The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-18

ana SeeQ.
 Soap As An Insecticide
 Few people know the value of com mon laundry soap as an insecticide, and 1t Is necessary to know just what class of insects that it is effective against. soapy solutions may be used against many kinds of plant lice and other soft bodied insects that are bad after many flowers and some vege- tables
 The whale oil or fish oil soaps are best, but any laundry soap that does not contain an excess of aikalies will do. There Is no fixed rule as to strength, and there Is always more CT less danger In inJuring the foliage of some of the more tender plants. So 1t becomes necessary to be cautious
 and never use any stronger than necessary to kill the plant lice. It should be remembered that soapy sprays are not effective against and should only be used against sucking species. People who live in cities or near, can always buy ready prepared remedies that are more suitable than any homemade substitutes, and should be used.
 Parties who live in the country and far removed from cities, experience great difficulty in securing insecsi- cides, because few local merchants handle. and most remedies are denied the mails on account of poisonous | nature. and must go by express or l freight.
 Fumigation
 Fumigation Is one of the surest
 methods for destroying any kind of germs, bacteria, many diseases and 1 Insects, that attack plant life. The l application of the treatment varies widely, owing to the different prob-
 lems involved. and it is not possible
 to give any specific rules to go by !, that would apply generally. We are being asked questions about fumiga- l tion and we are prepared to give spe- cific instructions. but to enable us to l do so. it Is necessary for us to know | just what purpose is to be served In asking such questions, give all
 the details you can think of, as to conditions, location, measurements,
 exposures. surroundings and don't 1 forget to tell us just what you want | to destroy in fumigating. Fumigation | consists in most cases of causing
 certain forms or gases to be distrib-
 uted over a given area. Most of these | gases are very poisonous and must be handled with great care to pre- vent injury to humans, animals and l plants. The proper application of fumigant Is the main factor for suc- | cess and to enable us to be of real
 help. it is necessary that we have
 all the facts.
 l Keeping the Garden Worked
 We are frequently asked how ofter
 should the garden be worked and the | general answer Is, as often as condi- tions would seem to indicate.
 So much depends on soil conditions that no fixed rule could be applied | Good tilth must be maintained but 1 several conditions are great contrib
 uting factors. Adequate drainage is the most fundamental of these be- cause 1t is impossible to keep a poorly drained soil in good tilth. Such
 a soil is naturally inclined to puddle
 and compact and when dry works
 up into a rough, lumpy condition | Continual wetness breaks down tho granular appregates by dissolving the cementing material. and permits the particles to settle together. Such soils must be worked or stirred l oftener than those of a sandy or
 lcamy character. The stiff gardeu | soil should be either tile drained or 1 ditched, and when this Is done, the amount of work and frequency neces- sary can be greatly reduced and the | yield immensely increased with any crop In sandy or loamy gardens work should occur, often enough tc
 keep down weeds and grasses, but in most cases. only surface cultivation
 is needed
 One must be governed by the broad principle that good growing conii- tions must obtain if one is to expect
 satisfactory or profitable yields.
 Questions and Answers | Q.-What Towering plant may Os
 set out now that will bloom a long time? Mrs. W.
 A.-Dianthus plumarius. known as
 hardy grass pinks. Forget-me-not | grows we'll in shade and blooms .
 long tune. Both of these are per. l ennials.
 1 Q.-What variety Is the old fashion
 bee larkspur? Miss E.. Montgomery A-DefuMninm elatum. flower.
 blue. grows four to six feet high
 perennial in character.