The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-13
Improving the Home

EN IL Is AlWaNE III to iHipiONN Nh9 home. Every day, people are moving into new homes just built and want to know what they should do. Home builders are prone to overlook tE.s yard or premises when constructing a new house, and a new house With ragged, unsightly surroundings, Is not a real home. You can at least sod the front yard with Bermuda grass which will add 100 per cent to the general looks of the place. This can be successfully done now. The ground should be shaped up just like you want it and 1t must be picies up or plowed Fertilizer and good black soil is needed. The turf must be carefully placed, joined together, and thoroughly tamped down. Water ing at frequent intervals until well settled is of great help,
 Potted plants properly disposed win add greatly to the general as pect The thing to do Is to maKe start, and not wait until fall. Much Of the needed shrubbery, of con is not available at this particular season, but make your plans so that it may be set when the proper time arrives
 Questions and Answers
 Q. What causes my begonias to k1
 A. This is frequently caused by allowing the plants to remain in one position too long. The side next to the bright light will naturally be drawn towards the light. All potted plants ought to be turned every day or so to induce them to Agrow symmetrical.
 @ There is little round bug stuck on my Boston ferns. What can I use to destroy them? Miss D.
 A. Spray with tobacco soap, or carbolic soap would do. This treat ment will loosen them and many can be scrubbed off with brush. The leaves or fronds badly infested may be cut off.
 O In mixing soil for pot plants, how much sand do you add to the mixture? Mrs. L. Vivian.
 A. If there is much clay used, there ought to be about one-thind sand or even more. The mixture should contain a large per cent Of garden loam.
 O. I sent off and bought some billion dollar grass, but don't know how to plant it. Please tell me? B. C., Pinson.
 A. You can plant in rows or broadcast just like you would sorg- hum. Fifty pounds broadcasted to the acre is about the correct amount.
 e. I am enclosing plant scat tered among my oats. farmer told me it was darnel. Please tell me what you think 1t isf F. G., Rus sellvillc.
 A. The specimen is one of the grain cheats known as bromus seca- linus. It is not the poisonous plant darnel.
 O. I have tried lately and failed to root ivy. Could you help me out with some advice? Mrs. C., Albany
 A. Try dropping the cutting into fruit jars or bottles of water. Let the cutting extend above the vessel and don't remove the top foliage Keen the vessel so the bottom Is ex- nosed to sun but the top shaded. Rain water is better than others,
 O. Did you ever hear of the An pelus rose? l read about 1t but don remember about the color. Miss r.
 A. This is a comparatively new va riety but is an extra good wnite soIt' Grafted stock should prove the best.
 o. I have just moved into new place and want to plant quick shade vine. What would you recommend!
 A You could buy the plants of moon vines and they would make quick shade. Velvet beans planted now would come up quickly, grow rapidly and soon produce the desired shade.
 O. I notice some of my elm shade trees are being attacked by some worm, I suppose caterpillar. Please send me a good formula to spray with. H. J., Sylacauga. | A. This formula if thoroughly sprayed on should control Arsenate of lead one pound. dry lime sulphur two pounds, copperas one pound. water 25 gallons.
 0. Which are the best varieties of chrysanthemums in the different colors? Mrs. M, R. F. D. 5.
 A. There are literally hundreds of sorts in the different colors and new ones are being added daily. In yell lows, Golden Wedding and Zenobia are good. In pinks Lillian Doty and Donald pink are fine. In bronze. Will cox and Hilda canning are splendid In white, Diana and Acto are satis- factory. All of these are double but you can buy some fine single sorts in the different colors. The matter of names don't matter so much be- cause there has been so much i'm provement that most all are good.
 Q. By what name do you order the small dwarf ferns for decorating the table? Mrs. A. T.
 A. Pteris Is the name of these small dwarf ferns for decorating the called table ferns.
 0. When do you plant the seed of the little bush that bears berries and is sold at florists during winter? Miss P.
 A. These are solanums, Christmas berries, etc. Sow seed now, to be