The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14


 Alabama.
 A. There is no definite answer to such question. Nearly all state laws prescribe a value to commer- cial plant food, t after all it don't mean anything, because the state don't sell fertilizers, neither can they fix an arbitrary price. If you write to the state agricultural de- partment at Montgomery they will send you a copy of the annual fer tilizer bulletin and the law. This will give all the information wanted.
 o. How much salt peter should be mixed with two-horse load of manure to make it od fertilizer? M. J. R. r. D. 3.
 A. Salt peter or nitrate of potash is not an economical plant food. You cannot buy this material at price that would justify it's use, and besides it's nitrogen and potash con tent varies widely in the commer- cial product. is not standardized anu you could not kl w just what you were buying. If yet want potash, buy kainit, muriate or sulphate, as these materials are protected by gov ernment tags. If you heed nitrogen or ammonia. buy nitrate of soda. sul- phate of ammonis or nitrate of lime. These materials are standardized and can be depended upon.
 c. What th- best spinach to plant at this time of the year for market? I don't want this small curly VSind that makes small plant and sticks so close to the ground? M. J., Attalla, la.
 A. At this time of the year you 4Ax 1a1 crSif aeh, such as broad leaf Flanders, Victoria, ong standing and hardy summer. All of these are inclined to grow upright end producs much larger plant than the winter types
 o. Is the scarlet globe beet as early as Crosby's Egyptian? D. L., R. F. D. 3.
 A. It is not. It's good color and ready seller, but IS really mid season or main crop sort.
 c. I nave room for one scupper- nong grape. Which one would you plant? S. L., Talladega, Ala.
 A. Variety in scuppern1 ngs don't make so much difference as the white, black and purple are all good. but at least two should be planted and different t>sorts, in order to in sure pollenization and fruit. single isolated plant won't produce fruit.
 Q. What size privet hedge do you recommend tC be set out? 1 have 100 feet to set. Would you fertilize it and what would you use? Mrs. S., All bany, Ala.
 A. All privet is good about living and you can select such sizes as ap peal to you. Stock about the size of the average lead pencil is popular. yet ytu can use larger. I would not advise any fertilizer except it be a moderate amount of, well routed barnyard manure or bone meal. The best fertilizer for hedge would be good, rich dirt such as leaf mold or woods earth. After the hedge is growing off yCu could apply some stimulating fertilizer.
 Q. A want to plant at least an acre in early tomatoes. had thought of planting chalk's Jewell. What do you think of it for an early market sort? J. C.. Tusoaleosa. Ala.
 A. -ChAlk's Jewel is very fine, early tomato. It is large. very smooth, fine flavor and . splendid character, making dense growth. is very prolific and while not the lare- est sort is certaialy large enough for any use.
 .s Q. Is the English rye spoken Of in bulletins. . grass or is~it winter grain lfka ether rye! !. NJ, Colusn- bianA, Ala. Ar
 A. English rye is | perennial ever green grass and very dsstrable for lawn purposes. It does burn off in this climate during July and Augus; but in connection with Bermuda or other grasses it Is able ts maintain it's green period.
 Q. Can you recommend gCod hedge plant to locate around gate to . private garden? Mrs. T.
 A. There are several thorn plants very desirable for this purpose. The one known as scarlet thorn is very good. Citrus trifoliata is another splendid thorn hedge and does we'll in this section.
 \ Q. Are the barberry and-choke- berry shrubs evergreen? Miss 8.
 A. No they are decidous shrubs that is, these that shed their fo- liage in the winter. They do. hold their foliage some seasons, like the present, for almost the entire 12 months.
 0. Which is the hottest onion, the red. yellow or white? want to pu. out the sets now. E. T, Chifders-
 A. There is nc great difference be-