The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18
Keeping Soil At Work Is
 Real Secret Of Gardening
Like Interest, Says McVay, 1t Will Work For sss You While You Sleep
By GEoRGE B. aI,YAY, sR

The sof, like interest lon borrowed money, works while we sleep; produc- ing either weeds, grasses or other un- profitable crops to the owner. The soil is going to work anyway as this is one of its chief functions, so why not divest the soil energy to human bene- fit? If plant could talk to us I am sure it would express preference to- wards the production of food for man and beast. Work is a great food and stimulant for land and no one will deny but what work is the real factor in promoting human happiness. It is not the man with the most land that is the real producer, but the one that keeps his tillable land at work the year around, producing some profitable crop In the south, the growing season is so long that many things will produce two or more crops. The thing to do is to keep on planting, inssuccession, some profitable crop and not allow the soil to expend it's energies in producing a lot of worthless weeds and grasses. The writer has noticed for years what large percentage of family gardens are abandoned to grope mp in weeds, aft CT the first plantings have come and gone. The soil will stay on the job with profit if only given aid and op- portunity.
 Nurse the Young Plants
 Tall oaks from little acorns grow 7 very true, but how many acorns, that nature plants, ever mature into the stately oak? How many, fish,, the spawning of a single female, ever escape it's natural enemies to become the guest of the noble fisherman? Sup. pose that every seed planted in the world in season by man or otherwise were to produce, what would become of civilization? Apply this reason to all animate life and then speculate on the result. <
 The percentage of examination is naturally low with most seed, when planted under normal conditions, and when one knows the small number that escape destruction through various causes, we can then better understand why plants, like children, need atten- tion promptly when they take on grow ing or living forms. When seed germ is vigorous enough to produce a plant, it is almost immediately attack ed by some insect Or disease and the majority is thus destroyed.
 If you nurse or doctor the young plant into vigorous life 1t is usually able to combat its natural enemies, but there are times when it needs help from the human master and should receive it ungrudgingly.
 May An Active Month For Insects P The poets have created in song and verse much sentiment about the month of May. The poet is not the only in sect. however, that seems to have q weakness for the fifth calendar month. When ones enemies become active it iS time to take the proper steps for. safety and protection. Insects are both night and day fighters and this should be. stressed when some preventative meas ures become necessary. An enthusias- tic gardener and one. generally success fun told the writer that some insect pest had destroyed his garden this year, but that he was never able to know what done it, although it was his GUS tom to examine his plants daily. Some ' of the most serious insect pests feed only atNnight and often destroy a crop without one ever knowing just what did the mischief. The only way to control such pests is to apply poison to their food and not. wait until you can find out what is causing the in jury. If the night prowler is merely a leaf eating insect, they can be destroy ed by dusting on or spraying the plant with a variety of insecticides handled by seed houses and other dealers. If he merely sucks the plant, he is more difficult to control but there are safe remedies. Don't wait for the enemy but go after him.
 Questions And Answers
 (Q) I want to SOW something for hay that the bugs or insects will not attack and destroy and is free of disease. Will Soy beans meet the requirements? D. D., Millpoft, Ala. z (A) Soy beans, in some seasons, especially when grown thick, are often attacked by some aphide, louse or sucking insect that injures the foliage to some extent but is rarely serious. It is about the safest plant you could grow for hay.
 (Q) I have farm in south Missis- sippi on which intend to SOW peas in the next two, or three weeks, what variety would you recommend for this section? w. D.
 (A) The Clay and Unknown would be desirable vine sorts. The Brabham and Iron are very good for near the coast and while they don't make quite