St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-02-11
Truck Farming.

:'ublic interest il truck growing
is rapidly developing saeseves6l OF
the North Louisiana parishes, 10
most OF which associations for that
purpose have been formed which
secure the services Of the most prac.
tical fruit and vegetable growers to
lecture. Among the most popular
OF these is Col. d. h. L. Bonner,
OF Texas, who has made a euccess
OF fruit culture, and is a man of
great prominence among the farm.
ere. As several Of our own peo-
pie are going into the same bust.
ness We publish the following re-
marks made by Mr.. Bonner at a
meeting at Winfield:
Col. Bonner stated that he was a
farmer; . man who tills the soil for
= living; and that he chose this avo-
cation because of its possibilities
for a free. happy and independent
life. He is certain that all Of North
Louisiana is IN exceptionally fine
fruit country, and made the state
ment that the land in this imned,
ate section, when set in peach trees
and the fruit properly handled, will
net the owner $3.50 per acre.
Concerning the buying CT peach
trees, the speaker advised against
buying old trees, but buy what is
known at the nurseries as June
Buds" Set them 10 deeper it, the
ground than they grew in the uurs-
cry, and use no fertilizer the first
year. Trim OF all broken and bruised
roofs, and have the hole sufficiently
large to receive sll the Roots without
ctampiDg them. Fill III dirt aroun"
the roots closely as the hole IS being
filled. 1t ,s not good to fern'ize the
trees the first year.
After the trees have been set,
take q measuring stick eighteen
inches loax, and, setting 1t by the
side Ut every hole, cut the top off
at the top 1t the stick, using n sharp
knife, ana make q clean bevel cut.
In the spring, wien the trees begin
to bud, rub OF all buds except four
Or five ut the top. Let these grow,
and the following winter take
sharp knife u pruning shears and
cut of halt Of each one of these
limbo. Keep all buds below these
limbs rubbed of aud all sprouts
cot away. The following winter
cut of one.third Of the second
year's growth Of. each limb During
;bls time the trees must be cult.
'ated and fertilized. Any kind Of
'rop, except corn aud oats or other
grain crops. can be grown 10 the |
orchards. After the trees have been
,iven the treatment outlined, they |
re ready to begin bearing, and
will pay handsomely tor the time
md expense necessary to bring
hem to this point. The speaker
commended tn. following var'e.
lee Of peaches for an orchard, each
eing named according t"its peri"d
{ ripeuing: Seed, Greensboro.
Ilexahder, Arp BEAUTY, Elberta.
Col. Bonner said that truck grow.
u is far ahead OF the banking
uslness, and Is the only hope OF
he farmer. He citeo instances
here debt-rldden cotton farmers
( bis sectlon had paid their debts
nd accumulated fair sized bank
cceunts within short time after
ngaging in truck farming aud
'uit growing. One man, Wesley
[orton, of 'rrouds. Texas. cleared
l474 on two and one.haif acres If 6
'matoee. Many other instances I
ere cited. The speaker asked any
,e interested to either 60 or write :,
I'd learn whether or not he was tell.
E facts. G
In the afternoon Mr.. Keaghev a
Id Of the wonderful Development a
the truck growing industry in :
'utbeast Louisiana. along tie line = =
the Illinois Central Railroad. He :,
dorsed all said by Col. Bonner in
e forenoon. and said that just p
Oh instances as cited had come 1t
der his observation in the section u
which he spoke and in which be :,
,ided. >. a
TWO NEW STATES. 1t