davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
Fruit Trees in Grass.

The fruit grower of today has no easy
task before him to keep his trees healthy
and produce good fruit, says the Practical
Farmer. Insect pests and fungus dis
eases are to be fought all the time to Oh
tain success. 1t seems to many when
they look back that there was not so
much trouble in years past as there is to-
DAY, and yet the writer remembers well
enough the trouble insects were to the
fruit, and fungi to the leaves, in his boy
hood days II is "a fact that work has
always been necessary to obtain fruit, as
IL will be without doubt to the end A
great many of the fungus pests of to-day
come from the trees being pushed along
too rapidly. just why, it is not clear,
but it is undisputed that many
fruit trees, pear trees, for example,
are much more liable to blights when in
cultivated ground, where they have
made strong growth, than when in sod
or uncultivated places, where less vigor-
GUS shoots have been made The fire
blight passes by the trees in sod, and
strikes the ones in the garden. The
slower growth of those in sod does not
prove as susceptible to the attacks of the
fungus spores which tloat in the air, and
they pass on to find more suitable host
plants. That sturdy growth, such as is
made on trees in sod, should be more
blight proof than that which Is more ram
pant, is no more surprising than Is the
fact that some varieties of fruits are
more liable TO disease than others Taking
grapes fer illustration, the Ives is a well
known almost rot-proof kind. 1t may be
growing next to another kind which will
be destroyed by rot, while the fruit of
the Ives will be perfect In this vicinity
there are orchards of pears which have
been in sod for years, and the trees,
old as they are, are in perfect
health and vigOr The popular plan with
our fruit growers, and probably the very
best one, is TO set out their trees in shape
for cultivating for a few years, aud then
when well into the bearing stage, to let
sod form, and keep them in that shape af-
forwards When in sod, the grass should
not be permitted to get high, otherwise
the trees are 50 robbed of food as to be-
come stunted and the fruit is small. At
times a crop of hay is gathered, but in
this case manure should be heavily ap-
piled, to make good what the grass takes
When trees are in pastures where the
grass is kept low, and where an abund-
ance of manure is provided for them, they
are the healthiest of all, have fewer dis
eases, and bear fruit of fine quality In
dividual frult may sometimes be larger on
trees i'll cultivated ground, but does this
compensate for all the risks run there of
bIghts, which are sometimes so severe as
to completely destroy all your trees3
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

Democrat would suggest that they be
planted in nursery rows four feet apart
each way This distance would AFFORD
room enough to allow the trees to become
stocky and form good heads. These rows
in the nursery might then be protected
by covering of boards or straw from
the severe cold, and from thence be
transplanted into permanent orchard
about the third or fourth spring. Other
ways ,of protecting young fg trees have
been practiced successfully. MIR. Wor-
Ellington, of Ohio, cut off the roots on
one side, bent the tree to the ground and
covered with earth, aud some advise
wrapping loosely with several thickness
es of paper top and all, for several win
tiers, or until the wood becomes hard
ened.
Pruning-A young fig tree needs no
pruning. Start the growth at a proper
distance from the ground lsay three or
four feet and rub off all the superabun-
dant buds with the thumb and forefinger
This should be done in the nursery. Keep
tho pruaing shears and knife away from
the young tree; they do more harm than
good.
Fertiliziug-Leaf mold from the woods.
scrapings from the fence corners we'll
rotted barn-yard manure, hardwood
ashes, soapsuds. finely groand bones, all
that you will succeed if you plant your
fig orchard in the middle OF a pine barren
and let the trees shift for themselves.
The fig should have the best of cultiva-
tiOn.
Varieties.-There are a good many va
rieties of the fig grown in the Gulf states.
and especially in New Orleans The
White Adriatic, lately introduced, has
been extensively advertised by nursery
men as being of very superior quality and
likely to supplant all others Tor canning
and preserving purposes. We do not
think this variety has fulfilled the OK
pecUations of the introducers, as we hear
very little about it now.
The Celeste continues to be the most
popular and is more largely grown than
any other, and it seems TO be generally
preferred both as a dessert fruit, also for
canning and preserving. There is another
variety, however, very much like the
Celeste in every way which we have seen
growing in Iberville parish and elsewhere
in Louisiana, which the Iimes-Democrat
believes would be more generally propa-
gated were its good points better known.
The fruit is of the same shape. color and
quality of the Celeste, only tvs or three
times as large. 1t ripens fully one month
later, and we have seen it hold it's leaves
and bear excellent fruit until frost. 1t is
known locally as the brown sugar fig,
and is doubtless one Of the many intro
duced by the old Creole planters from
either the South of France or Spain The
horticultural editor would here remark
that he has neither trees or cuttings Of
this fig, but hopes to obtain a few for
propagation during the present season.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
Hints on Fig Culture.

