The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-12


 gestive contribution deserves the thought who desires to secure the greatest profits from his plant
 By PROF. F. H. sToNEBURN
 One often wonders why so many poultrymen confine their adult birds in hot, sun baked yards and grow their chicks on shadeless ranges, in view Of the fact that fruit trees will furnish the necessary shade and protection and yield a profitable crop in addition. It cer- tainly looks like poor business judge r1ent to fail to take full advantage of the opportunity to secure two crops from the same area, especially when each is heip to the other.
 Fruit gowing in conjunction with poul- ty keeping may be developed as a dis tinct commercial enterprise or made strictly family table proposition, accord ing to the amount of available space. But it is astonishing how much fruit can be produced on very small amount of land and how often the home fruit plantation yields a surplus which brings in considerable cash.
 Many Advantages
 The advantages possessed by the poul- try-fruit partnership may be briefly summed up as follows. The trees and vines furnish the shade&heeded by chicks and hens, they attract many insects which the birds enjoy. and the unmarket able fruit may be incorporated in the poultry ration. In return, the fowls keep down the insect pests and add to the sci much valuable plant food which causes trees and vines to make rapid aai vigorous growth
 The one advantage of the combination lies in the fact that much of the press ing work in connection with the trees comes at the season when poultrymen are busy with incubators and breeders. It often happens that under such con- dtions one branch is neglected or both are only half cared for, and then dis appointment is bound to .olow.
 Of course, this refers solely to estab- lsnments where both fruit and poultry interests are considerable in extent On the home plot this difficulty would not arise.
 fl uits may be grown in poultry yards. On rented places, where quick returns are demanded, the various canes, blackber- r:cs or ra aspberries beet meet the neces- sites of the case. These may be set in rows or in clumps depending upon the size and shape of the poultry yards. Gooseberries and entrants may safely be planted in yards where the chicks are grown. as they will do little damage to the low hanging fruit.
 It must be admitted that chickens of all ages will pick many of the berries which are within reach: but what of it? Many will be left. and these are all clear profit, which could not be secured if bushes were not planted
 lA aio11 an It, ffrxr runs. and they are well adapted for use in places where but little space is avail able The vines should be trained over fences, high arbors or against the walls of buildings, so the clusters may hang beyond the reach of the birds. In some cases small yards may be completely roofed in with grape vines, thus Afford- ing a cool. shadey retreat for the fowls and furnishing good supply of deli- cous fruit. The writer has frequently observed this scheme in opera ton in city backyards, invariably to the benefit of both the birds and their owners
 Among the fruit trees which may be used to advantage are apples. pears, peaches and plums. In crowded locations these may be set close to the walls of buildings and the limbs trimmed off close on the side of the tree next to the wall. If necessary, the trees may be pruned in Tyre shape with their branches hugsing the wall, as is commonly done in Euro pean gardens.
 Apple trees are long lived, but are com paratively slow in growth For perma- nent yards they are most desirable, since replanting is not necessary The same may be said of pear trees. though these are usually upright in form and do not furnish as much shade as the wide spreading apples.
 Plums in Poultry Run
 Plums seem to thrive especially well in poultry yards, making rapid and vigorous growth The quality of the fruit grown oa plum trees so located is uniformly plum is the curculio, which attacks the fruit, causing much of it to fall prema- turely or at least injuring it's appear ance and value. The uowls may be de- pended upon to reduce such loss to the minimum, especially if the trees are lightly shaken or jared daily. This causes the insect to drop to the ground, and it never makes the return trip.
 In sections where the peach thrives trees of this kind are fine for growing ir the poultry runs They make rapid shade the second year ofter planting. Their foliage is thick, and the trees are unusually attractive in appearance. From blossoms to fruit, the peach is a source os constant satisfaction.
 Of course, the fruit trees should be cultivated, fertilzed and pruned. Ordl- narily the hens will attend to the first two items, scratching and wallowing in the soil and adding to it a constant SUD- ply of fertilizer which is high in the nitrogen content. In exceptional cases, where the yards are heavily stocked with fowls too much fertility is supplied, re- sulting in an excessive growth of wood, at the expense of the fruit. This condi- ten will not cause trouble until the trees reach the bearing age.
 Careful Pruning Desirable
 In the matter of pruning, the poultry man will gives his trees different treat ment than the professional horticulturist The latter heads his trees low in order to reduce the labor of spraying and picking the fruit. As a rule, low headed trees arc not desirable in the poultry yard, since they interfere with the work of caring for the stock, The poultryman n, therefore, trims his trees in such a man. Ter as to insure 'head room" underneath them Anyone who has attempted to round up bunch of chicks under low trees will appreciate the advantage of keeping the lower branches we'll above the ground.
 Pruning is necessary in all cases; it is especially demanded where trees are grown in rich soil. Proper pruning pro- notes and conserves the vigor of fruit trees and retains proper balance be- tween vegetable growth and fruit pro- duction. It opens up the branches and -. uAAA uuA1 0r More