The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-01
Not Like Cotton Crop.

An orchard Is not like a cotton or corn crop, for i'll cultivating these if a great mistake Is made in the preparation of the soil or In the laying. out of the rows we have a chance to correct this mistake the next season, but not so with the orchard, for it is to last for years, or should, and will if properly planted and properly managed. This is why place so much stress on a thorough prep aration of the soil before planting. In all my farm experience and in all my farm operations find that to have anything on farm which cannot manage at will is simply an eye-sore, a vexation all the while, and to have an orchard planted so that l cannot cultivate or manage it and to have it all growing up in weeds, briars and brush and these protected by old stumps and ditches, is something cannot bear to see on a farm Hence, as stated in a former paper, the great importance of clearing the soil of all these before planting the trees. Clear the land of all these and then cultivate it year or two and get 1t in fine condition before planting, and then plant after which the cultivation will be an easy matter.
 I know what argument will come fin here-that this takes too long-we have to wait so long before we get any fruit Well, to this I want to say right here, that this is no fault of ours, for we have been now for three years, through the Age-Herald, trying to impress these im- portant matters upon the Alabama farmers and if you had commenced this work of preparing your soil for the growth of crops, as we advocated, you would now have your lands in the proper condition to take up peach planting at once ut there is nothing to be gained by hurrying this matter and planting be- fore the soil is prepared. for in doing so one Is sure to lose out in the end. Re- member that in planting now you have to come at once into competitions with strong, experienced growers, who have learned all these things, and like Colonel Falkner of Montgomery, Mr. Hand of Bay Minette. MT. Turnipseed of Union Springs, and MT. Hale of Georgia have become successful growers and shippers These men are making great success and one can point to them with pride and say to the beginner: Go to them and learn how to succeed. Be sure to prepare the soil first, then plant right and the battle Is half won.
 Cultivation.
 The planting Is not all, for even If an orchard is planted in full after our di- rection and then the cultivation neg lected the whole thing will be failure; but if the trees have been planted as di. rected the after cultivation will be an easy matter. First, I want to impress upon the reader the importance of a system of strictly level cultivation. Use such implements only in cultivation as will enable you to cultivate so as to al- ways leave the soil level. Never use a turning blow in a fruit orchard. More orchards have been ruined and killed by the use of turning blows than have been | lost from any other cause. Throwing the dirt either to or from the trees with a 1 turning blow Is alike fatal to the trees. Some good light cultvator should be used and this followed by a smoothing harrow, which leaves the land perfectly level is | tho idea.
 | And here I want to call the attention of