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The Houston Home Journal
Fa r .
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■Til Houston County
Y* Agent Says
■ By Emmet Wnelchel
Mulch For Vegetables
Time spent applying
mulch to pepper, tomatoes,
squash, eggplant and other
vegetables will mean extra
dividends at harvest time. A
good mulch will prevent loss
of moisture from the soil,
suppress weed growth,
reduce fertilizer leaching,
and keep vegetables up off
the ground. Soil rots which
can be caused when
vegetables touch the ground
can be reduced when mulch
is applied under the plant.
Hay, straw, sawdust, grass
clippings, pine bark and
wood chips all make suitable
mulch material. The mulch
material should be spread 3
to 4 inches deep and 18 to 24
inches wide under the plant.
Low pH Continues To
Plague Vegetable Growers
Although much effort has
been made to educate
growers on the hazards of
growing vegetables on low
pH land, the problem keeps
“popping up". In many
instances growers feel that
they are on a good liming
program but the pH sud
denly drops drastically and
poor crops result. Ob
servations indicate at least
two possible causes for this
drop. One of these is the use
of high rates of acid forming
fertilizers. This can be a
particular problem when two
or more vegetables crops are
grown on the same land in a
given year. Another ap
parent cause of a adden
drop in pH is ihe deep
plowing where a good slice of
h‘ ’hly acid soil is turned up
and mixed with the top layer
of soil. When either or bo'!
of these conditions occur,
growers need to take sam
ples more often to insure that
adequate lime is applied to
compensate for these
situations.
In short, growers should be
constantly aware of the
hazards of low pH and keep a
close check on their soils to
prevent future losses due to
low pH.
Fertilize your Strawberries
Along about June is the
time for the second ap
plication of fertilizer for
strawberries. In most cases,
soon after harvest is com
pleted the plants will out out
r-
Southern Crop Dusters
6 Airplanes
Serving Houston County
Call Fort Valley
Collect
825-5445
Jimmy Tennille,
Manager
PAGE 2-B
runners. It is on these run
ners that daughter plants
develop; hence, the ad
ditional fertilizer is needed.
How much is not difficult to
determine. The recom
mended amount at this time
of year is 600-800 pounds per
acre. If you do not have an
acre, then a little simple
arithmetic is all that is
needed to know how much.
First, determine the
square feet you have where
the strawberries are
growing I Multiply the length
by the width). Divide your
square feet into 43,560, the
square feet in an acre, which
will give you what part of an
acre you have. Now divide
your part of an acre into the
recommended rate of fer
tilizer per acre and this will
be the amount you should
use.
Example Strawberry
planting is 9 ft. wide x 90 ft.
long , equals 810 sq. ft. 43,560
divided by 810 equals 54 or
1 54 of an acre. 800 lbs. fer
tilizer per acre divided by 54
equals 15 lbs. approximately
you should use on 810 sq. ft.
Planting annuals
Still Timely
Some gardeners have
failed to find time to plant
annuals for garden color or
cut flowers. There is still
plenty of time to plant seed
or transplants. Many garden
centers and nurseries still
have a good supply.. Spend
as much time as possible in
preparing the soil by
thorough spading and
plowing. Remove any rocks
or other debris from the
•» H AGRICULTURE
With one million U. S. boys
and girls enrolled during 1972,
the 4-H agricultural program is
one of the most popular in the
4-H organization. Agricultural
projects range from growing
crops and livestock to market
ing, conservation and main
tenance and operation of
tractors and machinery. For
information about 4-H projects
or membership, contact the
coui. y Extension agent
located in your county-seat
town.
WHERE WHAT YOU WANT
TO KNOW COMES FIRST -
YOUR HOUSTON HOME
JOURNAL
' "" 1 1
PERRY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1972
1
planting site. If your soil is
poor, work in 3-4” of peat
moss, pine bark, leaf mold,
or compost deeply into the
planting site. Work fertilizer
such as 8-8-8 or your regular
garden fertilizer at 1-2
pounds of 100 square feet of
planting area to get the
plants off to a good start. In
planting seed, heed the depth
of covering instructions. If
Houston
jL Home & Food
De ° weem#
Safe Mowing
If you’re the one in your
family who takes care of the
yard-mowing duties, keep in
mind that today’s powerful
lawn mowers, when used
without caution, can become
hazardous, even lethal
devices.
