ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 285, 1 December 1934, Page 6 (Supplement)

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

H.A.P. (Papakura) asks : Ts whey any good as a liquid manure for vegetables? If so, what sort?— Have never used it, nor know anything regarding whey as a manure. It might be of value for cabbages and such like vegetables. A.O. (Auckland) asks: Is it necessary to prune daphne? I have a young bush. This year it has made such rapid growth there are about 20 new branches on the main stem. Will this rapid growth stop the plant from flowering, it looks so healthy?— There is no need to prune the daphne if it is not getting out of bounds. Pruning would interfere with the flowering, ns next season's flowers will be produced on the shoots It is now making.

K.I/. (Onehunga) writes: We have some small tomato plants about one foot high, and not much more than seedlings, but already have (lowers on. Should these be nipped oil' or left to bear fruit?—l do not think you need to worry if the plants are doing well. The flowering may be due to the plants being starved. Usually the tomato can take care of itself and the flowers will fall If the plant is not able to carry the fruit.

PUDDNEAD (Taumarunui) writes: I wish to grow some boronia megastignia and should be obliged if you would give me particulars for planting; whether seed or cutting, time of year, etc. Does it need replanting every year 7—Boronia can be raised from seed or cuttings. Seed is very small and needs very careful sowing. The seedlings nre nlso very difficult to deal with during the first few months. Hooting from cuttings is work for a professional, in fact, very few professional men can make a success of them. Seed should be sown in welldrained nots of sandy soil and shaded till seedlings appear. Watering must be done by Immersing the pots half-way in water for half an hour. When large enough the seedlings should bo pricked out and afterwards potted singly into small pots and grown on till large enough to plant out. Although hardy, the raising from seed, etc., must be done under glass till plants are large enough to plant out. You would find it best to purchase one or two plants ready for planting out. It is a shrub and does not need planting every year. M.W. (Epsom) writes: The foliage of ferns growing in a bush house lias a blackened appearance like a blight. Can it be checked? —Probably due to scald, caused by the sun shining 011 soft, wet foliage. Perhaps the shading lias broken away and the sun in shining directly on the ferns.

lI.C. (Whltianga) writes: (1) Nemesia seed saved tills spring was planted, but seedlings refuse to appear. I kept the seed for a month or so before sowing. (2) Lemon pips were sown in a box, but only a few nre coming up, most of them having rotted away. If the lemons are cured does it affected tho germinating properties of the pips? Are lemon or orange stocks the correct ones to use as stocks for grafting? (3) When is the time to plant loganberries: bow are they increased by seed? (•!) Primroses raised from seed about March, would they flower next spring? (5) Ranunculus sown in a box and transplanted into the open ground when largo enough, would it prevent them from flowering next spring?—(l) I cannot say why seed did not grow. Send along a little and I will test. it. (2) Curing lemons woul.l not harm tho pips. Sweet orange, Citronolla or Trlfoliata, nre the stocks used. Lemon stocks nre seldom, if ever, used. Poorman oranges should be pi pi ess, but varieties with pips could be used for stocks. (3) Plant loganberries in May or Juno. Increased by layers. (4) Probably, if the plants were treated well. (5) Ranunculus would flower, but only small blooms. To do well they need to be two years from seed. 777 (Warkwortli) : Letter received. Please send namu and address.

CULTIVATIS (Onehungn) asks: (1) What is tlio best time to plant lucerne seed'.' Does land have to be innoculated, and if so what amount of soil lor innoculation purposes would be required for a piece I!Oft by ISft, and amount of seed? (2) What Is the best time to plant maize, and what is a good variety for feeding poultry?—(l) Sow lucerne in November. A couple of manure bags full, say, about four bushels of innoculated soil. Innoculated soil is an advaiitjicrc, and can bo obtained from any existing lucerne patch. The innoculated soil should bo sown and disced on a dull day, as bright sunshine is fatal to the bacteria. Seed Is sown at the rate of about 151b to the acre; this means you would require about four ounces. (2) Plant maize now. Ninety days is a good poultry maize.

SINGER (Ellerslie) writes: A grub is killing our lilac ami rose trees. We found one In the centre of the rotted wood we cut from the rose tree. What is the cure? —It is a borer. Spray the trees with arsenate of lead. This can be applied as a spray, using a teaspoonl'ul to a gallon of water, or it can be applied as a dust spray by mixing: Flowers of sulphur 10 parts, arsenate of lead powder one pnrt. Dust this on the plants by putting it in a canister with perforated lid. Applied once a week during the early mornings, when foliage is damp with dew, it will control mildew and any caterpillars or grubs.

SI.W. (Sandringhiim) writes: A passion fruit vine, which was doing well, and the fruit forming, is beginning to wilt. Can anything ho done to restore it? —I am afraid there is no possible means to revive it. The trouble may be a borer insect or root fungus, botli of wliich are usually fatal, as the trouble is done before any preventive measures can be taken.. Passion vines are not long lived. Usually after two heavy crops the plants fail, and fall victims to disease.

AMATEUR (Mount Eden) writes: I am growing tomatoes 011 the same ground as last season, and last season the tomatoes were diseased with a kind of black spot. During the winter I gave tho ground two dressings of lime. One of the plants is withered, and the leaves are curling up. otherwise they appear quite strong?— The tomatoes need spraying with a fungicide such as lime sulphur, using a tablespoonful of solution in a gallon of water, otherwise it is almost sure your plants will be attacked With black spot. The plant that is withered and with leaves curling is attacked by a virus disease, and should at once be pulled up and burnt. There is 110 cure for this disease, but it can be transmitted by insects to other plants.

CUCUMBERS UNDER GLASS

Cucumber plants that are now growing well, and especially those that are fruiting, should be assisted by a topdressing of a mixture of loam and rotten manure. An occasional sprinkling of chemical fertiliser is also to be recommended. Over-crowding of the growths should bo avoided. Keep the young shoots pinched well and cut the fruits as soon as they attain reasonable size. Plenty of water will be required, and the atmosphere must*-be kept moist by damping down twice or three times daily. Close the house about three o'clock in the afternoon, and if the weather is fine, syringe the plants overhead. Seeds may be sown now for frame work.