The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10

OF soy means this year, but owing
to wet weather. have been unable
to get them in. How late do YOU
think they could be planted. and
do you recommend that they be drill
ed and cultivated or sown broadcast?
NJ. s., Clanton. Ala.
A. Soy beans can be planted any
time that you can plant COW peas,
it is really desirable to get them in
somewhat earlier. but the writer
would plant soy beans. even if wea-
Their conditions would not permit
their planting, earlier. than the mid
die to the last of June. Late plant
ing of some variety might not ma
ture seed, but YOU certainly could
make crop of hay. and it is about
the safest proposition for hay,
should the weather turn off dry
later, which it is almost sure to do
@. The red spider is beginning to
attack my plants already, and l
would like to be advised the most ef-
fective remedy for getting rid of this
pest Mrs. s., West Bloston, Ala.
A l am surprised that red spider
is affecting your plants this early, in
view of so much rain that we have
had. which generally keeps down red
spider. You do not mention what
plants are affected, but the same
remedy would apply for any plants.
L
phur is very effective. The applica-
ton of powdered tobacco dust, or a
nicotine spray is useful. Even strong
soap suds is good application. and
particularly, a soapy solution made of
whale Gil soap. Prompt measures are
necessary to bring this pest under
control
Q. want to set out lot of aster
plants, but last year there was some
sort of louise or insect that attack ed
the roots, and killed practically
every enc of my plants Is there
anything that I.could put around the
plants or into the soil to prevent this
attack? Mrs. H.. Decatur, Ala,
a. The pest YOU refer to must be
known as the white root aphis, which
often infests asters and various other
plants. One of the best and simplest
measures is to work into the hill of
each plant before setting enc or two
tablespoonsful of tobacco dust. A
liberal use of tobacco dust Will not
only keep down the root lice, but is
a fine fertilizer for the plants, and
for this purpose alone it is worth
the price which it may cost Ant her
thing useful to put around asters and
other Towering plants is simply hard
wood ashes.
@. l have fine bed of pansies, but
they seem to be growing tall and
spindly, more SO than usual. Could
anything be done to correct this?
Mrs. E., Tuseumbia, Ala.
A Excess wet weather is one of the
chief causes, and it is possible that
Your plants are too thick. Another
thing that causes pansies to grow
spindly is the failure to remove
blooms promptly as they appear. Keep
all blooms removed is fast as they
develop, and it may be necessary to
pinch back some of the plants, or thin
them out, would naturally cause
stocky growth
Q. DO you think we could succeed
in planting the seed of cabbage now
for a late summer and early fall
crop? We mean to drill the seed
where we want them to grow and
thin them out to proper distance.
r. O.. Palos, Ala.
A. This is frequently done. and with
good success All would depend, of
course, on weather conditions during
midsummer, or the time for maturity.
1t might be added, however, that cab
bage produced direct from the seed
without transplanting, will stand
more dry hot weather than trans
planted plants. The matter of variety
does not make so much difference, as
either the sharp or flat-headed va
rieties would meet the requirements.
@. There is a small foliage plant
that | sometimes see in beds or Dor
ders that | would like to know what
it is. The foliage is fine cut, some
yellow, some red, some green, while
other plants are variegated in color.
1t is not coleus,. but it stands the
hot sun well and produces "A bright
colored bed. either massed or in sim
gle rows. Could YOU tell us what thi 3
is, and if we need seed or plants?
Mrs. w. j., Alexander City, Ala
A. The plant You refer to is un-
doubtedly alternanthera. 1t some
what resembles coleus, but is a much
harder plant in texture and more
dwarf in character. Plants are avail
able and could be recommended for
a start; Furthermore, the plants are
easily rooted so that cuttings may be
made at any time in the season east
~ rooted in sand or soil, so that one
stock could be multiplied indefinitely
@. We are accustomed to putting up
considerable pickles every year and
have use for considerable white mus
tard seed. We would like to know
if we cannot grow these seed our
selves, because we cannot always.be,y
when wanted. Mrs H., Carbon Hill,
Alabama.
A. White mustard seed is easily
grown the same $ any other mustard,
but commercial white mustard seed is
generally so cheap that it does not
pay anyone to grow it. In some Euro
pean countries it is a wild product,
gathered by the peasants, and is gem
orally so cheap that it does not pay
one to grow ii. Your local druggist
or your scotsman should be able to
supply this seed at all times, and
much cheaper than you could pro-
duce it. 90.
Q. We want to fix up several good
size hanging baskets, and write to
know what plants are available this
late in the season that would be
suitable for this purpose. Mrs. s..
Greensboro, Ala.
A. Any of the following plants may
now be obtainable from dealers or
greenhouse men, and would serve
your purpose: Wandering Jew. train
ing vinca, coleus, weeping lantana,
geraniums, various small ferns, be-
gonias, petunias and some of the
ivies. There are still plenty of avail
able plants that would succeed in
hanging baskets planted this late.
@. | see fGschia plants in a bloom
on sale at seed stores, but | have
never been able to succeed with
them. | would like to buy a collec-
ton, but am writing to know how
to treat them before purchasing.
MRS. D., r. F. d. No. /.
A. Fuchias are not naturally
adapted to this climate. because when
dry atmospheric conditions that gen
orally appear in June or July. occur,
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