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The Houston Home Journal News Os Interest To Houston County Families n Houston County Agent Says f By I Emmet Whelchel Fertilization “Don’t Guess, Soil Test!" F'or years we’ve been preaching that to Houston County F'armers. It’s still the best way we know to tell how much of what kind of fer tilizer to use cm which crop. But now we have a new publication which we believe will also contribute to the grower’s knowledge of fertilizer and fertilizer recommendations. “Fer Rural America... Tomorrow? Today, in too many placet acrott our land, we see grim evidence of crushed hopes and dreams ... of families gone away . . . moving from country to city in search of a better life. Result; abandoned farm steads and empty stores in the one,- traffic jams and smog in the other. We, along with our nation's nearly 1000 other rural electric systems, believe we must at a nation plan—and act—now, for a better tomorrow. We know there mutt be brooder social and economic opportunity in the countryside ... a better balance of opportunity between rural and urban America. We are pledged to this end-for the betterment of our communities . . . for rural America . . . for all America. &2S f IXSHtX > HATS ON Tribble Electrical Service •3S PorrattArt. Bill Tribble, Owner "New In Perry But Old In Experience" 18 PERRY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY. MAY 4, 1972 tilizer Recommendations for F ield Crops’’ is its title, and it is available free at our office The new leaflet was prepared by P. J. Bergeaux, one of our Extension agronomists and a specialist in soils and fertilizers. In addition to giving fertilizer recommendations for specific field crops, he also gives a summary of soil test results from throughout this area There is a lot more helpful information in “Fertilizer Recommendations for Field Crops". We believe every farmer in the county will benefit from studying this new publication from the Extension Service. SAFETY TIP A grain bin can be as dangerous as quicksand. This is especially true when the bin is being emptied, warns Cecil Hammond, one of our Extension engineers. For example, grain or feed flowing out of a bin can pull a man into the discharge of bins that are unloaded from the bottom With nothing to hold onto, it is almost im possible to keep from being drawn down into the flow of material. Hammond suggests that, if a person must enter a grain bin, another person should be present at the bin en trance with means of providing instant assistance if it is needed. Another bp: Anyone entering the bin during unloading operations should have a rope secured around his body, with the other end of the rope secured outside the bin entrance. Cultivating Around Shrubs There is no advantage of culbvating the soil around shrubs. Digging around established oranmentals, such as azaleas, camellias and hollies can severely injure the root system since many of the roots are located within a few inches of the soil surface. Some gardeners “work in" fertilizers, however, this pracbce is not necessary since most fer blizers are water soluble. In other sjtuations the soil around shrubs is distributed in an attempt to eradicate bermuda or other noxious grasses. A more satisfactory approach to controlling bermuda around shrubs is to place a sheet of polyethylene plasbc on the ground un derneath the plant. Mulch Flowers and Shrubs Few gardening pracbces are more beneficial than the use a mulch to conserve soil moisture during the summer months. During dry periods frequent watering is necessary to keep the upper six inches of soil in flower beds moist. A mulch on the surface of the ground will hold moisture in the soil and greatly reduce the need for applying water This not only will result in better ap pearance to your shrubs and flowers but will also reduce the summer water bill. Many materials may be used successfully as a mulch, including pine straw, pine bark, slightly decomposed fall leaves, hay and sawdust. Don't Neglect F ertilizing Ground (.'overs Ground cover plants respond to periodic ap plications of fertilizer but they are often neglected Such plants as ivy. ajuga. vinca and liriope will grow more dense and have better foliage color if they’re fer tilized. General purpose fertilizers give good results. If the fertilizer is broadcast, it may be necessary to wash off or brush the foliage with a yard rake to remove fer tilizer particles from the foliage. One pound of mixed fertilizer, such as 8-8-8 or 10- 10-10 analysis, per 100 square feet applied in the early spring and again in July is usually adequate. Crape Myrtles Flower Better When F ertilized Proper fertilization will do much to increase flower production of crape myrtle in Georgia. An application of complete fertilizer in the spring and again in early summer is generally adequate. Crape myrtles which flower poorly are often located in excessively shaded places. Fertilization under these conditions will not stimulate normal flowering. Soybeans and Generals Have Same