The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-27

HIS mlSnt De Cd1e0 Jne SOlQeu u$c of insurance, for you can find insur- ance companies that will insure you against any calamity. but no company that the writer knows of will insure one against the loss of valuable crop through the devastation of insects.
 The planter must take out his own. policy, the gardener, both private and public, must do the same thing and if the matter is attended to at the proper time,i the protection costs only frac- ton of any other, form of insurance. The trouble with most planters and I mean all sorts, from the largest to the little lady who plants a few flower seed, is that they wait until the in sects have often done them irreparable damage before they consider it neces- sary to take any measures to save what is left. When you go to make up your order for planting seed, many of which you have paid a high price for. think of the future of these seed if all lowed to go unprotected and include in your order suitable insecticides. They cost very little but a good sprayer is essential and while the cost may appear high, it is a permanent investment like a blow. Dust sprayers are usually the best.
 Avoid Working Wet Ground
 At this time of the year when we often have protracted spells of wet weather, farmers and gardeners will become impatient to start planting and often start land preparations which re- suit in great losses in both labor and resulting yields. The measure of dam age resulting from such practices de- bends to large extent on character of soil disturbed while wet. Soils con- taining good percent of vegetable matter and considerable sand may be worked with safety much sooner after wet spells than those that contain con- siderable clay and those prone to bake. Most people have had experience in working in cloddy land and know the importance of fine soil conditions in order to expedite rapid cultivation. A great many people insist on planting too early, and while earliness is gen. orally desirable, the land should first be put in the proper condition. There are others who put off planting until the last minute and then rush the seed in the ground regardless of land prepa- ration or weather conditions. The best DldIl 1S lO Dc ItICpaLCu aii tAhSo.
 Annuals, Biennials And Perennials
 The Age-Herald is asked nearly ev- cry day what the difference is between an annual, biennial and perennial. Most any good dictionary will give one fair definition of these terms, but some supplementary data is here given that may help. In the first place, it should be understood that there are a great number of exceptions in designating or classifying plants because climate in which the plants are grown often great ly changes their character. An annual,
 is a plant that generally comes up in the spring, flowers early, produces seed and while the roots may not die before fall or winter, no further growth will be made from roots the following sea son and reproduction only come from seed. Some of the annuals, however, when grown in tropical countries often live for several years. Biennials are plants that are supposed not to re produce seed. until the following year after planting but even in Alabama there are many exceptions. Aplant that may be. biennial in the northern states often proves an annual in Ala bama in so far as reproducing seed the first year. Perennials will be dealt with in later article. @ <
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 c. What is the best soil for gen. eral orchard? Mrs. Mo, R. F. D. 3.
 A. Generally speaking, the land that will produce the best or good general farm crops is the answer. The ground. of course, should be well drained but so managed that it will not wash.
 o. I would like to have nasturtiums as early in the spring as possible and write to know if l could not now SOW the seed in boxes, protect them and then transplant later? Mrs. D., Gads- den, Ala.
 A. The chances for success would be good. Plant the seed in boxes con- taining four to five inches of soil, not too thick, and cover about two inches deep. Keep moist but not wet. If plants come up too thick, it may be necessary to thin out and cultivate un- til weather conditions would permit setting out iH the open.
 Q. What would he the best turnip to plant now to get on the market as quickly as possible? H. C., Bessemer Ala.
 A The earliest would be Purple Tor strip leaved, and it would be well tC also plant Purple, Top White Globe.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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