Outside Of the citrus belt il is some
times very difficult to obtain a good stand
in the orchard owing to the susceptibility
of the young fig trees to injury from cold
Many persons who have endeavored to
establish an orchard Of figs have, after a
few years trial, given up the pro Get, for
the trees We're almost invariably frozen
to the surface with every recurring cold
spell.
A well-grown bearing fig tree as a rule
rarely suffers any damage from the effects
of a freeze, and the crop is almost Ger
tainty Only one time during the recol-
lection OF the horticultural editor Of the
Times-Democrat has there been a com
plete failure of the crop in the lower Gulf
states, and that was in the spring of 1891 ,
when not only was the new growth and
fruit frozen, but the trees were defoliated
and the vitality of the largest was con-
siderablv impaired. Those four or five
years old lost their branches and nursery
trees, Of course, were frozen to the earth
Success, then, in establishing fg or
chards depends upon the success one may
have in the protection of young trees Un-
til they arrive at an age when the woody
portion becomes firm and hard, which we
will say is three years. The Times
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

the land and sowed broadcast one-halt
bushel of the beans to the acre and har-
rowed them in; the rabgrass came in
with them, and as they We're not thick
enough to smother it out all did well and
made fine crop of the best kind of hay.
As they do not vine, they are better than
the coz peas for this purpose.
have never tried blowing them in as
an improver of the soil but think that
they would beat the world for that pur
pose, as they produce such luxurious
growth.
My plan is to cut them off for hay,
feed them to stock, and return the drop
pings from the stock back to the soil.
SOFA Beans and sweet potatoes are
the crops to raise to fatten hogs on.
There is danger in turning cattle on them
dry. One of my neigh bors lost a fine COW
recently by letting her eat too many at a
time Hogs running on them should
have access to plenty of pure water.
Fellow farmers, try them, and "if at
first you don't succeed. try them again -
They are great plant when you learn
their merits
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
A Host Of Questions.

Agricultural Editor Morning News
WI, You kindly answer the following in
tAe MORNING News agricultural columns
have just bought a piece of rolling
and IN Southwest Georgia. II has a
sandy top and clay sub-soil tred clay. I
want to plant ten acres in the Wonderful
pea you spoke of in your issue Of March
'. HFe acres in the fiat pea YOU spoke
vi 10 same issue; two acres in "Soja
oedhs, and three acres in alfalfa The
Iahu mas never been cultivated at all, not
even broken up Vet, win you kindly tell
u'e' is IL TOO late to plant above2 How
nI''A seed OF each to use per acre, and
""dv hlnd OF fertilizers to best use with
edch Where | can get the seed of each,
ana now much they will cost? Also, how
~ ~. ueot to have land plowed for each2
what IS the very latest | can have each
ltdhled and do well2 | also want to plant
-'t acres IN the Jerusalem artichoke. viii
I'So NlHdlN tell me what is the latest time
can plant them and what fertilizers to
use ana now to have the land plowed and
,.1r ated Would you advise planting
G"o"uSOn grass" for hay in Southwest
georgia. How can it best be kept from
Ni.ao!hg further than the land allotted
Nv III. VIII dltchin% on three sides and q
ol"AoA keep it in bounds How much
.1' I'D use per acre, and will August be
W late to plant it! Which is best low,
W.. nm low or high land to plant it on
, "ual viii trio of merino sheep cost, and
mere can get them What VIII trio of
e9se@ fun blood and registered) pigs cost,
oIu Where can l get theme Which do you
,0u'loer the best COWS for the farmer
..It ne cannot sell milk-the full ''Jer-
Z or the full HOlsteen Ereislau2" BY
,''"''t answering the above naming ques-
, a94s In your Mondays issue of 18th you
Will very greatly favor a subscriber.
Yours respectfully,
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

