The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-18

that is inclined to be wet or would
grasses be better? A. B., Annis-
ton, Ala,
A. Legumes ordinarily don't de-
velop the maximum of nodules in wet
soils because wet soils don't possess
the necessary amount Of air circula-
ton to induce the multiplication Of
bacteria.
Q. Do you think it would pay me
10 repIant some sweet peas where
the peas are already up but not as
thick as they should be? Mrs. r. B..
Gadsden, Ala.
A. II done right away l am in
elined to believe that it would pay
There is some probability that the
replanting would come on and bloom
with the first piaatiag. They might
not produce as fine flowers buS they
certainly ought to bloom
C. 1 am sending you some blooms
of two double -larcissus and ask that
yoG advise me through The Age
Herald the names of these varieties?
Mrs. c.. Atlanta, Ga.
A. The large pure yellow one is
the old fashioned Won Sion, the
lighter colored one is sulphur
Phoenix. There are but few real
double narcissus but these two are
among the best. The single types are
more numerous and considered by the
ma jority as superior,
G. What causes tho land to be-
come sour and toll us the bes. way
to avoid it? j. NJ, Boaz, Ala.
A. Bad treatment, the same forces
In a way that cause people, especially
men, to become sour on the world.
Cultivation is the big factor in pre-
venting the ground becoming stale.
Rotate The crops and don't expect too
much from the land.
@. In buying sweet potatoes for
bedding how do you detect what is
called black rot? 2. B., Clanton, Ala.
A. The fungus that causes black
rot in sweet potatoes appears on the
tubers as greenish black splotches
and often penetrates deeply into the
tissues. 1t frequently interferes with
the termination of the seed and
where it don't, the young plants or
sprouts are attacked. In bedding
sweet potatoes, all stock that is not
perfectly clean or possess any dis
colonization should be thrown aside.
@. What does good dust gun or
dust sprayer cost and do you recon-
mend the dust form of application?
H. j., Oneonta, Ala.
A. Dust guns or sprayers are to
ne Udu. jTOU 20 ttltS UP, put tH Cl-
ficient enc will cost about SIS The
question Ct application dep nds on
what is t. he accomplished. AS q
matter CT fact, the dust spray has
been steadily gaining ground and is
FOR most purposes considered more
effective. Parties who have need for
spraying should get all the literature
ON the subject, freely available from
the agricultural department and ex-
pertinent stations, and make use Of it
Q. have been told that kainit is
good to kill the insects in soil. Can
you tell us how it is used? j. B., r.
F. d. 6.
A. Kainit, low grade potash salt,
is more or less valuable insecticide,
Sesides being a valuable fertilizer II
is sometimes dissolved in water at
the rate of one ounce to the pint of
water and poured around plants or
on infested soil. Its application in
mixed fertilizer is supposed to eXer-
else a beneficial influence on the con-
troll of insects.
Q. Can one now buy the oriental
narcissus for planting, and when
would they bloom? Mrs. E., Fairfield.
A. Oriental narcissus, commonly
sold as Chinese sacred lilies. are not
obtainahle at this time of the year.
They were through blooming some
time ago.
@. Should grapes be cultivated dur
| ing the winter months, and how deep?
c. NJ, Heflin, Ala.
A. 1t is not necessary to cultivate
grapes during the winter months, but
it is desirable to cultivate during the
active growing periods. There is no
fixed rule as to depth, but generally
6 to 5 inches would be deep enough.
~ ha MIA Mt ba1
planted and previous treatment would
all be factors in arriving at any con-
clusion. Keeping the soil loose Of
the vines mulched is big factor to-
ward rapid growth.
Q. What are complete fertilizers?
/ see much in the press about the use
of complete guanos, but l don't know
what is meant at all times? J. B., At
ITALIA, Ala.
A. Complete fertilizers are those
that contain balanced ration of
phosphoric acid, ammonia, or it's
equivalent in nitrogen, and potash. 1t
is generally considered that any fer
tilizer containing as much as 2 per
cent of ammonia, s to 10 per cent OF
phosperic acid and 2 or more per
cent of potash is to be designated as
q complete fertilizer. A complete
fertilizer really means one that con-
tains all the necessary elements of
plant food, phosphoric acid, ammonia
and potash. See special letter on
subject.
2. How do you tell diseased roots
from those inoculated from the bac-
terra common to plants that cause the
swelling on the roots, called nodules?
s. U. B.. Blocton, Ala.
A. There is no way to tell except
by a chemical analysis. The appear
ance of nodules on any leguminous
plant such as cowpeas, clovers,
yetches. soy beans, ETC., is almost a
sure sign that the plant is inocu-
lated. a condition which makes for
the best development Of growth.
Q. What is the earliest tomato that
can be grown for commercial pur-
poses? c. N. Albany, Ala.
4. Tie Earlianna and June Pink
are the earliest sorts, both are real
ly the same but are of different color,
the Earllanna being a red and the
Jure Pink being a purplish pink.
Both are good sorts and worthy of
cultivation.
O. In using dry lime sulphur at
this time of the year, how much
should be used to the gallon? NJ H.,
Albany, Ala,
A. All depends on what is to be
served in the final results Ii lime
and sulphur is indicated. buy the
materia; and follow directions.
:. Do you get a start of horse
radish from seed or do you have to
have plants, What sort of land is
best to grew these roots? c. T.,
Bessemer. Ala.
y. 1t is Impractical to get a star,
of horse radish from seed and only
Ioot1 should be used Cuttings or