Almanac, Main St., Dublin, NH 03444. Every day the editors of The Old Farmer's Almanac answer a question on the Internet. All questions are archived there as well. On the World Wide Web, the address is www.almanac.com. Yankee Publishing Inc. Dist. by United Feature Syndicate Inc.