Names TlFTON—Jackson and Lee are familiar names to students of the Civil War and Southern soybean farmers. University of Georgia College of Agriculture and U. S. Department of Agriculture soybean breeding programs in the South have traditionally named many new varieties after famous Civil War generals. “One of the most successful soybean varieties ever grown in the South was Lee. who was one of the best generals that ever came from the South,” said Myron B. Parker, an agronomist with the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton. Among other famous Civil War names used to designate soybean varieties are Jackson, Bragg, Pickett and Hampton. “It’s doubtful that Southern farmers would be too receptive to naming a soybean Sherman,” said Parker. “We had a soybean named Custer,” he added. “But it didn’t do too well down here. Guess it was the wrong section of the country for him.” ON MAY 18 Cooperation Conference Scheduled at University ATHENS—The 16th annual Cooperation Conference is scheduled for Thursday, May 18. at the University of Georgia. “Looking Ahead” will be the theme of the meeting at the Center for Continuing Education. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., the program at 10 o’clock. Edward L. Young, president of Coble Dairy Products Cooperative. Inc., Lexington. N.C., will keynote this year s conference. Eric Thor, administrator of the Farmer Cooperative Service, U. S Department of Agriculture, will be the featured speaker at a 12:15 p.m. luncheon. In between, a panel discussion on “What Can We Expect?” will highlight the conference theme for officers, directors and members repre senting Georgia cooperatives at the meeting. Walter Jacoby, vice pres ident of the American Institute of Cooperation. Washington. D.C., will moderate the panel. Members include Richard W. Bonney Jr,, president, Columbia Bank for Cooper atives, Columbia. S.C.; G. A. Burson, vice president. Gold Kist Inc., Atlanta; Walter Harrison, executive manager. Houston Kk Home & Food tee Weems “Leaflets Three Let It Be” Soap And Water - Relief for Poison Plant Rashes- The season of poison ivy. oak, and sumac is here. Anyone who has ever suffered from any of these allergens knows what misery it can be. Some persons have even been hospitalized for severe cases. And surprisingly, people seemingly unaffected by contact at one time can later develop an allergic reaction. Along the lines of prevention, learn to recognize the offending plants growing in your area and stay away from them. Poison ivy is the most common. It grows prolifically in every state Scientists Search for Nematode- Resistant Soybeans TlFTON—Thousands and even millions of microscopic worms in Georgia’s infested sandy soil can cause stunted plant growth and reduced yields for fanners in the state. These worms or nematodes feed on the roots of plants and cause reduced root systems, root decay and large swollen areas called galls, which reduce the water and nutrient supply to the plant. ‘There might be 2,000 to 3,000 nematodes in a handful of heavily infested soil,” said Dr. N. A. Minton, U. S. Depart ment of Agriculture nemalologist located at the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Coastal Plain Experiment Station here. Minton and Myron B. Parker, an agronomist at the station, are working to aid soybean growers in fighting nematodes through the use of nematode resistant soybean varieties. Last year Georgia farmers planted 640,000 acres of soy beans, which ranked second in acreage to corn and surpassed other traditional cash crops such as cotton, peanuts and tobacco. “Our research is aimed at uncovering the limiting factors in production,” said Parker. “We’ve got to try to provide the grower with the best variety of bean we can because varieties have more to do with soybean success than just Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, Millen, and Frank H. McDowell, manager of the Georgia Division, Dairymen, Inc., Decatur. This year’s conference is being sponsored by the Georgia Council of Farmer Cooper atives, the University of Georgia Extension Service, the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, and the Farm Credit Banks of Columbia. Two couples, winners in the 1972 “Young Farmer and Wife Recognition Program,” will be announced at the luncheon. They will receive expense-paid trips to the American Institute of Cooperation, July 30-August 3, at lowa State University, Ames. At the same time a university or college student will be named recipient of a similar trip to participate in the AIC program. The Georgia Council of Farmer Cooperatives is donor of these awards. fmh I DRIVING I I If You Are j I except California and Nevada and is as likely to be found in your own backyard as in wooded areas. The vine creeps along walks, fences, walls, telephone poles, rock gardens- almost anywhere. Within a few hours and up to two days after contact, the reaction may show up. The extent of skin eruptions reddening and blistering depends on the amount of plant material deposited