The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-03
Ten Extra Statesmen
Wanted at BLACH'S
Moving Sale.

on farm and so should be located to the
very best advantage, for a mistake In
| this matter Is not easily corrected. The
grower should take everything into care
| full consideration before location.
The orchard should be located so that
| the fruit will not have to be hauled far
for packing Again the location should
| be where there is a sufficient fall to
make drainage Then again the orch
ard should be so located as to show the
| farm off to the best advantage Also 1t
| should be located so as to be easily and
| cheaply fenced, provided one should want
to use it for pasture for hogs or other
stock. All these little details should be
| taken itno account as well as the matter
of SOIL
Soil and Preparation.
The soil and preparation of the soil Is
the most important matter of all in COM
mercial apple growing. There are
great many soils which with intelligent
care and preparation may be made to
produce fine apples, yet the best soil Tor
apples is a rich well drained clam loan;
wet. water soaked soils should be avoided
as well as poor, white, sandy soils; light,
thin soils do not yield apples Hard pan
soils should be broken deep with a sub
soil pillow and the acidity of such SOILS
corrected before they are planted. SUCH
soils need humus lime and drainage be-
fore they are suitable for fruit growing.
We stated above that we would give
some reasons why many growers IN the
Ozark regions were not growing as large
and as red apples as they should. NOW
here is one Of the chief reasons-the
want of a knowledge of soils ana no" To
prepare their soils. Many growers In TINS
region have fallen into the common err
ln lo De4n
in corn and grain crops until II VIII
no longer produce these, it may be set TO
fruit trees and made to grow pfoht-
able crops Of fruit, and so we see many
orchards planted in manner whleh
clearly shows that the planter ellher
knows nothing about the wants or re-
auirements of fruit tree or else he Is
too Indifferent to supply such wants.
While the Ozark country ls one OF the
hest In the world for apples, the lands
here need preparation and care III ofoer
for them to produce fine apples as much
as do the lands of other sections. we
see apple trees planted on such SOILS, as
any sensible thinking man should know,
would never produce fruit. The farmers
of the Ozarks should not conclude that
simply because this country has the name
of being the country of the big red June
ample lust any kind of treatment of the
soil and the trees Will result IN prouuc-
ing a fruit crop. Remember that TINS Wen
deserved name for the Ozarks was not
won by that class of farmers who never
nay any attention to the selection and
preparation of their soils; who never study
the question of fertilizers or drainage;
who know nothing about cultivation or
the pruning Of fruit trees No. this name
was won by a different class OF farmers.
Ii is to be regretted that We have 50
many of this class of poor horticulturists
In the Ozark country.
However we would not have them cease
the growing of fruit, but would advise
them to give this matter more careful
consideration and try 10 grow better fruit
and try to make their crops of apples
more profitable. After the soil has been
selected 1t should undergo careful course
Of preparation for receiving trees until
they are made SO. The idea of cutting
the timber and sticking the trees around
among the stumps without any soil prepa-
ration or cultivation is an antiquated plan
that should be abandoned. If a man would
furnish me the trees free and plant them
free Of charge we would not give him
his board to do this kfnd or planting.
Trees are not going TO live long planted
this way. Then think of the vexation
of trying TO do anything eultivating trees
among stumps. The land should be cleared
of all stumps brush ana STONES as far
as possible and gotten into good state
of cultivation before the ,rees are ever
set Many Of the lands in the Ozaris
as we'll as in all sections named, need
to be subsidized, and this should be dona
before the trees are planted. The matter
of subsoilng Is one of great Importance;
1t has two-fold purpose. tnat OF drain
age and conserving moisture. Besides II
aerates the soil. letting In air to the roots
thus stimulating the growth OF the tree.
CONCLUDED In the next Issue OF Weekly)