of slow-release fertilizer is automatically dropped into the hole

of slow-release fertilizer is automatically dropped into the hole by another Rube Goldberg gadget.

The dibbled container is placed on a rubber belt conveyor (recently built from the frame of an old grain elevator) and the pot moves to the third position, where a rooted cutting (called a “liner”) is placed in the hole and a descriptive label is attached.

The pot then continues down the conveyor, trips a microswitch that operates a used washing machine solenoid and the rooted cutting is watered just before the container reaches the homemade roller conveyor (made from one-inch PVC pipe) where the containers stack up.

The plants are then loaded into a flatbed trailer at the fourth position and taken to their first-year home in one of the liner zones. They are moved from the trailer to the zone using one of several homemade nursery carts.

The nursery is still a family affair. Mrs. Antony manages the nursery and her young family. When not doing housework, preparing meals or using the computer, she is outside pulling plants for shipment, pruning or supervising the workers.

Mr. Antony helps evenings, weekends and holidays. He makes most of the plant deliveries in March and early April before he starts his full-time job in Warrenton.

Christopher (now 9 years old) does all the mowing and helps his dad with all construction and repair projects.

Allison (3 years old in April and the reason a fourth stall was added to the bam) helps with weeding, picking up her own toys and occasionally letting Mrs. Antony work on the taxing paper work.

Long Mountain Nursery is three miles from Washington and about 15 miles east of the Shenandoah National Park. On Fridays and Saturdays in May you can see the production line in operation.

The nursery will not be open for retail until April 19.