"apply to enclosed items" grayed out

[garmp]

G5 with OS X10.4. Recently noticed the when I Get Info to change permissions for a folder to read & write for owner, group, & others the Apply to enclosed items is grayed out. Never really had to change this before, but wanted to do this to sent a group of files to someone else for their use. Don't know how or when this changed, nor how do I right it.

Appreciate all and any help.