The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
DANGEROUS TO BUY TREES
 AND SHRUBS FROM PEDDLER
McVay Says Your Own Nurseryman Or Reputable Busi- House Gives Best Satisfaction And Surest Re- sults-How To Prepare Hot Bed And Cold Frame


 simply cuttings from some old rose bush, never had been rooted and were not expected to live. Probably the entire two dozen plants. sup posed to be rare and different sorts, came from one rose bush. Of course none of them lived, or sin fact the whole transaction was cold-blooded swindle. There are literally hun dreds of other instances that don't come to light that are just as base frauds. Eeither buy your nursery stock from local people or from a well known reputable house. Hot Beds And Cola frames.
 Nearly every day we are asked how to make a hot bed or prepare a cold frame for the propagation of plants. It is impossible to go into extensive details. but brief sum mary will help. A hot bed Is simply a boxed in bed that should be covered with sash 10 admit light and to pre- vent severe cold from entering. The foundation of the bed should contain a liberal quantity of stable manure to promote artificial heat, but should contain a liberal dressing of good surface soil or leaf mold In which the seed are planted. The bed should be carefully watched to prevent ex- cessive heat and then water must be regularly applied to prevent burn ingv Ventilation is an important factor to control any excessive temperature. In short, ventilation Is a prime factor in success.
 A cold frame is made in the same manner as a hot bed, only the cold frame should not contain any ma terial that will generate heat. It may contain manure but 1t should be old, well decayed and not cap able of generating heat. A covering of sash Is desirable, but often can vas or boards will serve the pur- pose. Both hot beds and cold frames are desirable for starting early plants.
 The Commission Merchant.
 What is a commission merchant? A lot of suckers, shippers of pro- duce, would like to know the answer. As a matter of fact, the most of farm produce is shipped to commis- sion merchants to be sold for their account and the proceeds, less the usual commission, remitted to them after the produce Is sold. There is law In Alabama that defines what a commission merchant Is and pro- vides for license to those firms, as- sociations or corporations who have secured such a trust to sell on com mission in Alabama any kind of farm products. This is a good law and affords a reasonable amount of protection to the honest commission man, but there are constantly spring Ing up bunch of irresponsible grafters who send out lurid adver- tisements offering returns far above the normal market price in order to fool the trade and the amount of stuff they get is enormous. These grafters will generally remit prompt ly for the first shipment, expecting others, although some will even steal the first shipment. The thing to do Is to find out who you are shipping to. Your iccal merchant or banker can easily find out.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 0. Is the giant comet aster a dwarf or tall sort? Mrs. s. T., An niston, Ala.
 A. The giant comet aster Is rather tall and the flowers are very double. They are desirable sorts, but are not as good as the late branching sorts.
 e. Can l grow stocks in Birming- ham? l have failed so far. Is 1t the climate or what should be done? Mrs. T. S., R. F. D. l.
 A. The climate of Birmingham is not suitable for stocks as weather is too warm and dry in summer. There are other flowers just as good and more suitable.
 Q. Can I grow larkspur hero and is 1t necessary to have seed or plants? Mrs. s., R. F. D. l.
 A. It depends on the type of lark spur you want to grow. If annuals. you can wait until early spring, but perennial sorts. which should be grown from plants, ought to be set out In the winter.
 Q. We want to produce early beets and would like to Know how to pro- ceed in order to meet the early mar ket? w. N, Dora, Ala.
 A. Beets are easily transplanted the same as cabbage and the seed may be planted right away. Some protection is necessary, but not much is required. The plants may be set out anytime you would cabbage. c. I have read that Ageratum is a medicinal plant. have grown 1t for years as 8 flower, but know nothing of its medicinal value. Can you tell us about this? Mrs. !. R., Jasper, Ala.
 A. Ageratum is considered a medi- cinal plant in South America, where 1t is native. It is considered an em- that purpose, but it has never come into general use in the United States. There is some doubt about it's ef- ficiency.
 Q. Do gold fish need sand in order to keep them healthy? Miss A.. R. E. D. g.
 A. It is not necessary to put sand in the container, but the practice does seem to contributo to the health