TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

WV.C. (Milford) writes: nnvin - mv peas, I followed out the 'instructions Inst year, namely, lime-sulphur 1 1- • Unit *1 he lime-sulphur runs oft the vines in lifllft halls, and very I'l.le dr eh < the plants. AVliat do you advise to I,mho 1 the spray spreadV I (Hed soap hut the lime-sulphur c " 1 '! v,f, use soap wirn llme-sulp.'.ur. can procure a powder, -known „ spreader, "nils is wxed will the sprav, and causes It to spic.nl on the foliage. A little skim null would probably act, but the propaicd "spreader" is better. When spia.\in„ • peas apply only a very tine mist, allow it to dry and then spray again.

RIIODODBISDROX (Paruein writes. I have iust planted a rhododendron. It is in bud; should 1 let it tlnwer or nip the buds off?—lt would he best for the plant to pick oil the buds and not let it bloom. At the same time it will not kill the plant to let it flower, but it certainly would help it to. set established it the flower buds are picked off. Keep the soil around the plant moist and in any case do not allow seed pods to form.

G.W. (St. Heller's) asks: Could you (ell me it' a banana passion \ine, growing along (l'e same trelii.-* as an ordinary passion fruit, would kill (lie other.' (J) The lruit from another vine as the.v ripen go rotten. — (1) The two passion fruits growing together will not harm each other. (2) The best way to ileal •with (lie other is to spray it with limesulphur (1 —12(1). This will control the disease.

R.W.C. (Mangaweka) asks how to grow Oregon pine and pinus insignis from seed. ■—I'iniw seeds are sown in beds and the beds shaded until the seedlings are a fair size, usually the shading is kept: on (ill (he end of the summer, when it: is removed, and the seedlings are transplanted. The lied is best made up with well-worked soil, a wooden frame put around It. and the soil kept a few inches above the ordinary level. _ The seed is sown broadcast fairly thickly, and then covered with about half an inch of soil. The shading, which sh'ould he fairly heavy, is then put on, and as soon as (be seedlings begin to appear, some of it should be taken away, but not all. GOOSEBERRY (Hamilton) writes: In 1 lie growing of bush fruits on a sandy loam, about four inches in depth, and a subsoil of pumice, would a dressing of bonedust, sulphate of amonia, sulphate- of potash and lime be beneficial? In what month and quantity should it be applied, and would it be necessary 1o apply the manures annually? What is the weight of a case of gooseberries?— Gooseberries respond and benefit by rather large quantities of nitrogen. The following is a good manure: —Superphosphate (4 parts), bonedust (2 parts), sulphate of potash (2 parts), sulphate of ammonia (4 parts). The quantities per bush would vary according to size, but from four to twelve ounces per bush sould be applied. This amount should be applied annually, and (he best time is at the end of (lie winter, hut if not done already, can be done now. The sulphate of ammonia is best applied, half when the buds begin (o burst, and the other half when tile fruit has set. Lime is necessary ami should be applied in autumn,' and not mixed with other manures. I'se two or three ounces per hush. A case of gooseberries weighs about IS pounds.