on the skin, the degree of sensitivity of the affected person, and how long plant material is left on the skin before washing with soap. Contrary to popular belief, the blister fluid does not cause speading of the dermatitis. Areas of greater about anything else.” The Georgia agronomist said that if growers can increase soybean yields by just a single bushel per acre, it would mean $2 million more in profit. Minton said Georgia has certain areas with high levels of nematode infestation, particularly where there is sandy soil. Research efforts of v‘" the two Georgia scientists have £ focused primarily on the root knot nematode, which is the most widespread and devas- X tating of the nematodes found in the state. £ Spy bean varieties found to X be resistant to root-knot :j: nematodes are Hampton 266A £ and Bragg, while advanced £ breeding lines with good resistance are Florida 63-4000 $ and Coker 68-41. “Although root-knot resistant soybean varieties are available, these varieties still may not contain resistance to taj other types of nematodes,” 9 Minton said. ;9 When nematodes other than 9 root-knot are present, he explained, farmers may con- ;9 sider using a nematicide, which ]9 may not always be econom ically feasible. The increase per :9 acre a farmer would get with a jp| nematicide may not offset the cost to apply the chemical. Minton said his research £ does not explain why the X nematode prefers some plants to others but the microscopic X worm simply does not £ reproduce freely on the roots of certain plants. :-r Research into the habits and ;J; habitats of these microscopic £ parasites is part of the continuous program of the £ agricultural experiment £ stations in providing infor mation for the grower. X.v IWe know you not only I I wantthe best truck, I I you wantthe best I I truck deal, too. I I Heavy-duties • Medium-duties • Pickups • Vans'"* I I • Campers • 4-wheel drives I "NE IS THE MAN TO SEE" I I FPfrf-l NeSMITH CMC Trucks I Perry, Georgio Ph. 987-1818 | contact with the plant will react earlier. Blisters can become infected and tran sferred to other skin sites causing additional problems. The American Medical Association reports that the single most important treatment is washing thoroughly with soap and water as soon after contact as possible. Soap is effective because it destroys the allergen. The sooner the skin is washed after exposure, the less likely a dermatitis will develop- or at least the seriousness will be lessened. This is especially true for the hands where delay in destroying the allergen can result in spreading the problem. Since it is often difficult to know when children have come in contact with such plants in their various hikes, picnics, and general warm weather play, a good soaping down when they come in is more than a cleanliness measure - it’s preventive medicine. Washing all possibly contacted parts of the body is essential for protection against continued exposure to the plant material. Clothes, garden implements, bikes, baseball gloves, etc., which may have plant residue ready and waiting to be transferred to skin at a later date should also be soap scrubbed. After the initial scrub down, cold water com presses on affected areas will provide some relief from itching and inflammation. Regular bathing or showering should be con tinued. For skin lesions in areas difficult to treat with cold wet dressings, tepid baths are useful in relieving discomfort. Then apply calamine lotion to hasten drying of small blisters. For more severe eruptions or subsequent infection consult I FARMERS GROWERS I RANCHERS A debt consolidation loan can save you a lot of head- :•: aches. It’s just one of the services available to :•: farmers and their families through the local Land :•: Bank Association. :•: ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT US. | €jj|| P.O. BOX 111 PSr Montezuma, Ga. 31063 | Phone 472-7355 a physician. Great care should be taken when destroying poison ivy plants. Wear protective clothing and gloves that can be washed separately in hot suds. To make sure all residue is gone, run the automatic washer through its complete cycle with soap or detergent and no laundry Early spring and late fall are good times to grub plants out by hand. Be sure that the soil is very wet. Otherwise the roots may break off and live to sprout more vigorously. Bury or destroy roots and stems removed in grubbing because the dry material is almost as poisonous as the fresh. It is important to know that smoke from burning poison ivy plants, or even contaminated fabrics, may produce reactions. Avoid inhalation or contact of smoke with skin or clothing. In some areas it is illegal to burn poison ivy. It is best to check with town or city ordinances first. Aside from hand pulling, the only other really effective means of getting rid of poison ivy is by use of herbicides. Follow package directions carefully and store out of the reach of children. J J PLUMBING CO. Licensed and Bonded Phone (912) 923-3164 All Work Guaranteed Byron, Ga. Home 956-5356