weeds before the potatoe sprouts show
through the soil, and in fact can destroy
the bulk of the remainder of the noxiOus
plants before the potatoes are six
inches high. Al this is done without
any hand labor. At first we start
with the smoothing harrow, and later
use, perhaps Breeds weeder. and when
the growth of the plants interteres with
the use of these excellent tools, there is
little left to be done save occasional uss
OF the cultivatOr between the rows. The
point is TO raise the crop at least possible
expense and at same time leave nothing
undone that would favor the largest pos
STOLE yield of good merchantable tubers.
Hand labor on potatoes is gone by. Seed,
cultivate, dig, everything by machine
power. As regard fertilizers for potatoes,
II must generally be acknowledged that
usually commercial fertilizers are much
better than animal manures. The latter
are prone to induce scab and fungous
disease, and should be applied if at ALL
the fall previous TO planting Potato
manure should show large proportions of
potash. Wood ashes supply potash, but
many think they also favor scab develop
meut WILLIAM p PERKINS
Essex County Mass
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
the Potato Crop.

Potatoes are one OF our great staple
crops, and one that in many localities is
more profitable to the farmer than any,
thing else commanding market equally
large and widespread, writes w. p. Per
kins in Farmers Review. 1t should be
remembered that the potato crop draws
comparatively little plant food from the
soil as judged by what it takes to produce
cereal products. Grains are hard lIpon
upon the soil, eXhausting the same in a
lew years, II wise hus0andry is not pur-
sued and liberal fertilization given Veg
etables, on the OJher hand, contain much
water, and therefore are not nearly as
expensive crops to raise. / would not
grow potatoes upon the same land more
than twice consecutively. For most
soils probably one crop Of potatoes in a
rotation OF three or four yenrs is sufti-
Gent The first year from sod
we prefer TO plant some crop
like corn. The second year the sod
Will have rOtted so as to admit
thorough and deep blowing and har-
rowing and planting the seed rather
deeply in the ground, ali of which is i'm
portant when good crops of potatoes are
10 be grown. There IS much difference Of
opinion expressed upon the matter Of
cutting the seed. / think one or two good
eyes upon a fair sized piece of potato
enough II the seed be placed say f\ G
inches deep in moist, warm earth. There
is great variation IN soils and moisture
or dryness at planting time. Hence the
cont1lctlng advice given. | know many
favor whole seed but it costs more to
plant given area and is no better if
conditions are right, Then the tendency
IS TO throw up too many stalks when
whole seeding is followed Too many
stalks make many small potatoes. Two or
three stalks TO a hill are usually enough.
and If more are produced it will undoubC-
edly improve the Weld and character of
the crop to remove the more spindliug Of
the surplus shoots Fairly deep blowing is
the proper thing for potatoes. OF course,
do not turn up the subsoil, but on good
rich land the soil may be prohtably
plowed at least six or eight inches in
depth. Then we would put the seed fully
i've inches down in the drill. The crop
wants moisture, and 1t is important that
the plants root deeply. IN covering 90
not I'LL in the furrow level at first: but
let this be gradually accomplished by the
successive hoeings and culliva lions.
Different soils and varieties Of seed will
affect the proper distributions OF the
plants. In some cases nearer planting
Will be allowed than in others In gen
eral the drills may run from three TO Jour
feet apart, and the plants stand twelve to
eighteen inches in the drills. We care
Tor our crop now much more easily and
with less care and labor than years ago
was deemed necessary We can kill many
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
Jersey Sweet Potatoes.

An article written by Mr.. j. F. Gull
martin or Jersey sweet potatoes, and pub
lished in this department recently, has
had the effect of deluging MIR. Guilmartin
with letters inquiring where seed OF
sprouts OF that variety may be had. He
writes to this department that ne has no
seed for sale; that he had sold out all he
had to dispose of before Jan. l. But
parties desiring the seed may write to j.
Y. Shuptrine, scotsman, Savannah, Ga.
Mr.. Guilmartin says his little arucle has
called out no less that fifty letters of in
Quiry already, and still they come, which
is pretty good evidence that planters APP
preciate the weekly exchange of informa-
tion through these columns.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

