The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-04

I spring one billion pounds of cotton
seed, according to government esti-
mates, or about one-tenth of the
average total production. The num-
Der of persons dealing in cotton seed
for planting purposes has increased
enormously and right now there are
thousands ofsadveru sements appear
ing or being sent out extolling the
| merits of hundreds of different va
rfcties. II is really remarkable that
SC little effort has been made TO
| improve the cotton plant. 1t is true
that some dealers, growers, expert
lnent stations and few individual
breeders have done great deal of
| real constructive work in develop
ing new and improved varieties, but
the vast majority of the seed planted
on the southern farm is simply cot.
ton seed and nothing else. True, they
| are usually sold under the name of
some well known standard sort be-
| cause this enhances the value or
rather increases the sale price. For
example. one experimenter last year
found that IL of his varieties bought
under different names at prices rang
ing from S1.50 to s12 per busliel,
turned out to be the same sort when
the test plants matured their crop.
| Good seed is a big factor in cotton
production but be sure you are get
| ting it.
Questions and Answers
Q. Is the Royal King pepper a
similar variety to the Ruby King
and which is the best truckers va
riety? C. j., Troy, Ala.
A. Royal King is. a more squat
/ shaped. larger around and heavier.
1t is splendid-sort for both home
and market purposes.
| Q. How far apart should egg
| plant be grown? J. c., Bessemer, Ala.
| A. For horse cultivation the rows
| should be 31a to feet apart and
the plants set about 2ia feet apart
| in drills. They can be grown some
! what closer but they don't fruit well
when crowded.
@, ] am told that the reason my
collards never grow large is because
don't plant early enough. When
should they be planted to develop
full size? Mrs. r. j., Wylam.
A. The collard is a slow growing
| plant and must be planted in the
early spring to develop full size, al
| though it is good eating in the fall
and winter At any stage of growth.
When planted II March and April
they will generally develop their FUN
or maximum, size by October.
Questions and Answers
Q. Can any one buy kerosene oil
| at reasonable price in the emulsi-
| fled form and how is it to be di-
| luted in using for scale? Il. E., De-
| catur, Ala.
| A. You can buy in the concentrate
| ed or paste form and If you only
| want moderate quantities it doesn't
| pay any one to make it. One quart
\ to 20 gallons of water is strong
enough for most purposes, but there
| is wide difference in the recon-
| mended strength, all depending on
! the plant conditions. It's generally
best to observe printed instructions
on the package. "
! @. Is it time to set out the wis
| terra vine and what size plant do
| you recommend to use? r. A. jack
| son, Ala.
| A. Wisteria is perfectly hardy and
| may be set out any time from now
! on. It's best for prompt results to
| set out a good sized plant, two years
| old or more.
| @. Is the Japanese barberry an
| evergreen hedge? Mrs. ST. Hartselle,
Ala.
A. No, it is not altogether ever
! green but it makes splendid hedge
| and requires little pruning 10 keep
| colors up to various rich hues' and
| the fruit or berries become scarlet.
| 1T is very hardy and forms a fine
| border OF foreground for taller ever
| greens. You can set IL to Is inches
apart depending on size of plant.
Q. What do you know about the