The Tupelo journal., 1903-02-06
To The Patrons Of
The Journal.

aOFtlculJurdl department WHICH
| hope can, by your cooperation
in the way Of short communica-
tions, be made interesting and
profitable to each and every one of
us. In this department we will
discuss the methods Of growing
vegetables and fruits for home
and market. 1t requires much
more skill, knowledge and atten-
tion to grow fruit than to plant,
cultivate and gather crop of corn
and cotton hence we should have
some means Of imparting and gain
ing this knowledge and some CO.
operation that we may assist each
other in fighting the numerous
enemies which confront us on every
side. | will in this Department
endeayor to answer auy questions
relative tc the growing of fruits
that may be directed to me. Send
your questions to me at Guntown,
Miss,
| Judging from the expressions
OF orchardists from all parts of
the United States the old Ben
Davis apple still has a cinch on
the growers. 1t has a host of
friends with few enemies. 1t is
in our Judgment the best late ap-
pie for our southern climate.
Look we'll at the condition of
your orchard now. Are your peach
trees afflicted with borers' Their
lpresence is noticeable by gummy
substance having formed ON the
tree at or near the surface of the
ground. Dig them out with a
sharp knife or some sharp instru-
ment, put shovel full of wood
| ashes around the tree and cover it
! with dirt.
Don't allow cows to ran in
your orchard. The biting off of
small and tender twigs of fruit
trees by cows or horses is in some
degree poisonous to the tree. Bet
ter mark it down. No stock in
the orchard. At least one half of
the home orchards of our county
have been entirely ruined by stock.
| In planting tree from the
nursery don't be afraid of the
knife. After having the tree set
out and the dirt firmly packed
among and around its roots cut
top off twelve or fifteen inches
above the ground. In the spring
when it begins to grow keep all
the sprouts off except three or
four near the top which will make
the br anches of your tree.
The Japan plum is fast becom-
ing very popular fruit in the
South and there is no fruit that
is more tempting, beautiful and
delicious than this type of the
plum family. 1t bears at two and
three years old and requires about
the same attention as peach tree.
Its greatest enemy is the curculio
which can be prevented by judici-
cious spraying. Every orchard
in Lee county should contain this
fruit.
By a little expense and a few
Espare hours the tables Of the land
owners of onr county can be fur
nished with delicious fruit fresh
from the tree six months in the
year and you will be astonished at
how the "little ones will relish it..
Why is it we do not have more
home orchardsf Two thirds of
the homes which are owned by
the occupant has no orchard. Let
US work up along this line.
With our hog, hominy, and fruit
raised athome supplemented by a
: good garden we are sure to be
prosperous and comparatively hap
, py even while negroes look after
: mail and Lincoln's picture hangs
, in the Hall of Fame. Pardon me
for this DEPRESSION for | was born
in Mississippi and reared Il Con.
, federate soldier.
.. Plant and cultivate patch Of
: strawberries. you will find that il
: will add brightness to the ewes
and redden the lips Of the chldrer
in the early season when o.hel
fruit is scarce. No piece OF. grounc
will pay you better than one fourth
acre in berries. 1t will last fol
three years without resettinp anC
: in our climate snldnm Moods n,o