The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-21
By CEoRGE B. NI,vAY, sR.

l to spray, notwiths standing prompt
 measures, when spraying is indt- 1 cated, Is the main factor in ultimate l success. Just now when many val uable shade trees take on a rusty
 look, long before defoliation, inter- ested parties will become interested. l It ie not too late now to spray any sort of a tree, but prior to spraying i the three should be carefully pruned
 and all diseased or dead branches re- I moved. Pruning is the big factor in the proper control of shade trees
 as well as shrubs. Only a few years
 ago it was believed that our native l forest trees, such as oak, sweet gum,
 sycamore and hackberry were inn
 mune from disease, and when they
 are in their native environment but l little disease ever affects them, but
 as soon as they are transplanted to 1 city conditions, disease and insects
 seem to attack them. After all, the
 care of plants is the measure by
 which one may measure success. If you mean to neglect trees or plants,
 there Is no need to plant. 1 FOREIGN CROPS
 The writer for years has received all of the foreign crop reports, and those now available are. as a rule, remarkably good. It would seem that nature is doing her full share 1 l When one reads the report from Gerf
 many that the wheat, oat and ry@
 crop is far above normal, we can 1 hardly understand the food riots in that country.
 | It would seem that the farmers
 are In fine shape, while the indus trial workers, owing to unemploy-
 ment and the worthless currency 1 they must accept. are in bad fix.
 accentuated by the approach of bit l ter cold. European crops as whole are exceptionally good and cover l many items that are not counted in l the United States, but which are vi-
 tai to the inhabitants of many for 1 eign countries. The importance of
 certain vegetable crops. such as va | rious root yields, are big factors in | the daily ration of European people.
 More people ought to go to the land; then the hunger, so universal, would 1 be greatly relieved.
 | SELECTING SEED CORN l A good yield of corn in 1924 Will
 depend largely on the selection ot seed from the present growing or
 matured crop. The importance of l field selection in the matter of corn has been stressed by our own gov ernment as well as many experi- ment stations and individual breed
 CTS. The primary object of field SC, |
 stalks, representing type that you
 wish to reproduce. The ears gath l cred in the field should be carefully cured, hung up to dry, and thus con serve the best possible germlnatlon' | At least twice as much as would be l required should be saved, because i after curing and prior to planting 1 another selection should be made in
 order to secure 8 uniform type. The
 great drawback to saving seed corn l in the south Is the prevalence or | grain weevil, which in some sections
 is so bad that one cannot save seed. Good seed corn is big factor in the
 resulting crop, more so than most
 seed, yet the average farmer will
 plant what he has left in spring
 from the general crib.
 Questions and Answers
 O Tell me the best seed catalog l co1Ild procure to give me full infor- nation on flowers, shrubbery, seeds
 and their care? s. L., Muscle Shoals, l Ala.
 mention It would take catalog larger than Webster's biggest die tionary to give you the information wanted, and the expense would be
 prohibitive. All seed catalogs will
 give you more or less information,
 and by reading a collection of them 1
 nation wanted
 @. I have been told that a potash
 salt known as kainit would be good
 thing to dress my plant beds with to kill out worms, insects and disease. | Is this a fact, and how much should
 be used? s. T., R. F. D. No. O. 1 A. Kainit is a potash salt contain | ing 12 to IA per cent of actual potaSh, and owing to other contents is really
 therefore valuable both as a fertilizer an insecticide and fungicide. It is and insecticide. About quart of 1t should be used on bed AZ feet by
 12 feet. On large areas, about 400 to | ,000 pounds to the acre.
 1 Q. Is it too late to set out cabbage plants. and can they be procured?' B.
 most anytime now without any seri- l B., Childersburg, Ala.
 | A. Cabbage plants may be set out l ous danger. but lately the weather | has been so dry that plants have not | been available. After we have had
 abundant rains, plants will be avail
 able and may then be put out, l Q. There is very large narcissus that has white petals, but the trumpet is yellow. It is hardy outdoor grown sort with large blooms. Can you tell me the name of this sort?
 Mrs. D., Fairfield. Ala.
 | A. There are several types that loorrespond to this description. but
 doubtless the Empress is the one you are interested in. It is one of the finest narcissus grown.
 Q. Do you know what the Dixie land turnip is and would 1t be suit
 able for planting now? R. J., At
 A. Dixie land is a hardy winter talla, Ala.
 turnip. very much like seven top. only makes a larger root 1t may be
 planted now with safety.
 @. l notice where paradicloroben- I~wt. ,..I. and should be used how? Can you tell us anything about this remedy? ernment formula for peach borers and 70. C., Jasper, Ala. A. This remedy is the U. S. gov is very effective when used at the proper time. In the south. where
 warm weather holds so long, 1t is often necessary to make two applica- tions, one during October to destroy
 eggs and the young and another after 1t becomes cold enough to drive the borers in the upper branches down
 to the roots. Directions on the pack
 age should be followed.
 c. Is raffia the proper thing to use in tying up grape vines In an arbor that is growing wild? A. P, Heflin, Ala.
 A. Raffia is used for tying vege-
 twine is indicated and is generally more satisfactory. It is also cheaper than most material used for the same purpose.
 @. Which ore of the hyacint ths do 1 you think Is best for outdoor cul- ture? E. c.
 A. There are a number of sorts suitable for your purpose, and we recommend the single varieties. which are obtainable in practically all shades of color. The colors may be various shades of~white. pink, red
 and rose, all shades of blue and law ender, and some wonderful yellows; C.. Can one buy kerosene emulsioE n.- .l.- i--Il 4