The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-30
Keep Orchards Clean
By DIR. 0. F. E. wINBERG

In going through the orange district of south Alabama we find that approxi- mately 80 per cent of the orchards are kept in high state of cultivation. Do not discontinue the cultivation, but keep 1t going. Keep the orchard free from weeds as far as possible throughout the season. The fertilizer material cost more money now than ever, therefore We cannot afford to grow weeds. The trees need all the nourishment that has been placed in the ground this season in order that they shall be able to re- cuperate from the effect of the storm of last summer and the low temperatures of last fall and winter
 There is an inexhaustible supply of ni- frozen in the air. This can be made available in the orchards and in the fields by the planting of legumes, such as cowpeaS, velvet beans, soy beans, beggarweed, etc In addition to the real fertilizer value of these plants it adds hunus to the soil which is so nee essary in the gulf coast section.
 The farmer and orchardist can hardly afford to buy the high-priced nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia. etc, when he can obtain these materials in sufficient quantities for his trees, or other crops for practically nothing except the seed it takes to plant and the labor in planting.
 It is not too late to plant the above varieties of legumes so anyone who has not done so should do it now By all means do everything possible in the or chard this season in the way of prepara- tion for a full crop in 191S
 Spray your orchards for scale insects and rust mite and red spider this month Guly). Don't believe for a moment that if you have sprayed your orchard clean that that will suffice for the season hot T. before the end of the season that your one spraying was time and money vast ed. Therefore keep it up systematically. Keep the trees clean and prevent the rust mite, the spider and white fly from lowering the quality of your fruit.
 During the month of July the land should be prepared for the fall crop of Irish potatoes Every farmer and or chardist ought to plant Irish potatoes in the fall For number of years we have noticed the farmers buying pota- toes throughout the winter Certainly that is absolutely wrong, as we believe that every farmer could raise a fall crop sufficent for his own needs until the spring crop natures It is very likely that the price of potatoes will be so high during the coming season that we cannot afford to buy and even if we could, it is certainly out of place for the farmers to buy those things that he can produce on his own farm.
 Indications are that feed will be high the coming season. Now is the time to prepare. Take the matter up with your neighbors and have grist mill installed in your community. Take care of the velvet beans It is a good substitute for corn. Don't buy feed that you can pro- duce on your own farm
 According to the commissioner of az riculture of Alabama, 100000 acres have been planted in peanuts in this state this season. Don't be afraid of over produc- ton. Plant more. If there is not a good market for it, then feed it to your hoss.
 garden busy. Raise all vegetables for home use.-Gulf Coast Grower.