Inc above mentioned peas or beans can
De SOWn any time II April, Nav or June
the earlier the better At the present
prices OF these peas and beans it would
cost you considerable TO plant five or ten
acres with them if YOU use ANYTHING like
the same quality of seed that YOU would
use OF our common peas. We presume
mat you would regard economy in the
matter, and would prefer to get along
with smallest amount of seed possible to
make 1t protsable. If the seeds of either
are hrst-class you could make four to
elght quarts answer very well for first
year S seeding. Seeds of both of these
pants would doubtless command good
prices another year and should prove
very profitable to the grower. We are
now trying to find some one who has
lheSe seeds at reasonable prices.
Artlchokes should have been planted
IN january IN YOUR section. We could
not advise planting them so late as this.
though small plot might be risked with
view TO raising some seed for another
year, but they are not likely TO produce
very good results planted SO late.
Johnson grass when properly estab-
nshed on moist bottom land produces an
immense quantity of nutritious hay, if
cut at the proper time. 1t is very diff
cult to get stand from the seed unless a
TCty HDSIdl quantity OF SeedS are used.
IL is entirely too late now to SOW with
expectation of satisfactory results unless
the root cuttings" were used In your
section the seed should be sown in Feb
ruarY or early in March. 1t can be very
readily kept from spreading by bitches
Less than three bushels of seed is not
likely to give anything of a stand the first
year, as very small proportion of the
seed are ever fertile. The surest and
most satisfactory way of propagating it
Is by means Of the root cuttings.
Can any Of our readers inform J. S. C.
as TO MerinO sheep.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

Beaueierc, Fla, March u, 1891 no
ucad in the agricultural department of
The MORNING NEWS something about a
lorty-acre pond that is strangely affected
with something that causes irritating
troubles TO men ana stock that cultivate
IT, Wen, after reading the article l am
reminded Of place in Orange county,
Florida, that is rich in muck deposits
Ihe plat of ground produces very fine
crops OF onions. but the farmers complain
o. an itching sensation all the time they
are at work in it, and the general opinion
is mat the trouble is caused by some very
minute mlcrobe that infests the dry,
dusty soil of the mucky deposits. | hope
my friend, who si2ns his name as Sub
sender, will send some of his soil to the
chemist, that we may learn what it is and
uyllSe some means to get RID of the
uOiule. A READER.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
2 Forty Acre Pond Strangely In
tested.

4CEG6ls
From Mr.. c. Il. Williams of Thomas
vile, Ga, we have the following com
meut on the letter with the above heading
that appeared in these columns two or
three weeks ago.
It's quite possible that some minute in
sect infosts the soil mentioned. However
it would require chemical analysis in
order to arrive at any positive conclu-
sion AS TO the cause.
Agricultural Editor of the MORNING
News: In the MORNING News Of March
3, ] noticed "A Forty AcrelPond Strange
~ Iulested.'
Three years ago, while clearing up
cypress pond to utilize the clay for brick
making, ] noticed that something would
cause my limbs to itch so that | would be
kept awake more than half the night
trying to aliay the sensation. On men
tiOn.ng The fact to my negroes, who were
al work in the pond all day, / found they
suffered more than myself We noticed
the pheuomuia daily. During wet wea-
ther we had no trouble, but as the soil
dried out and the weather became warm,
the Itching or biting increased ut times
We were compelled to quit work
After the pond was drained, the rain
seemed to washed away the little pests, as
we were never troubled with them again.
Col VIM. Mc.endon, to whom | men
toned the fact at the time, told me We
We're bothered with a sand flea" and
that his hands had been troubled the
same way al different periods when work
ing IN certain ponds.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
Albany, Ga.

our correspondent asks number of
f'estlons that we can not answer very
satisfactory to ourselves or to him. We
-'Pe our readers will observe these ques-
.o"S closely aud give the information
sought if possible.
BIZ. ue only persons that have offered for
s, r.1 me wonderful pea, that we know of,
ire me Texas Seed Company, Dallas,
lux, and Ii. @. Hastings & Co, Inter-
nv tt'9teh' Ella, but these parties ask very
"IIa prices for them.
me Hat pea has been introduced
, ~.. general cultivation In regard to it
rl.1c 10 Prof. O. Clute, director Expert
menu station, Lake City, Fla.
,,- nave any Of our readers Essex Rigs. -
could name a northern raiser of these
aogs but it would be very costly getting
,-gA rom such a distance IL is more
, ..al nicely that the Jersey grades would
'1'V your purpose better.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
Ivory, or Brazilian Wheat-Seed
Wanted

