The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-19

See special article on carpet grass, part of this feature of the paper.
 (Q.) I don't. seem to succeed in growing dry commercial beans and I read in an agricultural paper that sul- phur was needed to succeed with beans. What sort of sulphur and how much is used to the acre? I want to try it out another year. T. S., Montgomery, Ala.
 (A.) Sulphur is not at all necessary for success with beans but it does have a good influence. What is generally used is not common sulphur but the sul- phur that is naturally contained in gypsum or land plaster. A half to a ton of land plaster which is mostly carbonate of lime broadcasted to the acre is of great benefit.
 (Q) Want to save my own seed corn this year and want to know if it should be selected in the field or would do just as well to select when the corn is shucked in the crib?-R. C., Alexander City, Ala.
 (A.) By all means select seed corn in the field because then you can bet ter fix the type of stalk desired which is just as important as the ear itself. After the ear is removed you can't tell what sort of stalk bore the ear. In field selection you can easily pick out the early maturing stalks if earliness is desired and it generally is important.
 (Q.) l want to try carpet grass and write to know if the fields or woods were burnt over where the grass was established, would the fire kill it out ? L. B., Aliceville, Ala.
 (A.) Carpet grass won't stand but little fire as the plant spreads only from surface runners, being unlike Bermuda grass in this respect. It seeds abun- dantly and enough of the small seed might escape to soon establish another stand.
 (Q.) I sowed my bur clover without inoculation. I have the bacteria but being away it was not used. Could l apply the bacteria now?-W. S., Ope- lika, Ala.
 (A.) It is important to inoculate bur clover for a success. I would mix the bacteria in a quantity of soil and SOW broadcast and if practical harrow over the surface.
 O. Will the English ivy succeed where no supports are given? l would like to use to cover ground in cem- etery?-Mrs. E., Wylam, Ala.
 (A.) English ivy makes splendid ground cover for the purpose and is perfectly hardy in the south. O. In putting up saurerkraut, how much salt do you use to the cabbage Mrs. w., Dora, Ala.
 | (A.) A successful formula is one pound of salt to 40 pounds of cabbage It is important to shred up or cut fine the cabbage and the salt must bC thoroughly mixed throughout the cab bage. There are other factors thai enter into success such as cleanliness and properly weighting down so as tc keep entirely covered with the brine. suggest that you write to the nationa agricultural department for bulletin No S81 that gives much information or pickling.
 O. On a visit to Pass Christian Miss, I saw a quantity of a purple Towering plant that blooms all summer and fall. They grow wild around 6itches and in low places. Do you know what it is and would it grow ir Birmingham Mrs. K.
 (A.) The proper name of this plan is Eupatorium, known also as hardy ageratum. It is surprising that tht plant is not better known. It's a won derful hardy thing and would succeed most anywhere.
 (Q) Last year I bought the bulb. of bluebell but when the flowers came they were blue, white and some pink How can get only the true bluebell?- Miss S., Florence, Ala.
 (A.) The true bluebell of Scotland and England is Scillia Nutans. Ther, that are white and rose pink. Wher are other Scillis or varieties of Squil you order again. insist on the Nutani and they should all come blue unless the dealer mixes them. Details of bull beds would be too long for these col umns. See letter for further informa | tion.