The White Falcon - 27.01.1945, Blaðsíða 2

2
Shown above is the interior of one of Iceland’s many greenhouses.
Too many GIs have for-
gotten their first surprise
upon discovering (espec-
ially if they arrived here
in the middle of winter)
fresh flowers for sale ‘in
Reykjavik- Fresh flowers
and Iceland just don’t
seem to go together. Yet,
they are profuse here
due to the establishment
of a few greenhouses on-
ly 20 years ago.
While the introduction
and growing of flowers
has been the chief pur-
pose of the hothouses,
they have also been in-
strumental in proving the
fertility of the country
through extensive ex-
periments. The stories of
bananas, oranges, straw-
berries and grapes growing
here are not a myth—they
actually do. However, you
will probably never see
theni for they are still in
an experimental stage,
grown mostly for rese-
arch. On the other hand,
certain fruits and veget-
ables have already pro-
gressed beyond this stage
and are sold in quantit-
ies, commercially. Tomat-
oes and cucumbers are
notable examples of this,
both being practically un-
known, except through
importation, 20 years ago.
Through these experi-
ments, native farmers are
also learning that their
land, during certain
months, is actually as
produeitive as any other
in the world and that they
need not necessarily con-
fine their growing to po-
tatoes and cabbage as (lie
majority of them had
previously supposed. Dur-
ing the warmer months
they have now found that
they can successfully grow
carrots, turnips, rhubarb,
lettuce and a variety of
other produce that was
almost unthinkable 20
years ago.
It has also been discov-
ered that, contrary to gen-
eral belief even among
many Icelanders, trees
can be grown in Iceland.
Many centuries ago the
island was covered with
vast forests. It. has simply
been a result of careless
cutting, down through the
ages without any attempt
being made at reforestat-
ion. This is now being re-
medied — large plots of
land having been replant-
ed some years ago, with
additional tracts being re-
forested edch summer—to
prove that neither the soil
nor climatic conditions
are adverse to tree grow-
ing-
The natural hot water
springs here were a strong
factor in the establish-
ment of the first hothous-
es for they are all heated
by the natural spring wat-
er. The long days of sum-
mer sunshine have also
been advantageous. But
the short days of daylight,
with practically no sun-
shine liavp also been a
detriment. This is sur-
mounted however, by
“rotating” the flowers, the
more hardy varieties like
mums and carnations
being grown during the
fall and winter, roses and
the more delicate flowers,
in the spring and summer.
While to date such flow-
ers as orchids have not
been cultivated, practi-
cally all other species are
grown-sweet peas, pans-
ies, violets, gladiolus, tul-
ips, lilies, as well as flox
and other garden varie-
ties. For such a still more-
or-less-luxurv here, flow-
ers are not as expensive'
as might be supposed. For
instance, during the wint-
er when they are natural-
ly the highest, carnations
retail in' Reykjavik for
approximately 24 kronur
a dozen ($3,60).
Icelanders have a great
love of flowers and sup-
port their new industry
avidly. In doing so they
are helping, indirectly, in
sponsoring perhaps an
entirely new era in the
horticultural history of
their country.
i
(Continued from Page 1)
the Army hand also came
through with several dance
and popular recordings for
use on the air show.
Air Force cuttings were
“Effervescent Blues;” a med-
ley of “MyHeart Stood Still,”
“I’ll Get By,” and “Where Or
When;” and “Coquette.” The
Army Band, besides “Bounc-
ing At The Borg,” disced
“Keeping Out Of Mischief”
and “Poinciana” — Pfc. Dick
Gqlden taking the vocal on
the latter tunc.
Customers Will Love It!
New York barbers have
entered a city-wide hair-
snipping contest. A $200 war
bond is to he awarded to
the tonsorial artist who del-
ivers the quickest haircut.
