The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-09-05

tnen remove, cool OFT and finally
soak In the first or cold water for an
hour. Soaked seed should be covered
when sown.
sweepings to fertilize lawns flower
beds, and for ported plants? ]. o.
A. There is hardly anything better
than street sweepings. The only OBJ
lection to them Is the fact that they
are likely to contain much objection
able weeds and grasses that often
must be gotten rid of. when they
terminate, by pulling out by hand
Old sweepings that have been exposed
to the elements for sometime. while
not as strong in plant food may con-
tain but little IL any dormant seed.
A. Why is IT so difficult to get
lettuce, carrots, parsley. spinach, rape
and even turnips to come up at this
time of the Year, I don't have any
trouble In the spring. f. A., Oxford.
A. The plants mentioned by you
are all classed as cold blooded and
always grow more readily and health
fully In cool weather than in hot, dry
atmospheric conditions. Heat and
the absence of humidity or low hui
mildly always make for Indifferent
growth with all cold blooded plants.
Q. When would you plant the seeds
of hardy primroses and cinerarias?
Miss P.
A. They may be planted In October
and November or in February and
March. 1t is difficult to get them
started when It Is hot
Q. I recently brought home from
England some wonderful strawberry
plants that I now have alive in the
soil When should these be set out
to permanent location and how far
apart? Mrs. u.
A. 1t would probably be best to
wait until the dry heat period is
over. which should be some time in
October. Not knowing anything of
the variety, I would guess they should
be set no closer than IS inches. 1t
is very doubtful, however. II your
English varieties Of strawberries will
amount TO anything in this climate.
as few ever do.
Q, I want to SOW grass on the
grounds of a new home. I have fer
tilted and prepared the ground well,
but In some places the ground Is 50
steep that rains will likely wash down
the grass seed and dirt before 1t can
become established. Can you suggest
way to overcome this? H. B.
A. A good plan would be to SOW
rye, barley or oats thickly. work into
the soil or cover about two inches
deep. Then sow the grass thickly on
top of the covered grain, rake light
~ and then firm the soil by tamping
rolling or otherwise. The grain will
come up quickly. and the mass of
roots win hold the soil. Now graip
after established. keep moved and
the grass will soon come.
O. When is the best time to prune
roses? c. NJ.
A. Generally speaking. the best
time Is when they need it, II they
are hybrib tea or monthly blooming
roses and are carrying too much hard
wood, I would cut away any surplus
now. If you are watering the roses
would leave off some of the water
for awhile. as there is danger of over
watering newly pruned roses.
Q. I got bum job on lawn
made for me the past spring Even
Bermuda grass. supposed to grow
anywhere. Is absent In some spots
where 1t was planted. Do you think
1t could be patched, sown to winter
grasses. and likely Succeed. T.w.
A. II the ground was not properly
shaped up, fortified and well pre-
pared before putting out grass, 1t
would doubtless pay to make the
whole thing over. In fixing a per-
manent lawn, fertilization and thor
ough preparation is the chief factor
This expense should not be grudged
because II done right the Job is done
for good. Bermuda can be set any
time In this climate and 1t will soon
be time to plant winter grasses. so
the whole job can be done at once.
It should be remembered that while
Bermuda will grow under severe con-
ditions, other needed grasses must