The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-07

| (A) Wood ashes, particularly hard wood ashes is a particularly good fertilizer and soil conditioner. The chief plant food value Is due to the available sulphate of potash contain | ed in the harFwood ashes. Besides the potash con%1nt, ashes exercise a splendid effect on the soil. ! co I have a large muscadine har- 1 bor that bore very little this season, 1 due 1 think to the like of pruning. We want to cut back or put in good condition for next season. Can you give us some Information on the sub Ject? T. S., Albany. Ala. l (A) It is of course important to trim or prune the vines but its diff 1 flcult to give such information by mail as might be needed. It would be better of course to get some one, experienced in trimming trees or vines to do the job, but with sensible Judgement, anyone can do the work. The main factor Is to take out most of the oldest and all of the dead wood.
 CO I read in a poultry journal that kale is valuable plant to grow for chickens. Can you tell me variety is best to sow? l.. A. Hart sell, Ala,
 (A) Any variety of kale would answer but the best variety is prop ably the thousand headed kale, which starts out enormously and thus af- lords a wonderful. amount of graz ing or green cutting for all classes of livestock. Rape is also a splendid plant.
 Q. Please decide for us the bo- tanical name of the orchid. There seems to be confusion among friends as to the proper name and we want to get it straight. Mrs. D., Green
 A. There are more than a hum dred botanical names applied to dif- feHent varieties or types of orchids and no one botanical name could possibly apply to all. Sorry I can not solve the difficulty.
 Q. Is it too late to sow bur clover and how should the soil be prepared l? 1 D. L., R. F. D. l.
 A. Bur clover may be sown any ] time this month. The seed may be scattered on Bermuda or any other grass sod without any preparation. They may be sown with any of the small winter grain or if the clover only is wanted, the seed might be | sown much the same as turnips and | only lightly covered.
 c. What varieties of narcissus can we plant in water for the school room that would bloom by Christ mas? Miss L., Blocton, Ala.
 A. Any variety of polyanthus nar- cissus would do. Paper white. grand ssoleil de orr and the Chi nese nareissus, called sacred lily. would serve the purpose. These | will bloom under proper treatment in seven to eight weeks.
 c. There is a bush arbutus that I have read of as being a Towering evergreen shrub but I don't see II listed in any seed cataiog. Can you tell me anything about it? Mrs. A. D.. Gadsden, Ala.
 A, The plant you refer to must be Abelia grandiflora. often called bush arbutus. It is one of the most satisfactory plants that you could use.
 c. We have some fine young let tuee that is being attacked by a little green worm that seems ta work underneath the lower leaves Could we apply anything to kill them without rendering the plant unfit for eating? D. N, Sheffield, Ala.
 A. Any simple insectitude dusted on the affected parts would answer. It is important to apply so as to reach the insect The ajority of efficient insecticides are poisonous, but the poisonous principal is gen. orally insoluable, the plant don't take up and if vegetable be washed before using, any danger is eX- tremely remote. Tn your section, lettuce may be killed during very cold spell but it is just as hardy as turnips.
 e. Will you please give me di- rections about cutting straw flow CTS for winter bouquets. They are called everlasting flowers and are used dried for bouquets. Mrs. F.. Muscle Shoals.
 A. There are vari> Ys types of so- called winter bouquet or straw flow CTS, most ol whic.N should be cut just before or about the time they become full blown but any delay after this period is fatal to success. They should be cut and hung up lh cool dark place and allowed to thoroughly cure, when they may be placed where wanted.
 c. l want a creeping plant to cover hollow tile wall that faces east but gets little sun. want something that will cling fast to the wall. Miss A., Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 A. We think the best plant would be euonymus radicans, species of ivy, evergreen and very pretty. various types of ampelopsis such as Engelmans ivy, Virginia creeper and the Boston ivy (ampelopsis viitchii). Preference would depend on results desired.
 Q. Which grass stands the shade best. the Italian or English rye grass? h. A, Lincoln. Ala.
 A. There is little difference in the matter of standing shade. both being adopted to either open or shaded conditions. It is not a bad idea to mix them.
 @. How about growing Chinese sacred lilies in window boxes? Would water? Mrs. F. S., Decatur. Ala.
 A Chinese lilies really dc, better