TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 26

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ACACIA (St. Helier'6 Bay) sends a specimen tor Identification, and wishes to know (1) If it is as quick growing and makes as good a wind break as the variety LopLantha? (2) At what age >do the trees flower? (3) A climbing Cecile Brunner is not making any long trailing growths like other climbers. Do they need different pruning to other climbers? (-1) Would bonedust or basic slag be the best fertiliser for Roses as late as this? (5) Perpetual Carnations quickly grow long and scraggy. When cutting flower stems would it keep the plants more compact if they were cut nbove the lowest slioot? They seem to have flowering shoots all the way up the stems, which if left to grow get so tall that they are difficult to keep tied.' (6) In my slug trap there are always a number of black very shiny creatures. They seem to congregate* especially when there is a dead slug of worm. Are they injurious?—(l) The variety of wattle sent is probably "Polybrotrya." It is not as quick growing as Lophantha, and would not grow as tall. So far as a wind break is concerned it might prove satisfactory, although none of the Wattles are • too good in very exposed positions. (2) They flower fairly young, perhaps at three years. (3) Climbing Cecile Brunner is simply a strong growing form of the dwarf variety, and does not make long trailing growths. Very little pruning is required. Simply cut away useless and weak growth. (4) Bonedust would be the best to use now. (5» You should cut the blooms of Perpetual Carnations low down if you want the plants to keep bushy and sturdy. Although it seems a pity to cut away the side shoots that come on the flower stems, it is best, as these shoots are a long time before producing flowers, and when they are left - the vigour of the plant naturally runs to them, consequently the lower portion of the stems do not develop buds. These side shoots are useful as cuttings, but if no cuttings are required, cut the flower stems well down. Actually you will get more good blooms from a plant where the flower stems are cut low down. (0) They are apparently harmless, although from your description I am not able to recognise them. UTILITARIAN (Onehunga) sends a specimen for identification, and wishes to know (1) Botanical name? (2) Common name? (3) Are Berries useful for any purpose? (4) Any further particulars? (5) Is a fruitgrower allowed by law to destroy opossums? (6) Most suitable trap? (i) Is the flesh of opossum fit for human consumption?—(l) Rubus Phoenicolasiiis. (2) Japanese Wlneberr.v. (3) Said to make A fair preserve. (4) Chiefly useful as an ornamental plant, but is inclined to become weedy. (5) The opossum is protected, and fruitgrowers have no special rights. Make inquiries re this matter to Department .of Agriculture, Auckland. (6) The ordinary steel trap Is used. (7) 1 have heard that the Australian Blacks eat them. It Would need u tin-lined stomach to face a meal. The smeU of a lire one is. fairly strong. J.M, (Tauranga) sends a specimen of Citrus, and asks if It is an Orange or a Lemon ? — It appears to be a form of a Lime. I do not think it is worth troubling with. ion could bud it with a good variety of Lemon; it is useless as it is. I expect it is a seedling. AMATEDB (Pt. Chevalier) writes—l have a three-foot border; the soil is very wet and heavy. How can I get it suitable to grow flowers, and what plants would be suitable. It is not a very sunny position?— The best method of improving a poor soil is digging in manure «r vegetable refuse of any kind. Most of the ' annuals," such as GaUlaiVias. Phlox Drummondii. Lobelia, Verbenas, Petunias, Marigolds, Pansies, Violas, all do well on semi-shady borders. If you cannot procure stable manure collect' dead leaves and dig them. in. also apply frequent applications of Bonedust.