According to the Outdoor
Power Equipment Institute,
great care must be taken
when mowing slopes. If the
decline is too sharp, don’t wy
to mow it. Replace grass
with a ground ?over, rock
garden, or build a retaining
wall.
When using a “walk
behind” mower on a hill,
mow across the slope
iterally - never up and
down. If you are fortunate
enough to mow riding a
riding mower or lawn
tractor, the rule is just the
opposite; mow up and down
for greater stability and
avoil sudden uphill starts.
With gravel driveways, the
Institute recommends that
you disengage mower blades
on riding units when passing
from the grass surface of the
driveway. With standard
power mowers be sure the
engine is not running when
crossing gravel walks.
Low hanging branches
pose a danger when mowing.
Avoid them if possible when
cutting the yard. The safest
measure is to cut off low
hanging limbs that might
injure an eye or catch
controls of the mower.
Heed Precautions
Always observe the
following rules of mowing
safety: Learn your mower
and its operation by reading
the manual.
- Clear lawn of foreign
objects
- Clear area of children
and pets.
-Keep feet well away from
mower blades - especially
when starting.
-Wear Proper clothing - no
shorts, sandals or bare feet.
-Keep clear of discharge at
all times.
-Stop engine and dis
connect spark plug before
making repairs.
-Fill gas tank before
starting. Make sure you
refuel mowei out of doors.
Never refuel a hot or running
engine. Never gas up or start
engine in the garage or shed.
-Never leave a running
mower unattended.
-Don’t allow young
children to operate a power
mower.
-Always maintain mower
in top condition.
-Push DO NOT pull a walk
behind mower.
-Be extremely careful of
your footing - especially on
slopes and wet grass.
Handy Bedspreads
If you are blessed with
teenagers and little ones, you
know how quickly they can
soil and stain a new, ex
pensive bedspread. Sheets in
planting bansplants set the
plants so that the top of the
fiber or peat pot or container
such as bands are just below
the soil surface. Water
thoroughly immediately
after planting. Check daily to
make sure the oil does not
dry out while the seed are
germinating or the tran
splants are getting started.
one of the many gay patterns
and colors available on the
market today may be the
answer to your problem.
Because sheets are so easy
to launder, a sheet
bedspread is great for
children and teenager who
flop on the Bed to read or
hold bull sessions.
Use a full sized sheet on a
twin bed so it will reach the
floor. Or, make a dust ruffle
by fitting one she between
the springs and mattress and
another for the top coverlet.
To complete your decorating
scheme, make matching
curtains and pillows from
additional sheets. The wide
width and deep hems owe
construction easy enough for
even beginning seam
stress.
Drive a
Bargain at the
Dodge Boys!
iSfIHpF Jl HE|3^Kjißßß®sß2^^*^ignd***^^Bj^^
DART 4-DOOR SEDAN
If you’ve been wondering whatever not much of it. And Dart is one of
happened to economy cars, test drive the roomiest compacts on the road
the 1972 Dodge Dart. The economy’s today. It’s no wonder that the Dart
in the price, not in the room or trunk nfinfom is one of the most popular American
space. Choose a 198 Six or 318 \8 iijjC compacts. If you want a lot of econo
engine. Both run on regular gas and DUtS my, drive a bargain at the Dodge Boys.
McLendon Auto Company
PERRY, GEORGIA r m
Nematode Problem on Corn?
Ag College Seeking Answer
TIFTON—Does Georgia have
a nematode problem on corn,
and can it be economically
controlled?
University of Georgia
College of Agriculture staff
members—including research
scientists, Extension specialists
and county agents—are
conducting on-the-farm investi
gations this year to determine
the answer to that question.
Nematodes are tiny eel-like
worms which live in the soil
and obtain their nutrients by
attacking plant roots. And in
the process they reduce plant
growth and yields.
