TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 235, 3 October 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

AMATEUR (Whangarei) asks the cause of stock collapsing just as plants are coming into flower, and if there is any remedy for same. The trouble seems to be in root or lower part of stem. The plant gradually turns yellow in the lower leaves and this works up the plant which suddenly collapses.—Due to blackleg or stem rot, a bacterial disease attacking many annuals. It is usually more severe with those transplanted, and sowing where they are to flower will keep it under control. There is no cure, and the only means of control is sterilisation of the soil by the use of a soil fumlgant such as naphthalene, or sowing where they are to grow. x

CAMELLIA (Dannevirke) writes: A pale pink camellia has for some time borne one branch of red flowers. This season about one fourth of the blooms were red. A neighbouring white camellia is also bearing a few red blooms and some of the white blooms are streaked with red. Is it possible to eliminate the red blooms entirely ? Can camellia be propagated otherwise than by layering?— This sportive colouring of the blooms is not altogether unusual in the camellia, the actual cause or reason is rather obscure. In your case there seems some connection between your soil and the red colour produced. However, without some experiment it would be difficult to give any opinion, but I do not think you will be able to check it except by propagating from a branch that carries pure white or pink blooms. Camellias can be propagated from cuttings, also grafting, but layering is the most reliable and sure method. "

. G. (West more) writes: (1) A month ago I planted some runner beans and as there has been no signs of activity, I dug them up; each bean has sprouted a root, but the interior lias been completely eaten by minute white insects. I lightly covered some dahlias with soil and when I dug them up they also were riddled with these insects. My soil goes like concrete and I have been burying grass cuttings because I thought it would improve the soil. (2) Do ants hurt the roots or do any damage to plants? I had a row of blue salvia and they were doing fine till a fortnight ago, when quite suddenly the leaves turned brown and withered up. I dug them up and found nests of ants under two plants. I have shifted the salvias to another spot, hoping,they will do better. Where I had the blue salvias is the onlv place on the section where they will do any good, although it is very dry and gets very little rain even in winter time. (3) Do schizantlius and mathiola like a sunny, dry position?—(l) The cold, wet weather is the cause of the beans not growing. It is too early to sow beans; they only get checked, develop disease and fail. The insects are not the cause of the trouble. These insects live on decaying matter, and in the spring and early summer you will find them in myriads under any decaying rubbish. The soil will be improved by digging in plentv of weeds and seaweed. Every time there is a piece of ground vacant for a few weeks you shoyld sow a green crop, such as oats or mustard, and dig it in just before the ground is required for cultivation ; this will soon improve the soil. (2) Ants are destructive, but I cannot say just how destructive to plants. The reason the blue salvia went off may be duo to the insects, but I think it is more likely due to natural causes and it will come away again later on. Salnia requires a dry, sunny situation. (3) A sunny position is necessary and well drained, but water will be needed in dry weather. .B. (Auckland) asks: (1) At wnat age do passion fruit and grape vines bear fruit? Is there an age limit for transplanting grape vines? (2) What age does lilac and wistaria bloom? Does transplanting make any difference to the time of flowering?— (1) Passion fruit crops first or second year. Grapes crop after third year. The older the vine when transplanted the greater the ehaners of failure, but I cannot say there is any age limit, as success depends a great deal on the individual doing the work. (2) Lilac will flower second year, but wistaria needs age and may be ten years old before it blooms. Transplanting will check any or all of them and put back the flowering age. .P. (Avondale) asks: (1) Coma you give me any idea what leaf this is? It is a creeper, but whether it is a weed or not? (2) Is the seed a melon of some description? (3) Is it any benefit to fruit trees to light fires and let the smoke get among the trees?—(l) It is a blackberry; it may be a seedling. (2) It is very like a vegetable marrow. (3) No. except during frosty nights when the smoke acts as a screen and prevents the damage of the blossom by frost.