The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-05-20
FARM NOTES BY
THE COUNTY AGENT

There is a general complaint this
year that the bean crop has not de-
velCped the usual growth of vines and
pods. In most cases this is. no doubt,
due to the cool nights. windy days and
light fertilization. But in some in
stances we have found that the crop
is poor because the nitrifying bac-
terra are not on the roots. The bean
belongs to the legume family and is
able to get nitrogen from the air by
means of bacteria that live on its
roots and form nodules (small balls).
| When these are not present the plant
will be lacking in vogor, unless the
soil is very rich in nitrogen or fer
tilizer heavy in nitrogen has been ap-
piled.
The most of our soils have the bac-
terra in them or become inoculated in
some way, so that it is not often that
farmer has to give any attention
to this phase of bean culture. How
ever, where the crop is not good and
an investigation shows that the no.
dulles have not formed on the roots,
it will be we'll next year to either
inoculate the seed with some of the
prepared cultures, or take 100
pounds of soil from a field where
beans did we'll this year and mix with
the seed when planting. The U. S.
Department of Agriculture will fur
nish the cultures, or they can be
bought from the seedmen at the rate
Of about So for enough to supply one
acre.
Peanuts sometimes fail. Usually
the trouble is due to lack of lime, but
very often potash is needed. and fire.
; quently phosphate. Occasionally al
three elements are needed on the
same soil. If plenty of pods form the
indication is that phosphate is not
required. In case the pods are not
filled out either lime, or potash, is
needed and possibly both.
If it is decided to apply lime anC
aciG phosphate, they should not bt
mixed together, nor put in at the
same time Distribute the acid phos
plate before planting and work thu
lime in when cultivating. Place .h'
/, lime on, or around, the plants JUS
ahead of the pillow or cultivator.
1t is evident that spraying of trucl
crops for the control of insects anC
diseases should be practiced just a!
faithfully as the fertilization or cul
tivation of the crop. To delay spray
, ing until some trouble makes its ap
.pearance and becomes destructive, il
l. l. L. L. l.,
j, less done properly, OPPORTUNITY ant
persistently, spraying is waste o.
money and labor. "Safety first
should be the slogan of the trucker
: He should plan for the fight agains
pests and disease just as he does fol
the preparation of the land and tn
cultivation. This means to have tn
spraying outfit in working order ant
the materials on hand so that tn
i. fight can be commenced while tn
crop is very small and continues
throughout its growth. Spraying
:. should be started on most crops whel
the plants are young and repeated
periodically according to weathe
conditions.
: AS to outfits. the small hand spray
ers are fairly effective on younl
plants and small fields, but are no
satisfactory in large fields and wher'
large amounts of material are re
CURED. From every standpoint thu
D power machines are more desirable
2 Many growers are not able to owl
s one himself, but by joining with SOM
S OF his neighbors an outfit capable o
. covering 20 to so acres a day can b
e comparatively bought and used. A
D we see it, this is the solution of tn
spraying problem in Marion county
t Further, we feel that the time hai
/ come when the truckers must spra!
their crops we'll or be forced out o.
,. the truck business. Losses from
= diseases and insect pests are NOR
/ frequent and heavier each year.
VIM. A. Seasons,
r County Agent.