Norman McGlohon, head of
the Cooperative Extension
Service plant pathology depart
ment, said increasing numbers
of corn fields have been ob
served where growth is poor
and yields low. High numbers
of several species of nema
todes—lance, sting, stubby
root, and root knot —have been
found.
Extension Plant Pathologist
Johnny Crawford worked with
county agents and growers in
several counties in applying
new contact-type nematicides
which hopefully will control
the pests. Agents cooperating
in the investigative program are
George Kessler, Lowndes
County; Dick Purdom
Appling. John Strickland,’
Lanier, and Wilson Weathersby,
Schley.
Crawford said these Ex
tension workers located
farmers who are willing to
cooperate in the tests and who
have fields known to be
infested with nematodes.
W. M. Powell, plant pa
thologist with the Ag College,
is studying soil samples taken
GEORGIA RIGHT IN THERE!
Soybean Industry, Still Booming,
An Example for Other Commodities
ATHENS—The only agri
cultural success story more
sensational than the growth of
the national soybean industry
may be the growth of that
same industry right here in
Georgia.
That’s the opinion of James
E. Jackson, Cooperative
Extension Service agronomist,
who keeps county agents and
at specific intervals from the
test plots to determine whether
the nematicides are effective.
He is also supervising in-depth
research to find out exactly
how nematodes affect corn and
which nematode species are
more important.
Pathologist McGlohon says
this project is a good example
of how the University’s College
of Agriculture is serving far
mers and consumers through
its Experiment Stations and
Extension Service. He says
cooperation between research
ers, Extension specialists,
county agents and growers
should give a quick answer to
the question, “Does Georgia
have a nematode problem on
corn, and can it be econom
ically controlled?”
Should the tests result in
practices which increase yields
through nematode control,
everyone—farmer and con
sumer alike—stands to benefit.
.. 1
I | Certainly Lasso*
Jl controls pigweed.
MowaFt ° That's what you expect from your herbicide.
Farmers Mutual Exchange
Rt. 3 Fort Valley, Ga.
growers up to date on what’s
happening in soybeans today.
During the last four years,
soybean acreage in the nation
has increased about six per
cent. In Georgia, however, the
acreage increase has been a
booming 34 percent.
The crop returned about
SSO million to Georgia growers
in 1971, and is expected to top
that in 1972. Jackson says a 14
percent increase in soybean
income is predicted for this
year.
Despite this sensational
growth, soybean supplies in
both the state and nation are
not excessive. “All this sounds
like soybean markets are
good,” says Jackson, “and they
are.”
But he adds that the markets
are good not only because the
commodity is good, but
because “an awful lot of work
has gone into market develop
ment.”
An overseas demand has
been created which makes
soybeans No. 1 in agricultural
export value. In fact, about
half of the ’beans produced in
this country find their way to
Japan, Taiwan or European
markets.
Jackson says these export
markets didn’t just happen.
They resulted from an aggres
sive selling program initiated in
the mid 1960 s by the Ameri
can Soybean Association.
Growers, through the Associ
ation, are helping fund these
selling efforts to the tune of
$382,500.
Agricultural analysts predict
that soybean markets will con
tinue strong in the future, and
may even triple in the next
three decades.
This prediction is based
largely upon yie versatility of
the product. Jackson explains
that the soybean’s two primary
building blocks-oil and
protein—are more and more in
demand as world population
grows. He believes that protein
from soybeans can be “a major
key in freeing the world from
hunger and malnutrition.”
The soybean outlook
becomes even brighter as
modern technology finds ways
to use soy protein in new food
products. Jackson doesn’t
believe soy protein will rival
animal protein in the near
future, but says it can material
ly supplement it as an extender
and additive.
Also, the oil market for
salad and cooking purposes is
thought to be only in its
infancy. The Georgia agron
omist explains that soybeans
contain about 20 percent oil
which is of high quality and
well suited for food use.
Jackson believes producers
of other agricultural products
could well take a lesson from
American soybean farmers.
“These growers have put the
horse before the cart,” he
explains. The creation of a
strong market first, then
adequate production to supply
the market,
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