The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-08
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 0. Our home seems to be over-run with fIeas and we have been recom- mended to use a preparation known as Hofstra Do you know anything about this material, do you think 1t would be effective, is it poison, and how should 1t be used? T. N, Dora, Ala.
 A. Hofstra is simply a diluted in sect powder, containing little over 50 per cent of pure insect powder, the balance of which Is corn starch, this Is according to their own label, which must be published according to the National Insecticide law. As matter of fact, it is effective, but pure insect powder would serve the same purpose and might prove cheaper, all depending on the price which one might have to pay. O. We have read in a government publication that Fluoride Of Soda IS specific for lice on all cattle as well as pet stock. but the bulletins read cautions us about the poisonous | character of this material, and we hesitate to use it without sCme defl- | nite information. Can you give us any rule to go by that would be safe 1 in the application of this materlal! L. O., Roanoke, Ala.
 A. There is no general directions that would apply in the use of sodium | fluoride, which is the government recommendation for the destruction of many forms of vermin. The thing | to do would be to get specific ln- structions for any purpose in which l this material is employed. when 1 used in the powder form as a dustlng al pn reduced with some inert substance such as talcum powder, precipitated ] English chalk, to the extent of 35 ner cent. In other words, where the | material is used as dust, 1t IS not | supposed to contain more than DO per cent of commercial fluoride or soda. When it is used in solution | for dipping, usually only OF. or this strength Is used tC 20 gallons or water, but it might be observed that | no one should use this dangerous material without the advice Of some competent one to indicate the neces- sary procedure.
 O. We have considerable meat | from last winters killing that we are anxious to save, but we nave | noticed some signs of insects at- tacking the meat already. We have been tCld that there Is liquid pre- narration known as Meat Smoke. an application of which would tend to conserve our meat. Do you kno" anything of this and can you recon mend it as preserVatlNe' D. NA' | West Blocton, Ala.
 | A. There is preparation known as Deans Meat Smoke, and there are other brands that are probably just as efficient, that if applied to meat | this time of the year, does nave a | tendency to keep out all sorts or vermin. This material is not ex- pensive, only costing from 75 cents to s1 per quart, and one quart IS recommended as sufficient to pre- serve 400 pounds of meat. This ma terial is undoubtedly valuable antiseptic has a tendency to prevent
 tbe encroachment of shippers, or other insects common to home cured meats. and will undoubtedly prove profitable.
 O. We have been advised to plant summer spinach for greens, but we do not seem to find anyone wno knows what summer spinach IS. Can you throw any light on the subject? H. N, Decatur, Ala.
 A. Summer spinach may mean sew eral varieties of real splnach, put the kind undoubtedly refers to Swiss
 
 family, and while it makes no root the tops are largely used for greens and nossesses the flavor and most all tbe characteristics of spinach. Swiss 1 Chard ia a very desirable summer or hot weather plant and really serves the purpose of spinach, which is generally off the market during the hot period.
 o. We have read much about fall potatoes, and vario,s varieties are mentioned as suitable for this pur- pose. We want to plant a sman patch. but we do not want to make a mistake in the matter of variety and are writing for expert opinion as to what we should plant. F. F., R. F. D. Warrior, Ala.
 A. The safest variety of potatoes that is Irish potatoes. to plant Tor fall rop is the native southern variety. known as Lookout Mountain. This Is essentially a fall potato and rarely produces CT makes crop, ex- cept when plarteC in June and July. Old potatoes are avaiiapie' ana IT planted any time between the 2Oth of June and the goth of July, will produce a fall crop of potatoes, even under extremely dry conditions For example, the past fall was known to he very hot and dry, yet the LOOK out Mountain potatoes produced splendid crop. These are the pota- . toes that should be planted In the next 30 days for fall crop.
 O. The flies seem to be taking our place and 1t is almost impossible to milk our cows. owing to the Inter ference of this pest. Can you recom- rend something that we could use around our barn, or on our cows that would. abate this nusance! Mrs. F. L Pinson, Ala.
 1 A. There are a number of varietles of remedies recommended Tor the control of flies, most of all Of which arc more or less efficient providing that they are used according 10 ol- rections, There Is a remedy manu- factured in Birmingham known as Kil-M, which is ry effective IT 1 sprayed around the premises and on the cattle themselves, and 1t is cer- tainly the duty of every owner Of milk COW to use some spraying ma terial that will relieve the animal | of the fly annoyance. Fortunately all such materials are inexpensive so there is no great expense attending this operation.
 o. Is there any remedy that Is | guaranteed, and is really efficient, for the cure of chicken cholorea? | We have tried in the past numerous remedies but none seemed to do any good, We are willing to try any thing that you may suggest. Mrs. F. C., Morris, Ala.
 A. There are a number Of pre- paratiC ms on the market. already pre- pared, that will either cure cholorea or bring it under control if properly administered. One of the best pro- prietary remedies is sold under the name of Welagain. This remedy, If properly administered, and according
 to instructions on the label, will in- 1 nj nnlN will cnntrnl