TO CORRESPONDENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS

I'Ol'PY (t'nitsoubjr) writes: Some weeks ago 1 wrote iibout t lie grass grub destroying the Iceland popples. 1 worked in 11 second lot ot naphthalene, luit the whole lot c>l - plants went. Last week I forked orer the ground carefully nine inches deep. The fumes were still noticeable, and I found a lot of healthy grubs?— The crass grubs in your soil must have i • ■-■.. supplied with gas masks. Are you sure that they wqre healthy , .' For iu specially conducted .trials it was found that when the soil was examined after treatment, there were a number of live grubs in the lower parts of the soil. but these died in a short time, and apparently had only temporarily escaped by the depth of their workings. In any case are you sure that the loss of the Iceland poppies is due to the grass grubs'.' When such beds are attacked usually one or more plants escape, but yours was a complete kill. I have used naphthalene myself a lot. and have had good results. and although I have seen grass grub bad on strawberries and lawns I have never found them quite so voracious as in y< tir case. 1 think perhaps that your plants have been attacked by a bacterial disease that is often very bad with the Iceland poppy, and of late years appears to be increasing. It: will be Interesting to see how the pansies come through, for although immune to the bacterial disease that attacks the poppy. I do not know that they are immune against the attack of the grass grub.

H. 1... (Mornlngulde) : (1) Srnds a sprig of azalea, and wishes to know what is wrong? (2) Foorman orange has borer very bad. and does not thrive. The tree is in a fowl run?—(lt The azalea needs a, spraying. Dissolve two ounces of soap in a gallon of bollinj; water. When soap is dissolved ami water builins add a wineglass, about a quarter of a pint, of kerosene, stir the mixture thoroughly till it becomes milky. Let it cool and spray the azalea with it. Well stir just before and when using the mixture. (2) The trouble with the orance tree is that the fowls pack the soil round about (lie tree with treading, Lightly pick over fhs soil close around the tree with Iho garden fork, do not dig deeply or use n spade, nil that is necessary is to break Hie surface. Then fix up some wire netting so as to keep the fowls oft a space nbout three feet from the stem, or about level With the spread of the branches. I'he borer can be ?ot rid of by finding the holes, and squirting in some benzine or methylated spirit, and plugging the hole with clay.

F.l'.. (Takapuua) nsks for (1) Information in the planting of raspberries? (2) Some of the pumpkins grown lusi season have gone soft a few weeks litter storing. Can you suggest a reusonV (::i At what stage should pumpkins be harvested, ,-it.d is there any particular method of cutting it oft , ?—( 1) There is an article on loganberries and raspberries which will give you all the information you require. Raspberries are not a success in your district. (2) The pumpkins have not properly developed, and the skins have not hardened. There is no particular method of cutting them off. but after cutting they should be allowed to lie in the sun to thoroughly ripen before storing. Humping and bruising, especially if the fruits arc soft, will cause them to go soft. Many of the pumpkins grown today are developing on the line of the cattle pumpkin, and seem to he more esteemed for size rather than keeping qualities.

NOVICE! (BUetslU) writes: Thanks for information re tomatoes under glass, last week. What do you consider to be the best sterilisiug solution for the Inside of the house, and disinfecting aolntion for the stakes. How lons should the naphthalene be in the soil before planting out the seedlings?— For cleaning the walls, glass and woodwork, also the stakes, use restar l-ioo. It is cheap imd effective, and can be sprayed on or the glass, etc., can be washed with it. Re naphthalene in the soil. So far as my experience goes, a week or ten day* is enough in regard to harming the plants, hut if in dealing with a greenhouse, it could be put in three weeks beforr> planting as in enclosed structures there is not the same circulation of air. and fumes will take rather longer to disperse than under outdoor conditions.

G.M. (Onehunga) :isks for information on the planting and care of loganberries and raspberries. There is an article on this subject that will give you all the information you require. Should there be any point cot quite clear I shall be pleased to answer it.—(Ed.).

iniJJH (Dcvonport) asks If the npplM sent am worth teepidg in a small garden. The trees have never done any —No. 1 is Dougherty, and No. - is Scarlet Nonpariet. Both are good Rpples, but neither are sorts that I could recommend tor u small gnrtlen. Salome, Granny Smith and Stayman's Winesap are superior.