The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-07

} most profitable side lines that ,rtake.
 lead. cut with raw linseed oil to the proper density for easily spreading with Q paint brush. Much pruning and cut ting of plants and trees will be done in the next hundred days and if these suggestions are made use of many valu- able plants will be saved.
 Itaint Gwin Rain No More
 There are sections ill Alabama and south Mississippi where nearly half the population are on the water wagon, hauling water for miles for both domes- tic use and to keep their cattle from actually starving to death for water. Everywhere 70 go the popular song Tt Aint Rain No More" is being hummed, whistled or sung by everybody who has enough courage left to raise tune. The weather prophets have lost cast, all weather signs have been abanodned and hopeless and faithless public arc con- stantly seeking a cause or reason for the unprecedented stretch of dry weather. All farm operations are at standstlll. nothing can be planted, impossible to break the soil, fencing cannot be done, post holes cannot be driven; in short, the farmer is unable to do any construc- tive work. The grass and woods are so dry that a mere spark of fire starts a tempest of destruction, easily gets be- yond control and is causing great money loss. The chief occupation of many farmers just now, is fighting fire and in efforts to conserve what livestock re- mains. It is a curious fact that very many farmers are laying the dry wealth CT to the radio, forgetting of course the past wet winter.
 0. Recently in southern Texas l saw many fig trees that grew up into trees like peaches and apples while mine always grow into clumps with no main trunks. Can you explain this?-J. k., Montgomery, Ala.
 A. This is purely matter of train ing. Figs are inclined to throw out numerous sprouts from the shallow sur face roots but if these sprouts are kept removed, one can produce a single straight trunk with a top shaped to suit.
 c. What sort of fruit would be suit able to grow between young oceans that are set out 60 feet apart and that might easily be done away with when the oceans become large enough to oc- cupy the ground?-E F., Atmore, Ala.
 A. Pears, plums and peaches are often used for this purpose and often with sufficient profit to take care of the expense of cultivating the young oceans until bearing.
 Q. I want to SOW several acres in some sort of grain to be used as a pasture for chickens, guineas and geese but cant SOW until it rains. What would be best?-Mrs. S., Blocton, Ala.
 A. Barley or oats would perhaps be better this late but wheat would do. It's too late to plant the slow grow ing rye. Two or three pounds of rape to the acre might be sown with the grain.
 Q. 1 grow eggplant and pepper for market and desire to produce my own plants as to often get fooled in buying plants. 1 expect to grow under glass in hot beds and want to know the prop CT time to sow?-S. E., Columbus, Ga.
 A. The proper time to put the seed in will depend much on the hot beds em- ployed, how much heat and etc. Both plants grow slow and if pains are taken to grow them as cold as possible in or der to make stocky and hard, the seed may be put in the latter part of De. cember.
 Q. What about starting cucumber and squash in hot beds and transplant ing in early sprin? Is this ever done and is it a success?-R. E., Mobile Ala.
 A. It is possible to do this by plant ing the seed in small pots, earth band or other containers from which trans planting might be accomplished. Sucl plants grow quickly and one woul' have to wait until after frost dange before planting.
 Q. I want to set out some elm shad trees but notice a difference in tn
 leaf and write to know which is tn E best Mrs. F., Fairfield Ala. A. Of our native elms, there is bot a large and small leaf type, so it be
 comes mere preference as to which the most desirable. You can specify i buying which ever appeals to you. Music Teachers Association Q. In Michigan we always mulche or covered our perennial flowerin plants in winter but l am told that 4 is not necessary here. Do you think
 safe?-Mrs. O.
 A. It is not necessary in Birming ham to protect most perennials from tn winters but it is advantageous to appl light mulch of leaves or old decaye vegetable matter and well routed anima manure is permissible but no fresl manure should be used.
 0. The warm weather is brlngin; my hyacinths up which l know il wrong but what am l going to do abou it? They are set out ill the opel ground.-Miss l., Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 A. The only thing to do IS to cove
 them up with good surface soil ant avoid giving them any water. It's no going to hurt outdoor planted hya cinths to keep putting on dirt until yo' are ready for them to bloom.
 Q. My freesias planted last Septem Der made wonderful growth but now the foliage is all falling down around the pots. Do they need fertilizer ol what should be done to make then stand up?-Miss w.. Sheffield, Ala.
 A. Nothing can he done when free sias get in this condition. Exposure t' cold weather might help. The plant suffered for light and fresh air.
 Q. I planted an experiment Of aifali' few miles east of Pensacala in Octo Der. the seed came up to q good stan' and notwithstandings the dry weather looked fine until few days ago whel I noticed it all turning yellow. Wha do you think is the cause and is ther remedy? H. K, Pensacola, Fla.
 A. Such troubles idicate a sour con
 dition of the soil or a lack of certain soil bacteria that is really essential fo "a success with most any legumlnou