Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 16, 1974 Page: 10 of 28

THE RIO GRANDE HERALD PAGE 10 THURSDA YJMA Y 16,1974
SOIL from page 7
it the garden is not protected.
And when it does, there will be
little evidence that you have
been robbed. But as the years
go by, the soil will get thinner
and more difficult to cultivate.
If your garden is like this now,
then your soil is trying to tell
you something. Of course if
your garden is on a slope, you
may see gullies.
IF I HAVE A POOR SOIL, CAN
I IMPROVE IT?
Absolutely, A key part of soil
that gives it good tilth is organic
matter. Many old soils have lost
50 percent or more of their
original organic matter. By
adding compost, a heavy clay
soil can be improved, or a
sandy, drouthy soil can be in-
duced to hold moisture better.
Also, you should have a
chemical soil test, and if your
plants food is out of balance,
follow the suggestions of the soil
test results.
CAN T I BRING UP MY
FERTILITY WITH NATURAL
ORGANIC FERTILIZERS'?
Sure, and we certainly
recommend organic matter to
improve soil and bring up the
fertility. It is slow but lasts
longer. But for the new home
gardener, homemade compost
can be too slow. Some
vegetables can benefit a great
deal from chemical fertilizers.
Onions, for example, need
adequate potash and phosphate
to mature large bulbs. Nitrogen
helps produce a good lettuce
crop.
WHAT ABOUT THE COM-
PARATIVE VALUE OF
NATURAL VERSUS
CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS9
I would avoid chemical
fertilitzers that have built-in
insecticides or poisons. This is
not the way to go at pest control
in a home garden. But the plant
food itself is reduced by
moisture to its basic elements
before entering the plants'
roots. So the elements that go
into the plants are the identic.d
one item, wheather they come
form an organic or commercial
fertilizer.
WHAT IS ph?
This the relative acidity or
alkalinity of the soil. A
chemical test will suggest
modifying the ph of your garden
if it is needed. Most garden
plants to best in a slightly acid
soil.
MY YARD IS TOO WET.
WHAT CAN I DO?
If it is possible to do so, you
Valley
Briefs
BROWNSVILLE- The sanity
trial of Michael Nathan
Shoulders, 29, charged with the
slaying of Miss Juddi Allen
Carter of Harlingen, has been
set for Thursday.
The 197th District Court
selected the jury Monday.
The granddaughter of
Harlingen attorney Claude
Carter, Miss Carter, 29 was
slain on the doorstep of her
apartment with a 12-gauge
shotgun Jan 13, police said.
Also wounded in the shooting
were Mr. and Mrs. Michael
McNamara, who lived in the
same apartment complex. It is
reported that they went outside
their apartment when they
heard shots and were in turn
shot.
Shoulders, in lieu of bonds
totaling $00,000, is being held in
Cameron County jail. Dr. C. L.
Tunberg, a McAllen
psychiatrist, declared him
insane on examination after the
incident.
. T1SSA from page 2
home of Mrs. Fela Ireland, focused on discussion and planning of
next year's programs. Presiding were Mrs. Daniel Villarreal, who
will serve in 1974-75 for the second year of her term as President.
Other officers of the Garden Club are Mrs. Arturo Garza, vice-
president, Mrs. Adela Gutierrez, secretary; Mrs. Eladio Carrera,
treasurer; Mrs. Herminio Saenz, historian; and Mrs. Arturo
Clarke, parliamentarian. The hostess servedrefreshmentstothose
present.
Mr. and Mrs. Alberto H. Gutierrez of Rio Grande City enjoyed a
Mother's Day reunion- with their sons and their families last
weekend. Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Gutierrez and daughters, and Mr.
and Mrs. Richard Gutierrez and children, all of Rio Grande City,
their parents and brother, Mr. and Mrs. Beto Gutierrez and family
of New Mexico, at Del Rio for the long weekend. They enjoyed
boating, swimming, and fishing. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gutierrez
and Mrs. Bobby Gutierrez recently returned from a business trip to
Chicago. They were accompanied to the windy city by Mr. and Mrs.
R.R. Guerra Jr. of Roma.
4-H parents and adult leaders attended a called Adult Leader
meeting on Monday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Starr Grande
Clubhouse across from Border Enterprises at 201 Water Street.
Newly elected Adult Leader Club President, Mrs. Fernando
Salinas, presided at the meeting which focused on the role parents
and other interested adults can play in producing a successful 4-H
program. 4-H'ers are popping out everywhere and more interested
and concerned parents are needed to help with the groups. If you
are interested in helping, please call Mrs. Salinas, Mrs. Juan Lino
Perez, or David B. Sandefer.
STUDENTS IN SPANISH SKIT- Students from Ringgold Intermediate School formed the
chorus, actors, and moderators for a special skit in Spanish. This skit was performed on
Friday May 10, at the Multipurpose Center and on Tuesday, May 14, at La Retama Manor
Nursing Center in Rio Grande City. The Bilingual Education Classes of the Rio Grande
City Independent School District performed in the program Friday for Mother's Day, and
six of the numbers were repeated for the patients at the Nui sing Home on Tuesday. Among
the actors in the skit were, left to right, May Pena, Linda Saenz, Anna 1 re vino, Anna Pena,
and Armando Bazan, of Ringgold Intermediate.
BROWNSVILLE- Arraigned
before U. S. Magistrate William
Mallet Monday on charges of
attempting to pass a counterfeit
$20 bill was Arturo M. De Leon
of Reynosa.
Bond was set at $75,000 on De
Leon, who was arrested at a
McAllen discount store.
Also arraigned was Santiage
Gutierrez Bruno, 25, of Mer-
cedes, with possession of 13
grams of heroin. He was
arrested as he entered the U. S.
from Progreso. Bruno set a
$10,000 bond on him.
Charged in Hidalgo with
importing and possessing 32
pounds of marijuana was Juan
Manuel Ibara Viera. His bond
was set at $15,000.
might drain the yard, but you
may need the help of a person
qualified in soil drainage.
Sometimes, ridges of soil can be
thrown up, and give enough
drainage for root develop-
ments. I have seen a raised
garden in which a layer of soil is
built up in a barrier of old cross-
ties or stones. This artificial
elevation gives better soil
drainage.
23
U
i
VAyuEROS AND SENORITAS- These students performed a song and dance routine
during the Bilingual Education Program's spccial Mother's Day presentation. The program
was at the Multipurpose Center in Rio Grande City on Friday, May 10. Students from all the
bilingual classes participated. These first graders from Ringgold Primary School are
taught by Mrs. A. Garza, Mrs. Barrera, and Mrs. Arriaga. They also took part in a special
presentation to La Retama Manor Nursing Center or on Tuesday, May 14.
LET'S TRADE!
STOP... SWAP TODAY!
We service most brands
of lawn mowers
FIRESTONE
DEALERS STORE
487-2723
705 W. MAIN
RIO GRANDE CITY