The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-16
CANNOT SELL SEEDS
 GUARANTEEDT TOGROW
McVay Tells Why Methods Of Planting And Cultivation Are Such Important Factors
 In Getting Satisfactory Results
sy aEo. .. M,vAy, ss.

By GEO. .. M'vAy. sR.
 The Age-H Herald often receives letters from its readers wanting to know why they are unable to buy seed absolutely guaranteed Of from some source where they may purchase seed with such guarantees. The writer has had a good deal to say in these columns just why no financially responsible man or firm could make such a guarntee. In the first place, such guarntee would im- ply that the seller would be responsible for! the resulting crop, yet he would have nothing to do with the method, time, of planting and the necessary management as to cultivation to secure a satisfactory crop Again what is there to prevent dishonest man from buy ing a certain variety of seed from q dealer and deliberately plant an tm- perior sort for the sale purpose of re covering big damages from the seller. Several of the largest and most reput- able seed houses in the United States have been yictimized in the past through such a scheme. Most seed houses are willing to guarantee that their seed are fresh, of good vitatily under proper planting conditions, but they certainly could not hold themselves liable for ultimate results. Most seedsmen are willing to replace seed that prove worth less and frequently do 50 when they have tested the seed to prove germina- ton. Most all guarantees have a string tied to them.
 Cucumber And Squash Insects
 The home gardens and many truckers have practically abandoned the plant ing of squash and cucumbers owing to insect enemies. These are two of the most easily grown and popular vege- tables in the home garden and if should be known that there are certain in secticides, if used at the proper time, that win insure a success or at least keep the pests under such control as to prevent total failure. The chief enemy of the cucumber is the striped cuncumber. bettle which appears often before the plant is put of the ground. When plants appear. the @beetle pro- ceeds to lay eggs in the sail around the base. of the plants,s which soon hatch out flock of small whitish worms that begins to attack the roots of the plant causing it to wilt and die. They may also bore into the young fruit. The squash bug is a different creature, and there are several kinds, but the treatment OF preventive for one will answer for both. An effective remedy. sold under the name of 'Vaycidenicatiye dust should be worked into the soil round about the plants as soon as up. This will cause the beetle to deposit eggs somewhere else. Dusting the plants with the same remedy at 10 to l5 days intervals will keep the bugs in check, and besides will destroy sew eral forms of blight and mildew that are fatal to such plants. You must not wait too late to use anyspreventive.
 A Request To Our Readers
 The present season of the year, and continuing for the next two or three months will bring a flood of inquiries for information on every subject con cerning horticulture, agriculture and all other related subjects. To enable us to handle these inquiries prompetly, re. iuce to a question easily understood and print an answer that all Age Herald readys may profit by, takes much time, and often hard digging. Our cores pondent can help us greatly if he or she will give us all the necessary de- tails in their inquiries on which an in- tilligent answer can be based. It is frequently necessary on receipts of an enquiry to.write q letter to clarify some