The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-02
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 trees while they are dormant cannot be too strongly stressed. Many will put it off ui l too late and after the trees come into foliage or approach bearing they will be appealing for information as to. what to do to save their Ntiuabie trees? One spraying will not sufficey but the dormant spraying is most i'm portant, because it is then possible to us-f the spraying formula at maximum strength without danger to the plant whereas, for later spraying, when the plants are in foliage, the strength of the spraying material must be greatly reduced to avoid serious injury to the plant. Diseases and insect pests are now attacking throughout the seasons growth and while the dormant spray lis very important, it is now necessary to continue operations at 30-day inter- vals until the crop is harvested Like animals and humans, trees and plants need attention when attacked by hordes of insect pests and diseases, and if they don't get it their early death is. cer- tain. Anyone will readilysagree to this fact, yet through some uhfathomable neglect, they make little effort and many none whatever.
 Farmers Undertake Teo Much : The merchant and manufacturer are not the only ones who often try to ex- pand their business beyond the limit of safety. One of the greatest curses to the fsr-ling industry in the south is that O. overcropping, not only. apply ins to the farm owner, but especially to the. poor renter. Most farmers plan to get into the ground every acre they possibly can, notwithstanding some of "a b. l.. able to produce profitable crops and really ought to be employed in the pro- duction of such soil builders as cow peas, soy beans, velvet beans and other related plants which will not only M- rich the soil, but produce valuable hay. A farmer may plant 20 acres in cotton anu use only 100 pounds of complete fertilizer to the acre when, if he would cut the acreage to, 10 acres and use at least 100 pounds of high-grade fertilizer to the acre, he would actually produce more cotton. Think of the difference in expense of cultivation. Often, the land- lord or supply merchant who extends credit is to blame because they will demand that the farmer put in cer- tain acreage, thus overcropping the renter, before. he will agree to extend cerdit. This is the chief reason why the. cotton states are so low in the scale, in value to acreage planted.
 What Is a Legume?
 The Age Herald is often asked this question, notwithstanding that for the past year much information on the subject has appeared in these columns. The simplest definition is any plant that bears its seed, two or more, in pods or seed vessels having it's seed at tached to one side only. as in the case of bean or pea pod. There are many leguninous plants as we'll as trees. The most common legumes used by the farmer, both for hay and enriching the soil, are COW peas, velvet beans. soy beans and witches, and elovers of all kinds. There are some others coming into general use.
 The farmer at last has woke up to the great economical value of these plants in his farm operations. and it is inter- setting to know that Alabama is we'll up to the front in the use of them. A well established leguminous plant is really a miniature fertilizer. factory, works night and day, and combined an. 4hually puts more nitrogen into the soil than all the fertilizer plants in the world manufacture. If the papers would boost legumes and educate the people through half the space given to the row over Muscle Shoals, the public and particularly the farmer would de- riv, some real relief and benefits.
 Questions And Answers
 c. Can one purchase the plants of apnuals? It know it's more expensive than seed but am not able to do much work and would appreciate it if you could give "a list of desirable an- nuals that might plant. Mrs. R., Wadley,' Ala.
 X. You can. ,of course, buy many splendid annuals. and they arc general ly available during March, April and May. A few of the most popular ones are as foIlows:ss Snapdragon, asters, salvia. mourning bridey verbena, vinca, zinnias, celosis, candy tuft. centaureas, cosmos, larkspnr, petunias, peoples, ageratuIh, alyssum. calliopsis and liter ally hundreds of other desirable sorts.
 Q, What is the difference between larkspdr, and delphiniums, as it is not quite clear to me? I want to have blooms this season. Mrs. L., Marion, Alabama.
 A. The name. larkspur is generally applied to all species, but the name delphinium should refer to the peren- nial larkspurs which usually last sev- erai years, coming up ,annually from the old roots. You may purchase plants of the perennials that will bloom this season., There are. however, many va rieties of spl~ndid annual sorts. easily grown from seed, that bloom all sum- mer and produce a riot of colors, most ly blue, but there are pink, white and red shades,
 Q. Do you think that roses, paruicu-s larly the radiance and, the white mountain, where the soil is red, hard and full of iron? Miss B.
 A. Red. stiff clay is q very desirable soil, particularly for red roses. and 1 see no reason why others should not be. To succeed in such soils, good prepara- tion is needed before setting out. The roo may res. in the red clay. but the pin :hould be muched round about the surface with good woods earth or leaf mould to prevent baking aild to make cultivation easier. a"'
 Q. Is right now q good time to fer: tilize my pecan trees! 5. M., Thorsby. Alabama,
 A. It would be permissible to go ahead with the work, because by the time, the fertilizer begun to exert an influence the trees will likely begin to bud, when the plant would be ready to take it up. No dormant plant is able to utilize food until it comes into foliage.
 Q. Is there demand in Birmingham for COW peas. and could you publish list dealers with whom we might correspond2 +. L.. Wetumpka, Ala.
 Yes. theIe is always a demand. See list of dealers mailed you.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS !
 fQ) Alneighbor and myself both pur- chased last season the seed of ragged robin. hut when the plants came to bloom the flowers were very different.