UTHJgIM ITAMJhI ©AElTTE
A Farm and Home Weekly for
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee.
__ BIRMINGHAM, ALA.,-MEMPHIS, TENN.
Vol. XXVII. No. 36._SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1912^ Weekly: $1 a Year, j
Are You Going To Plant Ai\Orchard This Fall?
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every farm ought to provide a goodly supply of both orchard and
small fruits for the folks who live on it. "A farm without fruit
does not deserve the name of home,” to repeat an old saying once
more. A supply of fruit adds so much to the enjoyment of life on
the farm and so much to the profits to be derived from the farm,
that it is passing strange that any farmer would go on for years
and years without making any effort to start an orchard, or a
vineyard, or even a strawberry bed. Yet, it is unfortunately true
that a great many do.
This may be because it requires continued care and watchfulness to
grow good fruit and to make an orchard profitable year after year.
A great many of us are hunting for the things which we can ”do once
I ami be done witb.” An orchard is not that kind of a proposition.
Few things are, for that matter; but in The orchard there are so many
insects and diseases and seasonal contrarieties to contend with, and
they all require such prompt and thorough-going attention that it is
no lazy man’s or careless man’s job to make a good orchard and keep
it going.
This is not saying that it requires specially hard work or any un
usual amount of it to have fruit on the farm, for it does not. It does
require some work, however, and this work must be done at the
proper time. With the proper attention, it is doubtful if any part of
the farm will pay better for the time and money spent on it than will
that devoted to the growing of orchard and small fruits,
i j For this reason we would again urge every reader who has not a
good orchard, a vineyard, a strawberry bed, a few growing nut trees,
to begin work right now so that he can have them. The season for
orchard planting is only a few weeks off, strawberries may be set out
any time now, the other small fruits maybe planted next month in cer
tain sections. It is, therefore, none too early to begin the preparation
of the land for these crops, or to begin investigating the merits of
different varieties and finding out where they can be obtained at a
reasonable price.
I Get varieties that have demonstrated their adaptability to South
ern conditions. When commercial orchards are planted, select two or
three of the best market varieties, but for home use select varieties of
good quality that will furnish a succession of fruit during the season.
Tt will not nav to nlant an orchard on land too poor to grow any
(thing else, or on land half prepared. It certainly will not pay to set out
fruit trees in a pasture or anywhere else the livestock can get to
them. The orchard is a place in which to grow fruit and all other
crops from it must be made secondary.
Select good land for the orchard—moderately fertile, well drained
and on such slope as experience has demonstrated is best for fruit
trees in your locality. The best location for apples is not necessari
ly the best for peaches and other fruits; and many farms lack ideal lo
cations for any kind of fruit trees. The farms on which some kind of
fruit cannot be successfully and profitably grown, however, are few
! indeed. There are so many Southern fruits that some of them are
almost certain to do well on your land if given a chance.
Plant an orchard, then, it will pay you. We, as farmers, cannot justly
feel that we have lived up to our opportunities until we have made
the South a land rich with orchards and vineyards, and all manner of
fruits. But when you go to planting the orchard remember that*you
are doing only the first of a continuous work, and that if you wish
I continued returns, you must give continued care.
\ A THRIFTY YOUNG Al'l’LK TRtU.
FEATURES OF THIS ISSUE.
BETTER LIVESTOCK—How to Get a Start. 14
COTTON WILT—Fight This Disease With Resistant Varieties. ... 20
FARM WORK FOR SEPTEMBER—Ten Things to Do. 4
GASOLINE ENGINE DISEASES—Things Owners Should Rememlxer 7
HOW TO HANDLE HAY—Curing in the Sun and in the Shade. ... 0
MAKING ATTRACTIVE HOME GROUNDS—How to Select, Plant
and Care for Trees. 10
MOTHERS’ PROBLEMS—How to Help the Child. 10
POULTRY AND GARDEN ITEMS. 10
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT OATS—II. 3
THE POOR FARM—How to Make It Pay a Profit. 8
TRUCK AND GARDEN NOTES—Prepare for Winter. 4
TWO-MINUTE HEALTH TALKS—To Prevent Blindness.23
UNDER-DRAINAGE—Will Benefit Both Bottom and Hill Lands. . . 5
USE THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE—Not Limited to Money. 12
WHAT A “BOY WITH NO CHANCE’’ CAN DO. 12
YOU CAN GO TO COLLEGE. f)