The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-03


 depend, of course, on the proper management of the poultry, in reduc- ton of bought food and the con servation of the manure The value of chicken manure Is known to every one, but just how valuable does not seem to be generally understood. One is safe in saying that it contains from five to ten times as much total plant food clements as the average horse or COW manure. It is high in all the essential plant foods, phos- phates, nitrogen or ammoniates. and potash. In short, 1t Is complete fertilizer within Itself. It ought to be carefully collected and dried under cover and never, through plling, al- lowed to heat. It is best not to mix ordinary lime with 1t, but such lime products as ground limestone, gyp- sum Qand plaster) and marble dust will really benefit and conserve the plant food clements. Sand or light soil Is good conserver. Any one who has ever used chicken manure as a fertilizer must have observed the remarkable results quickly achieved. For flowers and lotted plants, nothing elso will do as well.
 Snap Bean Diseases
 A great deal of tho snap beans on the market this year are character ized by q rough, scaiy or spotted ap- pearance. rendering them unsightly, unstable and unwhoiesome. This is n serious bean disease, known as anthracnose, commonly called pod rust. This fungus attacks the stems foliage and pods. It is serious be- cause the planting seed carries the disease. Such seed are not smooth. but wrirkled and pitted to moro or less extent, and sometimes marked with discolored yellow or brownish spots. When diseased seed come up. the top frequently sheds promptly. leaving the bare stem, and tho plants that do survive will look sickly. recover slowly if at all. and often fail to produce a normal crop. The bmest way to avoid this disease is the selection of smooth. plump, healthy seed. Soaking the seed in some good fungicide. such as blue stone, has been of great benefit. Reg ular spraying of the plants with Bor- deaux will insure a crop. but 1t must be kept up at week or 10-day inter- vals. Another measure of control is to avoid damp situations and the crowding of plants.
 hitter Apple Rot
 Some of the early apples appearing on the market are speckled with small rotten spots. rendering them unfit for market. The trouble seems to be bitter rot or what is called ripe rot. Fruit that natures late may yet be saved if properly treated. This fungus Is liable to attack fruit at any stage of It's growth. The first reo which cause a softening of the tis- ues and spreads very rapidly. When effected parts are taken into the mouth the taste Is very bitter. After the disease appears on apples it Is doubtful If any remedy can be suc- cessfuliy used, so preventive meas ures must be resorted to; that Is. the application of fungicide to the fruit to prevent development. Lime sulphur sprays and Bordeaux sprays are both effective. but 1t Is neces- sary to apply at two-week intervals clear up to almost ripeninB time to completely control. But where treated as many as twice before the fruit is grown not much danger may be feared. One ounce dry lime sulphur to tho gallon water Is about the proper strength. If dry Bordeaux Is used. mix two ounces to the gal lon of water.
 Questions and Answers
 c. What is the name of the big red freestone peach now being sold on the market7 J. s. NJ.
 A. The Carmen. one of tho very best early peaches.
 c. What do you use to counteract the poison of poison ivy or poison oak? Miss E.
 A. An alkali is needed, such as lime water and household ammonia. Common powdered dry lime rubbed on is effective.
 c. There is a large white winter turnip with bronze top and the foliage Is smooth like rape or cab baKe. l want to be sure to get the right sort. What Is the name of It? J. w, Hanceville.
 A. It Is known as the White Sweet German, sometimes called white Ru- tabaga. It Is one of the best and sweetest winter turnips.
 e. How would Sudan grass and cowpeas mixed do to SOW for hay? H. J., Irondale.
 A. The Sudan grass woupld be ready to cut before most varieties of peas. The combination might work out with a very early variety of peas like New Era. Both plants arc very valuable and rather than take any risks I would plant separate.
 Q. The soil in my window boxes is infested with small opaque worms. A small fly seems to be attracted. Could there be connection between the two and how would you get rid of? c. G. s.
 A. Soil conditions undoubtedly at- tract both. Mix one ounce pure in- sect powder (pyrethrum) and half round finely powdered lime (hy- drated lime). Sprinkle rather liber- ally on surface of Eoil and dust plants lightly with the same. If this don't correct in few days notify us. Don't keep too wet. and in four or five days after above treatment stir up the soil.
 c. There is an ornamental flower ing peach that hag double flowers early in the spring. I want to plot out some this fall. What name do they go by? Mrs. M. L.
 A. This tree or shrub Is variously known as Persian peach, chrysanthe- mum peach (Amygdalis Persica), etc. They are perfectly hardy and will grow anywhere the common peacn grows. They begin to bloom in Feb ruary or March, when other flowers are scarce. and last for some time.
 Q. Leaves and stems of my beau tiful collection of hollyhocks have become discolored by small spots which at first are yellow, but later turn brown. Can they be saved and how? T. l.. M.
 A. This Is a fungus disease .com- monly called hollyhock rust. The disease can be killed. but it may have progressed 30 far as to prevent plants blooming this year. Mix one ounca of dry lime aulphur and half