L
Sgt- C. A. Postler of the AW this week got to talk-
ing about attending movies in Iceland and pointed out
the rather sharp contrasting note it strikes with movie-
going back home. He had these observations on the sub-
ject: The Xisscn huts used for “theaters” here also,
serve as chapels and gyms. GIs sit on chairs, coal scut-
tles, orange crates or any other handy item. A few for-
tunate ones huddle around the little coal stoves. The
less fortunate bundle themselves in “long johns,” parkas,
mittens and fur caps. The “projectionist” is almost al-
ways late. He gets to his work amid a lot of catcalls
and cries from the audience — but he ignores them as
befits his rank of Pfc- Just as everyone is settling down
the projector breaks down or the sound track and film
strip part company. As the movie starts up again, some-
one invariably pops up with .“This is the real thing!”
Next, right in the middle,of a torrid and passionate love
scene, the reel ends and the lights go on while the sec-
ond real it put on the projector. Names of hamlets and
towns — and especially the magic name “Brooklyn” —
bring whoops, yells and cheers from the motley assem-
bly of men. However, despite the physical discomfort,
the local Radio City Music Hall’s do a land-rush busi-
ness and, to Sgt. Postler at least, are well worth the time.
* *
Mannie Zimbler, manager of the ENSA troupe which
appeared at the Tripoli Theater Tuesday night, reports
that his group has been in existence .only three months.
This is the unit’s first tour outside the UK and they hope
that future months will take them to the fighting fronts
in Europe. Many of the entertainers have been doing-
ENSA work for the past two or three years, however ....
Drummer William Wallace spent nine years in India
with the British Army .... Hazel Murray, the young
soprano, is just 1| and making her first ENSA appear-
ances. She was in school when the war broke out ....
All the members of the troupe enjoy playing for “the
GIs” and have caught on to “American slang.“ Zimbler
says that the show is designed so that the jokes and gags
can be understood by the Yanks .... Cliff Clifford, the
MC, had the audience doing vocal gymnastics with the
“Pig Song.” Better oil your tonsils before 3rou see the
show. They’ll get a good workout . . . . Lt. Wheeler prov-
ed mighty adept at piano playing while exercising his
“ten talented digits” before the show started Tuesday
night-
* *
FOOTLOOSE IN ICELAND: The “Visir” newspaper
in Reykjavik is reprinting “The Robe” in daily, serial-
ized installments. The Lloyd Douglas best-seller is just
as popular up here as it is back in the States. Other
American stories and cartoons appearing in the “Visir”
are Ethel Vance’s “Escape” and the “Tarzan” strip of
Edgar Rice Burroughs. Betty Smith’s “A Tree Grows
In Brooklyn” is very “hot” in this country at the pre-
sent time. Many of the Icelanders, like the GIs, are sweat-
ing out shipments of “Forever Amber” and “Strange
Fruit.” As for movies, “Mission To Moscow” and “Ran-
don Harvest” are packing them in at the various bio’s
in town .... Pvt. Wilbur Fulton of the Base PX slates
that his wife is pleased with the many gifts he brought
back from his recent furlough in the States. Fulton found
that he wanted all the windows open while at home —
even if the folks seemed to freeze. He finds this fact a
bit unusual as it’s just about as warm in Iceland in the
fall as it is in Ohio. Incidentally, he saw the damage
caused by the East Ohio Gas Co. explosion in Cleveland
in October. “It caused a hell of a mess,” he said laconic-
alhr . . . . His MP buddies will “ride” Sgt- Elbert Over-
acre when his furlough is over. Elbert writes that he
was married to Miss Laura Thrasher of Troulville, Va„
on January 14. When asked about his marital plans
before leaving, Elbert told everyone “It’ll never hap-
pen !” .... Base Special Service this week received a
Christmas card addressed to the “U.S. Forces, Headquart-
ers Expeditionary Forces, Iceland” from Mr. Marvin
Pearer, PO Box 622, Greensboro, N.C........“Daily Varie-
ty,” in its Jan. 12 issue, gave the recent White Falcon
Overseas Motion Picture Poll quite a spread.