TO CORRESPONDENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS

W.R. fßoforua)) asks: (1) Should I cut away young growths coming up at the bottom of currant bushes, or leave till flic autumn pruning? (2) Should violet runners be removed?—(l) Cut away the growths now. (2) Yes. C.V. (Mount Albert) asks how to cure lemons for commercial purposes.—To cure lemons commercially could only he carried out in dealing with large quantities. The lemons are boxed, and the boxes' stacked with air spaces between thein. A warm, moist, even temperature is then maintained for several days. Tho lemons are then reboxed and again subjected to another period of a warm temperature, and this is continued until the fruit is "cured." The result of this' curing or "sweating" is to cause the rind to toughen and the pores to close. Lemons treated thus will keep for a long period without shrivelling, provided they are kept cool. Modifications of this curing can be done in small lots by stacking and covering with sacks, going over the fruit" every few davs to change the position and to pick out anv diseased fruit that may show. After curing, if wrapped in greaseproof paper and stored in a cool, dark place, the fruit can be kept from one crop to another. J.M. (New Lynn) asks: (1) When should poorman oranges be gathered, and shou.d they ripen on tho tree or in the house.' (2) How much sulphate of ammonia should he given at one time to each tree, and should it be given in the spring as well as the autumn? —(1) Poorman oranges can be left on the tree till ripe ; it depends upon your requirements. I-eU on the tree they will keep in condition longer than if picked and stored. They do not keep well in condition after picking. For marmalade purposes they are best picked as soon as they colour. (-) Give one to four ounces sulphate _of ammonia to each tree according to size. Apply in spring, and again in autumn. TECOMA (Onehunga) asks: Is there any spray, or anything that may be put on a tecoma hedge to prevent cattle eating it, that is harmful neither to the hedge nor to the cattle? —I know of nothing that could be used.

CYCLAMEX (Pukokohe) writes: The foll- ;■ ,c of some of ray cyclamen lias a half dry, burnt appearance. The flowers on the affected parts are malformed. Would you name this disease and advise what treatment to Rive? —Due to eelworm. There is no cure, and I should advise you to burn all affected ' plants. The soil should bo sterilised before being used for potting, and this can be done by heating over a fire; by pouring on boiling water and covering with sacks; by treating with a solution of formalin, one ounce to the gallon of water, soak soil and cover with sacks ; or by scattering and mixing powder naphthalene with the soil, using a good handful to the kerosene tin of soil. When you repot I should advise you to take precautions to use only fresli, clean, sterilised soil, and also to sterilise all pots and materials.

WEED KILLER (Waihl) writes: I have been informed that arsenic and caustic soda make an eifective weed kilhr, but 1 do not know the proportions or the quantity of water to make say. Jive gallons of the killer. Can you help me? Also, should you know of any other effective killer I should ho glad to hear of it.— Arsenic and caustic soda should make n weed killer, but I cannot give you the proportions. Urine made by lib salt to one gallon of boiling water and applied hot, is cheap, effective and safe. Any of the arsenic compounds are effective, but very poisonous. Sodium chlorate, now used for killing blackberry, is also very effective. TULIP (Ponsonby) asks: Do tulips have seeds, and if so would they be worth while planting? IXow many seasons before they flower?— Tulips have seeds. It takes three to five years from sowing for the tulip to flower. Sow the seed in a welldrained box or pot of sandy soil. Let the seedling bulbs remain in the seed box until they die down, them pick them out and repot or rebox the next season. After the second season they can bo planted out in a bed and left till they flower.