The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-30

The majority of people doubtless believe that what is commonly wnown as honey dew fall from the heavens or Is secreted on the plant by the plant itself. It is positively known, however, as fact that honey dew is secreted by an insect. much after the fashion that the honey bee secretes honey. It is not known just how many different insects do pro- duce the honey dew, but 1t Is known that the aphides, such as plant lice, mites and possibly other sucking species of insects are the producers. To observe any matter of a sweet or sticky nature on plant foliage, should be definite warning that some injurious insect Is lurking in the premises and should be searched out, and remedial measures adopted to destroy. Unfortunately. these minute Insects are not easily observ- ed. consequently they often do their damage and get away with 1t before ever discovered, thus rendering ade- quate remedies impotent through de- lay.
 We cannot too strongly impress the supreme importance of extreme watehfulness and prompt remedial agents, as the only rational method Ol bttAiRb Alit ilol iiiehl IAOlRo CAPtRAOd from all agricultural and horticul- tural crops.
 Getting Seed Up
 During the summer and fall months, when the weather is often dry and hot. the gardener experiences much trouble in getting stand of many small seeds Some of these seeds are always slow about germinating, and when soil conditions are unfavorable, the matter often causes serious fail- ures. It Is but natural to lay all failures to the seed themselves, al- though the plain truth is, that the blame rarely lies with the seed.
 Soaking seed to soften or hasten examination is not always safe, be- cause total emersion for a period will sometimes rob the seed of some of it's normal attributes that may effect the life of the young plant, although 1t does not seem to have any bad eff feet on some varieties.
 The writer has practiced the plan of mixing the seed to be planted with pure sand, keeping the mixture moderately damp for periods of three or four and even Us long as 10 to 1b days. all depending on the va riety or disposition to show signs of sprouting. The seed must be careful ly and promptly planted at the first manifestation of growth, and in a manner that tends to conserve mois- ture of soil where planted. Such seeds as beets, carrots. celery, herbs. pep- per, eggplant spinach, parsnips, sal sify, olera and certain flower seed. will often prove a success in this way when failures result from open ground planting.
 Building Un Land
 A business man is easily interested when you approach him on the sub ject of building up his business, and tho subject really embodles the ma : jor part of his thinking moments. The business farmer undoubtedly has his like thinking moments, but it is a fact that building up land does not occupy the attention of the farmer that it's importance really demands It is known that the subject appears to him strongly when he is talked with about it, but his innate indepen- dent opinion of his own self suf- fieiency establishes an obstacle not easily surmounted.
 Largely, the same principles are ef- fective in business building, whether 1t be the smallest business venture or the most ambitious development in agricultural pursuits, You cannot, in any puSlneSS, keep drawing on your capital without putting something back. The same is true in farming. Is 1t reasonable to suppose that you can continue to draw from the soil big dividends in profitable crops without improving the soil, which is after all the capital investment It is sell robbery anyway you take it. The next thirty days is an appropriate time to start building up your land through the planting of the various soil enriching plants.
 Questions and Answers
 c. Please tell me how to ger rid Iof beetle that eats on sweet peas and kills beans? Miss N, Attalla.
 A. It must be different insects. The small green bug, that so often attacks sweet peas, may be controlled by maintaining tobacco dust on the vines. Spraying with teaspoonful of nicotine sulphate 10 a gallon of soapy water will destroy. Even strong to- bacco water Is effective. The same treatment reduces the injury from the bean bug. Busting bean vines with a mixture compound of hydrated lime about 72 per cent. arsenate of lime about 12 per cent and sulphur about 16 per cent. does reduce the in- jury from the bean bug. It is neces- sary to get 1t under the leaves. best accomplished with dust sprayer
 Q. How do you make kerosene emulsion with sour milk? O. C.. Blountsvilie.
 A. The formula Is kerosine one tr hal ra1l rr,