The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-09

and seed.
 Produce Your own Nitrntes
 While all this squabbling Is going on over Muscle Shoals. farmers should he preparing to make their own air nitrates. The amount of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia and other commercial sources of nitrates is not drop in the bucket to the amount annually produced by the leguminous plants, such as peas, soy beans, velvet beans, clovers, etc. All such plants are miniature fertilizer factories, working while the farmer rests, re- quire no great power or expense for development and no expensive propa- ganda to convince the farmer of their merits. These plants not only pro duce nitrates from the air but they store it up for future generations and there Is no expense in the matter Of freight, handling or application. and there are no strikes attending it's manufacture. It Is all right to assist and supplement nature, but after all, 1t Is hard to beat.
 Book Farming
 It Is most unfortunate that so large per cent of farmers scoff and sheer a what they delight in call ing book farming. The best book ever read on watermelon growing was written by man who grew melons in Texas for 30 years and shipped them all over the north and northwest. He was a college pro- lessor with A. NJ. Ph. D. degree He left this book with many others, on his death. all of which were after wards published by his son.
 I have heard many Texas melon growers ridicule this book and make it the object of all sorts of coarse ignorant jests. It is the same with many of our government publica- tions.
 Farmers imagine that the men who prepare these bulletins and papers are simply the product of schools without any practical experience. Such conclusions are not worthy, even of the most ignorant,
 There Is hardly a single variety among our well known plants that has not been introduced or greatly improved through tho untiring ef- forts of the so-called book farmers.
 Setting Out Bedding Plants
 There are many stores In Birming- ham that have on display for sale a great variety of Towering plants, suitable for bedding out or setting in the home grounds. It is interesting to watch the customers pulling over them and selecting those that have the most bloom showing and general ly those that are largest or tallest.
 Human nature Is curious thing and too often free from thought. and even common sense. resulting in many failures to produce satisfac- tory plants from those bought.
 .A3, =. . are in bloom. the bloom should be removed. and frequently the plants should be cut back. Whenever you reset a plant or disturb its roots you make 1t more difficult for the roots to support the growth above ground and generally If you don't relieve by removing some of the top as com pensation, the plant either dies or has hard time to establish itself and measure up to your expectation
 Questions and Answers
 Q.-My egg plants are bothered with some insect that riddles the leaves with small holes but l cant find them. What can I do?- Mrs. N., Union Springs.
 A.-This must be small flea beetle. Spray with Bordeaux mixture end arsenate of lead Mix two ounces of dry Bordeaux and tablespoonfll of arsenate lead to gallon of water.
 Q.-The leaves of my beets are spotted and seem to stop growing. Could you suggest a remedy? Mrs. T.. Blocton.
 A-Mix one and half pounds of dry Bordeaux in 12 gallons of water and spray thoroughly, repeat in about week.
 Q.-I notice some of my strawberry plants shave their leaves rolled up by some insect. What will stop it?
 A-This is leaf roller and hard to destroy, but to check. dust the plants with 40" dust or spray with arsen- ate of lead, teaspoonful to gallon of water.
 Q.-P1ease tell me where the, most of our aster seed come from? Miss C., Castlsberry.
 A.-At the present, most of them are grown in southern California. but some are still coming from Europe.
 Q.-what is this blue lace flower see advertised? Mrs. S., Camphill.
 A.-Didiscus is the correct name. It Is fine for cut flowers.
 Q.-What is the other name for the old fashion flower cup and saucer? Miss F.
 A-A variety of campanula or Canterbury bells. calycanthema cam panula.
 Q.-My morning glories don't seem to run. What could be the trouble? Miss A, Girard
 A-Therc is a dwarf or bush va riety and this must be what you planted.
 Q.-Will the giant spider plant bloom planted this late? Mrs. M., R. F. D., Bessemer.
 Al think so as it blooms until late in season.
 Q.-There is a crumpled or curled leaved variety of winter cabbage that I want to plant. What is this va riety and when is the proper time to plant for winter heads? S., Jasper.
 A.-Savoy is the variety. It Is slow grower and should be planted in May or not later than June in order to develop full size before winter.
 Q.--I want'to grow big crop of winter collards for the Birmingham market. Does the old blue legged collard stand the most cold? J. M.. Pelham.
 A.-Blue stem collard is no hardier than the white stem and not near so profitable for market. Blue stem makes a smaller plant and is not so salable or good.
 Q.-When is the best time to plant carrots for the fall market? H. JA, Pinson.
 Alt is generally best to make tv,o r,Japti,,nS One in May and apeip