The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-05

Don't Give Up the Garden
 Always at this period of the year many home gardeners become dis couraged on account of the heat. per sistence of weeds and grasses and the horde of insect enemies. A po- lite name for this state of mind Is spring fever, and a good remedy is an hours work in the garden with hoe or spading fork. The best remedy is to be compelled to buy at the vegetable stands sufficient veg etables for Sunday dinner when you are expecting a bunch of company.
 Spinach is only 10 cents a bunch, and suppose you buy five punches. thinking surely you have strayed into extravaganza. When 1t is cooked you have to search the bottom of the pot to find it, and when you place it upon a large dish, just to deceive yourself, you begin to realize that the quantity is probably enough for one real hungry man. Numerous similar cases could be pointed out, all going to show that we too often discount the value of the vegetables we take out of our home gardens. When you think of abandoning your garden to the bugs and weeds, just try your hand at providing a vege- table dinner from store bought veg etahles. Never again, you will say.
 Fairs and Fakirs
 It Is encouraging to see so many Alabama counties going ahead with all the needed enthusiasm to put on a county fair during the coming fall. In spite of the scoffers, scorners, knockers and other bilious perverts. the county fair is becoming an insti- tuition of great economic value to all the people. These fairs, outside of their educational exhibits, should be utilized by the promoters to bring home to the farmers many schemes, of constructive cooperation, badly needed for the welfare of all of us.
 The question of insect and disease control should be stressed, because it is only through cooperative meas ures that we can hope to hold our place as an agricultural state. The United States government will fur nish speakers competent to tell us what we must do to conserve our crops. Let our counties put on fairs without the fakirs. It is a shame to let in a bunch of the very scum of the earth, gamblers, thieves. immor- al shows, lewd women, etc. Let local talent, the schools and churcnes, build a midway and get the profit for the benefit of all. It's getting time to suppress fakirs, frauds, and all the attending evils.
 Fertf1Ixing Trees and Shrubbery
 It is a curious fact that the ma jority of the people have got 1t fixed into their minds that the fall or win ter is the proper time to fertilize trees and shrubbery. A little reason and common sense ought to lead to different conclusion. Trees and other plants have their natural rest and dormant periods. and during such times they ought not to be stim- ulated to induce growth The grow ing period is the time for work and stimulation. Early in the spring is the most favorable time to fertilize. but if neglected then. 1t should be done in summer while the plant yet has time to be influenced favorably. Quickly available commercial fertil- izers are more desirable for summer fertilizing than animal manures. June is good month to apply fer tilizers. Most every tree and shrub may be greatly benefited by applying high grade complete fertilizers. Such treatment will induce rapid. healthy growth and enable the plant to bet ter resist a multitude of diseases and insects that too often overcome sick ly, puny and unnourished plants. No