The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-19

| Use twenty 10 nity pusnels Of lime soWn
 broadcast and narrowed in after all other
 preparations of the soil have been per
 formed. In placing tile for drainage great
 care must be given to get the proper fall
 so that the tile may at all times be kept
 open to carry off all surplus water Once | the tile is properly placed if will last for
 years. The cost of tile drainage Is a small matter in comparison with the ben
 efits derived therefrom.
 As to Insects.
 Some attention, too is necessary in looking after the insects that feed on the
 foliage of the trees as well as on the | fruit. In waging a war of extermination | on insects that destroy crops, one of the most successful plans is clean and ever watchful cultivation. Cultivate regularly and destroy all places where insects may | hide breed and feed.
 l One of the greatest insect pests that we have to contend with in peach growing | is the peach borer. Many methods have | been devised for the destruction of this
 pest. One of the best ways to get rid
 of them or to prevent them boring into the tree at the ground is to use air slacked lime and tobacco dust In equal parts and apply around the tree. A good | plan Is to take away a small quantity of dirt around the tree and then spread | the lime and tobacco dust. A small quan- tity of salt may also be used with the lime 1 and tobacco dust. This mixture is a good fertilizer as we'll as an insecticide. It is also very important that the body of the trees be kept clean the old bark 1 kept scraped off and the trees have fre- quent washing. A good wash is made , by using tobacco tea and whale oil soap. This will prevent and destroy all lice that might gather on the trees or in tho 1 old bark if it is left on. So far we have | very few insects or worms that feed on the foliage of peach trees, and insects | of this class are usually very easily dis posed of by spraying. These pests may also be destroyed by using the orchard as a pasture for hogs and poultry. In fact there is no better place for poultry and hogs than in the orchard and they will both add greatly to the profits to be derived from the fruit growing.
 Spraying the Trees.
 | Spraying may also become necessary l for the destruction of both insects and l diseases, such as blight midew etc. The | better plan in this case will be to get some work on spraying, study 1t fully | and follow out the instructions as given for the mixing and preparing of the va rious solutions that 1t will be necessary
 
 spray and what to spray for. Much of this information can be had In the farm CTS institutes, where there is a free ex- | change of experiences of growers who understand the matter thoroughly. l It would be almost useless to attempt 1 to give much advice on spraying in a paper of this kind for unless we knew what the conditions were we could not ad- wise. But much of this work and worry can be prevented by keeping first the soil in a healthy condition and next a watchful care over the trees.
 Another good plan in fighting insects is to destroy, as far as possible, the parents of the insects-that fig, kill the moths that | lay the eggs which make the trouble. | When one moth Is killed in time 1t means the destruction of many worms. These l flying moths can be destroyed by placing l lamps in the orchard at night in such a way that the moths in flying around the light and striking the lamps will be | knocked down into vessels of oil and water. This practice is largely in vogue with tomato growers for the destruction of the moth that lays the eggs which produce the worms that are so destruct- i've to the tomato crop. It has proven a great success. All decayed or injured 1 fruit should be destroyed and not left in 1 the orchard to rot and thus breed other 1 insects and diseases. Much of the fruit
 that falls prematurely either contains worms or is diseased and should be de- | stroyed. It will be cheaper to have the orchard so arranged and fenced that hogs | can be turned in to eat the fallen fruit rather than to have to pick it up and
 carry 1t out to them. In fact hog and poultry raising should be carried on In connection with fruit and truck farming so that everything may be saved and turned to advantage. Both the hogs and poultry will furnish much fertilizer for l the orchard
 i Varieties.
 The matter of varieties will depend largely on what the market demands As most of the peaches grown are for l shipment north or to northern and for 1 eign markets, it is well enough, in fact absolutely necessary, to know the kind of peaches these markets will buy. These markets seem inclined to stick to and demand a free stone peach, and although we have many fine varieties of clings, yet 1 1t would be financial suicide to grow | clings to ship for these markets. Of free | stones the Elberta has proven the best | all round variety to grow for shipment. The only excuse for growing any other might be that some other sorts. which are earlier, might be grow in a small | way to nOlQ or SIdTI tile ulllli | the Elberta comes in. A few Croffords and Heaths early might be used for this purpose.
 Any reliable nurseryman will be willing | to guide the beginner in the selection | of the newest and best varieties. l Now, where there Is good home mar | ket the case may be entirely different, I for our home markets In the south will l always take a liberal supply of clings l We are going to build up trade with | Europe on peaches. In fact the experi- ments that have been made shipping peaches to Europe have proven success | That is, enough has been accomplished to prove that this will soon be an indus- 1 try that will bring a great revenue to our | peach growing sections, so that 1t is now | safe to plant for this market, and in l planting for northern markets and for export trade plant Elbertas until some- l thing better Is developed. And be sure | to buy from reliable sources, where you | know you will get what you pay for l Better pay double prices and be right l than to take chances, and after waiting | and after all the expense and trouble | you find when the trees bear that you
 have a worthless seeding that no one | will buy.
 l profjfe ip Peach Growinu