The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-19


 A. There is now a race of zinnias. known as giant dahlia lowered, that come in pastel shades and the col ors are often distributed throughout the bloom as to make them difficult to describe They are entirely diff ferent from other types and certainly worth cultivating.
 c. I have the red Chinese wool flower, but am told that it comes in other -eolors. What colors are ob- tainable? Miss P.
 A. This popular celosia is now ob- tainable in crimson. light pink. deep pink, yellow, white and other shades may have been developed.
 O What is the vine known as the Australian pea vine? Miss S.. At talla.
 A. It is species of Jack bean or, hyacinth bean tdalichas lignosus). very attractive vine.
 Q. I have friend that has peony that blooms every year. It is a large salmon pink. What do you think 1t could be? Mrs. A. NJ
 A. I could not be certain but 1t is probably Marguerite Gerard, very reliable bloomer.
 O. Does this hardy orange recom-
  Mrs. A. F.
 A. Hardy orange (citrus trifoliata) blooms two and three times year. About March it produces a mass of rather large white single flowers and during summer usually flowers the second and third time. It is almost evergreen and besides the naked branches are a vivid green and really handsome More hedges of this
 t.o hsZ. cause the resulting crop of bright golden fruit Is a splendid novelty
 Q. There is a shrub. I think it's jasmine. that produces short time after Christmas. dropping naked branches covered with bright yellow flowers The plant afterward has dark green leaves, Could you tell me the name of this shrub? Miss R.. Selma, Ala.
 A. It is very likely what is com monly called naked lowered jasmine tiasmimum nudiflorund). The plant is extremely hardy and never gets killed by cold weather.
 e. Can I grow cratons in the house and how should they be treated? Mrs. T..
 A The decorative cratons are es- sentially green house plants in this climate They require high tempera- ture and plenty of moisture condi- tions that cannot be maintained in a residence.
 Q. What shrubs will grow in this climate that produce blue shades of flowers? Mrs F.. Fairfield. Ala.
 A. The list is rather limited but the following are very good: Double blue lilac, blue rose of sharon and butterfly bush. There are others. but rather rare and not easily obtainable.
 Q. ' like blooming shrubs and would like to have you name a col lection that would afford bloom all the year around. Mrs. E. Albany, Ala.
 A. The following list would afford bloom practically every month in the year: High bush cranberry, tartarian honeysuckle, hybrid lilac, hardy hy- drangea. Van Houtle's bridal wreath. rose of Sharon, crimson spiraea, for sythia, mock orange, hybrid weigela and Japanese uuince. There are oth- CTS that may be substituted. These would not all be in bloom a the same time but some one would afford bloom practically the year around.
 c. l have been told that alfalfa will make my hens lay. In what shape is it fed? Mrs. l.. F. 0akman.
 A. It will and may be fed to hens green, dry hay or better still, ground up and mixed with other feeds
 Q. Some of my friends want to un- dertake the growing of celery for market Would you mind telling us few esstentials that should lead to success? H J. Florala, Ala.
 A. The necessary details would be too long for this feature of the paper. Write to United States De partment of Agriculture, Washing ton, D. C.. for farmers bulletin num- Der 1269 on celery growing. It goes into great detail which is really necessary for comprehensive under standing.
 Q. see lot of fine tomatoes still coming into Birmingham by wagons. Can you tell me when the plants were put out to produce this late crop? W. M. Cordoya, Ala
 A. Some local growers are still harvesting fruit from plants set in early spring but the most you see are from plants set out in June or July. successful fall crop of tomatoes is usually more profitable than the summer crop, as price is generally better.
 c. My soil grows good crops of Irish potatoes and I now have good fall yield but they are always scabby. Are varities obtainable that are free of scab? Mrs. D. vinemont.
 A. There is nc variety available that is scab proof. Scab is avoided by chloride of mercury or formaldehyde and the changing of location.
 c. I want to put out this winter Torz