TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 11 April 1885, Page 4

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Spent Hops (Kitohen Garden).~These make a capital manure. Some authorities Bay that ono cart-load is equal to two cart-loads ol stable, manure. You need not bo afraid to use thorn in any quantities. They.keep iho soil ll«ht and open, and supply the plants with plenty of nutriment, they would ulh.o make a good mulch tor all kinds of plants during dry weather especially bedding plants,; also if well-rotted, would inooroorato well in loaf-mould for mixing with potting soil, How to Outain 1 EM.' Mould (Pot Plant)-— Take all tho leaves in your garden as they fall, or us you oan collect them. Place in a heap. Over the top put a layer of good rich loam from any good grass land. When tlio heap is completed give a thorough soaking with water. This will hasten decomposition Whon properly rotted, tho debris and soil cm bo mixed tngothor, and as wanted itcaooj further mixed with sand and well-rotted manure in proportions to suit the ditlereut pot plants you may want to grow. Bonks (Manure).—The best use you can make of the household bones in to collect and placo under any trees you may have planted or may plant. It would be a tedious operation to break them up by band labour, although if you don't mind the trouble tho smashed bones will In all probability be much.ric.her in fertilising matter ihan thoso you purchase. 1 never did believe much in using bones for pot plantii; good composts are belter, and when pot plants require more stimulation, Bupply it wiih liquid manure, which is more active than the bone in tho pot would be. Soapsuds (G. ..(.-Soapsuds make a splendid liquid manure, especially for the kitcnon garden, if you have got celery planted, put tho suds in the trenches. Cabbage and eaullilower like it immensely. Do not throw the waste wator of the lioubo away i it can always bo made of some use in the kitohen garden all tho year round. Vinks (F.8.H.) • I could not tell you the nftino of tho vino from the specimen-sent. The specimen is ad covorcd with mildew. Ihe euro is, frequent applications of sulphur whenover tho mildew makes ita anpearanee. Ido not think, however, that you will bo able to Krow the vino with any suet-ess in your situation in the open air. Your other vines must havo the mildew as well as tho specimen forwarded.

Pumpkin*. -Amateur writes: I havo several pumrkin plants, vinej I suppose you would call ihem. which havo hart a great mans younit pumpkins on thorn, but whon they Bet to the size ot« oooanut they shrivel up and die. Uofore planting ih» »cod, I used a L-ood bit of nijhtsoil in I ho ground : do you Hunk this ia the cause oi tho above < 1 have often Been this lnippeu with pumnkins. and have always attributed it to insufficient fertilisation of the (lowor. Perhaps eomo of my reader* who havo Paid more attontion to the subject than 1 have can afford some more definite information, which I shall gladly publish.