TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 20

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

CREEPER (PIo Pio) sends two specimens for identification, and asks whether it would be advisable to propagate them or better to buy the shrubs?—(l) Cerasns serrulate or "Japanese flowering cherry." (2) Khododondron C'hamaecistus. You would find It better to purchase pl.-.nts They are difficult to propagate. A> - KMONE (Waharoa) nsks: <1) Will Anemone and Uuniinculi seed come true to type? in other words, If I save one or two (lowers for seed, could I reh- oa an innnlte variety of colours? (2j Do Anemone and Ilaunni-uliis bulbs j>lauted the second year yield good results? (3) Is it advisable to plnc-h salvia plants back when they are about nine Inches high?—(l) Yes. Pave from good blooms only. (1. , ) Yes. C 4) Yes. MELON OVhangnrcl) asks: If It Is possible to grow Water and Itock Melons with success in light, rich volcanic soil?— Yes. Water aud itock Melons should do well with you. The soil shojtld be well worked and manure added. The best way It manure is short is to dig out shallow holes about 4ft apart for Watermelons and about 3ft apart for the liock Melons, and put in, say, anything up to a kerosene tin of manure, and then put the soil back on top. This will raise a hillock, and after lirniins by treading, the seeds can be sown. Sow in October; put three or four seeds to each hill, sow the seeds about an inch deep. Once up and growing nicely pinch out the tip of the main runner when about a foot long: this will cause slrie-shnots to form and make the plants sturdy. Apply a little blood and bone manure when the fruit is set. PLUM TREE (Cambridge) writes: (1) we have a Plain tree which was full of blossom. When the leaves came the bloesoms turned brown and fell off. The leaves are small and some of them have turned yellow, and the tree docs not seem to be making progress. (2) A Passion vine cut back with the frost has only one piece living. Can anything be done to promote growth?—(l) From your description I am afraid there Is little hope for the tree, and it no improvement is shown within a week or so, I think you would be well-advised to cut it out. Could you not get someone in the district to see the tree; it is difficult to diagnose the trouble without seeing the tree? The Passion vino will commence and grow now; you can do nothing to hurry It.

oil ac-cordlng to dlrJctfon- on ° t SP . ra - Vln S not flowemi the lvi ,' VrD ' ch llave ?;«?„ a lL T Tr\ ed last a«tumn nS - Three soon ns the foHase 1, "L^" 0 ' 1 as '•Spanish- Iris. This varlctv is difficult to flower successfully. ""ucuic S U^n^o R P XER / Avo,u,; ■"*■ f«' -row" tnV f : ,' rlet ruuuer bp - lu '"at crow. t0 a great length, when to plaut, distance apart to plant, and would It l)e bettor to plant iv the open or c . loSl , Plain * f ° n r rro h tß e . ltC 'ar S n? ) CaO rou «*" planted a month arc a number of oJTercd. S Man one" ,1 "? their own: all nre fairly good The secret of large bonus depend? upon cultivation and thinning of the pods when growing. Oliver's Surprise, Champion Kinperor, nre all selections of Scarlet Kunner. and nre good varieties Sow seed now. in deeply-trenched, wellmanured soil. The manure snould be put down in the bottom of n trench, about two feet deep, and any nuantitv up to a foot deep can be put In. Replace the original soil, and, after well trending to Drill the mass, sow the seeds Put the seeds about nine inches or a' foot apart. During the growing season give an occasional sprinkling, of blood and bone, and some wood ashes. Abundance of water should be given durln" dry weather. Either position wouhF suit so long as it is iv full sun, and the soli is well prepared. (S 1 ennnot say why the carrots, etc., hnve not come It may be due to insects, birds, or bad seed. One thing Is certain. "— -g will Deed to sow again.

•GREENGROCER (Waltoa) writes: Would you Inform mc about what size greenhouse I would require to raise Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Tomato plants?— The Cabbage and Cauliflower could bo best raised In a cold frame, not a greenhouse. The size of the bouse would depend npon you, but a liouse thirty or forty feet long by twelve wide would suit you for a start. "Brett's Gardening Guide" would suit you, and any further details or explanations you could always get through these columns. AMATEUR (Milford) writes: I hare a bed of bulbs enclosed with wire netting, and want to kuow If it would hurt the DuffodUs to turn ducks into It. I did bo last year. The bulbs did not do well; I do not know If It was a bad season or that the ducks heat the foliage down too much?—lt would not hurt to let the ducks run over the bulb bed but It would not be advisable to pen the ducks on to it. If the ducks tread it down very much, the surface must be stirred up. The ducks would do good so long as they are not left on the bed too long. ROSES (Devonport) writes: I have an old barrel half full of fowl manure. Recently the rain got into It. Could I use it diluted with water for rose trees. If so," what quantity of water should I use with it and how often el>ould it be given? —The manure can be caul for rose trees, put a couple of handfuls In a kerosene tin of water and well mix It. It could be used once a week when the roses arc In full growth. WOOD BUG (Kaltaia) asks for a remedy for slaters?— Poisoned bran mash, made by adding a little arsenic to bran, and then making in a paste. Phosphorlsed pollard and also the ordinary phosphorus rat poison are said to be effective. Tho i poison should be laid at evening in their haunts, and collected next morning. It takes a long time to get rid of them. They harbour in old dry corners, amongst rubbish and old wood. By clearing away their hiding and breeding places more cau be uone to got. rid of them thau by any other methods. Sn;S (Papatoetoe) writes: "I am Bending you a Gladiolus bulb; what is the trouble? I planted a bod two montbs ago, and many of the plants are showing flower Kteius. Dne healthy specimens, but this rust is beginning to appear. I sprayed with lime sulphur some weeks ago. What else cau I do? Should 1 destroy those plants affected, or will the bulbs be good for lifting and storing?— The trouble is Gladioli rust. The bost and simplest way is to destroy affected bulhs. Must , So-called cures aud preventives sometimes net, and often not. With bulbous plants II Is dllliriilt to treat by spraying, us the trouble often lies in the covering of the bulb. Unless the hnlhs were of a very special variety I should not keep them. If kept, they should be grown in a place by themselves, and carefully watrhed to see if the disease is still amongst tbem. CJ) The "leave* otr a small kauri tree" could not be found.