The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-28

A. The variety Cuphea platycen- tra. known as cigar plant, producing long shaped, scarlet flowers. has a long bearing period. Perennial in character and almost an evergreen. Makes fine pot plant.
 Q. My dahlias have died down to the ground after making consider able growth this spring. Win they come out again? Mrs. T.
 A. This condition Is generally due to diseased roots and is quite common. They will not come again. The only thing to do is to plant out new roots. and there Is plenty time left to do this for fall blooms. Now Is really the best time to plant dahlias.
 Q. My gladile left in the ground from last year have not come up. Do you think they will? Mrs. B.
 A. No. The bulbs evidently froze or routed in the ground. You can still plant as plenty of time for flow ering.
 Q. I notice a good many of my to- mato plants have apparently been topped by some insect. The plant at the top seems to swell. the sur rounding stems also, to harden and no IuTLncT BTOWlH WILL put What causes this and is there a remedy? H. D. w, R. F. D.. Athens A. There is species of chinch bug that attacks the extremities at night, puncturing the bud, sucking the juices. and nature In repairing the damage causes the swelling and hardening The most frequent cause is from small plant mites that de- stroy the top buds by puncturing and sucking. Frequent spraying or dust ing with any insecticide, particular ly nicotine and Bordeaux. greatly re- duces the menace After the injury is noticed, the only remedy is to cut back the plant down to healthy joint or sucker, and the plant gem orally recovers without much dam age.
 0. What is the best English pea to plant now to resist the sun? E. D., R. F. D.. 3.
 A. The smooth varieties are more resistant, such as Marrowfat, First and Best and Alaska
 c. What variety of Swiss chord looks so much like spinach. I want to grow for markskG M. P, Bessem- CT.
 A. Asa for green Swiss chord. not the lucullus variety.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 o. What is this blight and bug mixture used for killing insects and blight? O. C.. R. F. D.. Tuscaloosa
 A. A preparation made in Bir- mingham, containing arsenic. copper of Bordeaux and lime. It Is com bination insecticide and fungicide thus destroying leaf-eating insects
 T. h. ay,,a tiv,aa se used as a dust spray. c. What Is hellebore that I sec in a magazine. as being good to kill bugs. and where can I get 1t? Mrs. E., Carbon Hill
 A. Dried powder of a medicinal plant. either veratrum veride or veratrumalba. Other common names are swamp hellebore. Indian poke itch weed and bugbane. Your drug gist should have it or may procure 1t for you. As liquid spray. use one ounce to gallon of water; as dust mix one ounce with fiv, ounces hydrated lime.
 o. Will the common white arse nic do just as well for killing potato bugs and other insects as the ar- senate of lead? Mrs B. c.
 A. It is not safe to use white ar Sen1c on 1ollagc as IL DurnS. II may be used in preparing poison baits or for other purposes as a poison other than as an application to plants.
 0. read about miscibie oil to control insects. What Is 1t made o1 and how do you use it? J. H. N. Sheffield.
 A. Miscible oil mixtures are only used when trees or plants are dor mant. There are various formaulae more or less difficult to prepare. and the proper material is not generally available. There is so much detail in these preparations that you should have a government bulletin to go by Q. In dusting plants with sulphur for lice and mildew. do you mix il with anything or apply 1t just SO. Miss D.. Anniston.
 A. It is really better to mix ths sulphur with equal parts of hydratet lime as 1t distributes better. It ii always important to create a cloud of dust. and low down, so as to in. duce settling on underside of foliage Q. Can you buy the concentrated lime sulphur solutions that are ready