A correspondent at Monticello, Fla,
desires to get seed of the above variety of
sorghum. We would like to know if any
reader of the News has the seed for sale.
Some years ago (ten or more, perhaps,
the state commissioner of agriculture, j..
T. Henderson, distributed packages of
seed OF this plant under the name of
Ivory wheat" The seeds have some
what of an ivory appearance, but it is
also known under the name african"
Egyptian and Brazilian" wheat. In
the past three months we have made re-
peated inquiry for seed, but so far,
strange to say, have found no one who
has continued to cultivate it. AS it is
very best thing for a poultry raiser to
grow, we are surprised to ind it so neg
lerted
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

Questions and communications relative
10 arriculturaland horticultural subjects,
il addressed to Agri Editor, Drawer n,
NIiuedgaville, Ga, will receive immediate
attention.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

We solicit articles for this department.
Tbeuame of the writer should accompany
the letter or article, not necessarily for
rublicst ton, but as an evidence of good
faith.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19

We know of no grower in Georgia or
Florida Write to J. B. Burkitt & Sons,
Abbott, Miss, and Herbert Post, Fort
Worth, Tex If neither of these have the
"sots" they can probably inform you
where YOU can get them. We are sorry
we cannot name some Georgia and Flor
ida farmer who has the sets for sale, as
the Texas blue grass is very valuable for
winter and spring pastures in the south.
butt is comparatively tedious to get it
10 live at first.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-19
SETS Of Texas Blue Grass Wanted.

Agricultural Editor Morning News
Kindly inform me the nearest point
al which I can get root cuttings of the
Texas blue grass; also who from.
Cassia, Fla. j. p. OWENS.
Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-23
GREEAvILLE NEWS BUDGET.
j. a. CRAWFORD pLows our MS
nRAiSs.
Tho Crime Committed In the Press
cnce OF MS wife-A smart hoy who
roiied nursiars-iroui Play sus-
pected-Notcs.

Hreenvilie, Tex, Oct, 90. j. A. Craw.
ford committed suicide at his home
near Floyd, eight miles west OF this
place, Friday nisht. ny shooting him.
self with u sS-calihre pistol Tho act
was committed In the prencnce OF his
wife. lie had lived there oniy a short
while, having bought a farm from
Mr. Mart Rollins last year He got
along splcndldiy for while. but lately
his mind seemed TO ha falling him.
ana only q few days ago he left home,
but ON returning Friday evening, said
hc had been down to capeville, aud ON
his return had passed through Farm.
ersvllle, whcri No had purchased a
new suit Of clothes. which he said he
wished TO be buried in. lie also told
his VITO that Ne had money in his
pocket 10 dcfrNy burial expenses, After
asking her a few uues lions coueorning
hcr health, he drew a pistol from hla
pocket and frld one shot into his side.
HIS terrified wife Immediately sums
noneu q physician, but was loo Into,
as he lived only few hours longer.
500 N"NhhANlA Is ltli MlAnntf AnNa
thing aul has the sympathy OF the
entire noighborhu0d,
Last nttht about o'aloolS, ~ n
sm0u hoy by the name OF Debut MUIR
phy was pacing by the rear OF Schlff
y Reeves dry goods store. he Noticed
Two men AT work trying to galu an
ontrancr They were pr,lng On the
non hara In the window, aud when
they saw Young Murphy they called
In linn ia. a.
ran TO tho Methodist church and in-
formed Deputy Sherlff Anderson. who
Immediately went To the econe OF the
attempted robbery. Tho men had gone
but the bars IN the windows were al
most out. aud In few more minutes
an entrance would have been nude
~ is supposed they were amateurs at
the business. Na II was Vcfy early at
the time of the attempt
a little boy 6 years old, giving hla
name ns Fnuk Van lloueton. Wan
found In n cattle car yesterday iuntn-
Ing ty Deputy Shcrn Jim Anderson
The little fellow said that he had lived
on Elm street In nallur; also said that
IDS father drank He was taken home
by Anderson. who says that the boy ~
very bright and tnlkatlVe. No one
has called for him vet,
Late Friday night when O. g.
Reeves was leaving his store. he no.
tlcod horse hltchcd baol, Of IT, but
thought nothing Of 1t at tho timu, but
on coming down Saturday morning
found the horse was sun there M
Roevca led him, but aa no one called
for him that morning, had him tAl,9n
to his stable, where he has been fod-
ing him ever since, No one has called
FOR him yet and II Is the general opn-
ion that ita owner has been foully
dealt with.
Bob Carver OF the Terrell REGISTER In
here today.