The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21

fertiGzing. Any tree or plant
suffered severe shock comparable
human and must not be overfed unit
Food must be supplied slowly and
| if possible only in such quantities as
its limited root system can utilize. To
be sure, good living conditions must
be provide6at the start but any good
porous or 1oamy soil will contain am
pie food to sustain the plant until full
recovery is made. When the plant be-
gins active growth and commences to
put on foliage then it will be able to
digest a normal application of additional
plant food which may be profitably ap-
piled in the form of any animal ma
nure or commercial fertilizer. Heavy
fertilizing of any tree or plant is not
recommended until leaves have become
full size and new wood is being rapidly
formed. This caution, however, should
not scare or prevent any one from fer
tilizing all active growing or old trees
and plants during or just before the
yearly active period of growth. Like
advertising, it pays to fertilize.
Scale Insects Deadly Enemy To Plants
OF all insect pests of cultivated plants,
and especially of fruits, the scale in
sects of which the San Jose is an ex-
ample, are by far the most destructive,
less understood and harder to eradi-
cate. 1t should be known that, while
San Jose scale is perhaps the most i'm
portant of all, as a matter of fact, there
are a vast number of other scale in
sects that are taking a heavy toll Of
more than 300 different valuable
plants. Scale insects cannot be de-
stroyed by poisoning their food because
they draw their nourishment from the
plant cells beyond the reach of surface
applications of poisons and have to be
destroyed by mere contact remedies or
such as produce death through inhala-
ton. Among scale insects there is a
large number of species that include
mealy bus, plant lice and great va
riety of other sucking insects. There is
now on the market a number of pre-
pared remedies, most all effective when
properly used, for combating all scale
insects but there are many home RENE
dies quickly and cheaply available, such,
for example, as kerosene oil, soap, I've,
tobacco, etc. In preparing and using
these home mixtures great care must
be exercised as to strength, time and
method of application. A working for
mula is needed. The winter months is
the proper time to begin the warfare.
The Age-Herald will help you.
Selecting Plants For Landscape
The Age-Herald is often asked for
advice as to what to plant in order
to SECURE q desirable landscape effect,
round about new homes, parks, or in
some development for subdivisions OF
property to beautify for homes, etc.
Such questions are difficult because
so much depends on the situation to
be planted and the character of the soil.
In reality, no definite line can be drawn
between the uses of some plants for one
purpose or for another purpose. Many
people will observe certain plants grow
ing in various sections of the United
States and desire to use them in their
own section and may find them recon-
mended as suitable but often when used
produce an entirely different growth
from what was expected. Climatic con-
ditions as we'll as soil is big factor
in changing the aspect of many de-
sirable plants. If one cannot secure
the Judgment of one who knows, It's
best to look around and observe what
others are successfully growing in the
same section. 1t is good practice to
be always trying new things in a lin
tied way but one must rely on such as
have been a proven success. This the
DRY is sound and applies to all flowers,
fruits, trees, shrubbery, etc. Our read
ers when asking such questions should
give all possible information to aid
conclusive answer.
Questions And Answers
O. When is the best time to prune
the ornamental Towering shrubs? Mrs.
e. NJ, r. F. D. No. 8.
A. Most ornamental Towering shrubs
may be pruned at any time if flower
production is not important. More in
formation is needed as to plants in
volved to give a specific answer.
Q. At what season do you spray
for the white fly and what remedy is
known to be effective? Mrs. W., Mont
gomery, Ala.
A. The winter months is the time
when spraying should commence, as
then the remedies may be used at full
strength recommended. 1t generally re-
quires persistent spraying at intervals
to destroy the white fly. Any of the
miscible oils or kerosene emulsion is
very effective when applied according
to directions on the commercial pack
age.
@. Will arborvital, biatas or other
types of the cedars and jumpers grow
on top of Red mountain where the
soil is hard, red and thirsty? Mrs. IL.
A. Such plants do succeed on Red
mouptain but in places where the soil
is prone to, bake and greatly suffer for
moisture it is desirable to introduce
into the soil liberal quantity of sand
to create better living conditions, to
admit the much needed air to promote
Q. I made a lazy bed and planted
Irish potatoes in November, which come
up and were growing fine but forget
ting to cover, a recent frost cut all the
plants down. What should be done!