The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-20
THE FARM AND THE GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO AGRI-
CULTURIsT AND HOUSEWIFE.

I NOIeh on must OF us ne
crOachment of Disease And In
sects-Globe Artichokes--FertiI r
and stable Manure-PInnts in Pots.
Angora Goats, etc.
Rust has again attacked the asparagus
/ plantations in the South. The small bed
/ in the home garden and the hundred-acre
/ plants along the coast of Carolina and
| Georgia are alike affected. We referred TO
/ this blight of asparagus last fall in this
column and reported the measures adopt
ed for the cure of the disease Later and
in the spring we reported the results OF
the treatment as indicated by the appear
ance of the plants a the opening of the
growing season. Though the plants were
badly rusted last fall none died during the
winter and this spring made as fine a
yield of sprouts as 1t was possible for
healthy asparagus to yield. After the
cutting season was over (wer along in
May) the plants made a fine growth of
brush and up to the middle of July were
as green and healthy apparently as need
be. Towards the close of the month. how
ever, rust was observed on occasional
plants ar'l by Aug. IL the whole bed was
yellow with the rust. The plants had
been well lined when the rust was first
discovered. but 1t had no effect in ward
ing off the disease from the rest of the
crop. AS was done last season, the brush
has been cut down leaving stubble of one
foot in length. As soon as this dries so
that it will burn the brush and stubble
will he burned off, burning the stubble
down to the ground. Then another heavy
dressing of air-slaked lime will be made
TO the surface with nothing more TO do
than TO await the result next April
Though the plants were badly affected
with rust last year the crop was not at
all diminished this spring and it may be
that the plants will still survive a second
attack of the rust 1t is possible the rust
may disappear and the plants he restored
TO a normal condition of health. Or it
may be that it will require a presence of
the disease for several years to entirely
destroy the plants. We can only wait and
watch, applying such remedies as may be
suggested by past experience as being
likely to check or cure the disease.
Be des ! ming and hurning over the
beds in the fall, the Bordeaux mixture
dime ard bluestone) should be sprayed
on the beds as soon as the cutting season
is over next spring. That is as soon as
tire plants have made some growth, the
first of June or middle of May, possibly
This spraying should be repeated several
times from June to August. 1t was evil
dent this season that the rust Of last
fall did not affect the yielding qualities
OF the roofs after the first attack of rust.
What this second attack will do can on
be discovered next March or April.
There is no question that this multi
plication of blight and insects in the plant
world is affording abundant cause for
very serious reflection as to the future
welfare of this new world. Every econ
omic plant is being infested with disease
of some kind and likewise injurious 10
scots and their combined influence may
at any time now produce entire fallure
of a seasons planting of everything tnat
is grown. We would not be an aarmist,
but we would insIt upeu every one who
plants. unders aiding how serious the
matter may possibly become, if energetic
measures are not taken to protect their
crors from disease and ms ects before it
is too late to do any good The enemy
may get within the gates before we are
aroused to the danger that threatens
There is no doubt that much of the sue
cess to result fr m till'ng the soil hence
for h is to be the result of certain RENE
dial or preventive work thai had no
part in farm work so or % ye ars ago. Any
ore even fairly acquainted with the pos
sible dangers that lie in the planters
path cannot but feel profound anxiety
for the future; for very few of our South-
ern farmers appear to undo rstand as yet
that there is, urgent need for doing any
thing towards warding off the threatened
dangers. d.,