Your Problems?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 14 (Supplement)

Your Problems?

E.M.tf. (Ellerslie) toishes to know if an orange tree four feet high can be moved t How long before movihg must it be wrenched and how far away from itemt How deep to put the spade when wrenching T Ton can move the tree now. Wrenching will not be necessary in this case. About two feet six inches away from the stem part. Dig a circular trench about two spits deep. Then work the soil from underneath the tree and also in towards the stem, preserving intact any roots which may be found. Continue until you have the tree standing with a ball of soil about 13 inches in diameter. The tree can then be rolled on to a sack and carried to where it is to be planted. Citrus fruits are not difficult to transplant if a little attention Is given to watering should dry weather occur soon after planting. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ IRIS writes: (1) I have some gladiolus bulbs stored that are nearly all sprouting, but do not want to put them all in now, as / want successional flowering, but there is a sort of fungus forming on the roots. (2) / planted some iris about a year ago, and they have not flowered, but are sending up new leaves now. I do not know what variety they are, but the roots are rhizomatus. The soil is well drained and volcanic. (1) If the gladiolus bulbs are sprouting you will have to plant them during the next two or three months. I do not know what the fungus on the roots Is unless tt is due to mould, in which case you have not kept your bulbs dry enough, which would also account for them sprouting. Dust the bulbs with flowers of sulphur, this will control fungus. Keep the bulbs as dry and cool as you can. You will be able to keep them out of the soil for a time; that is until the leaf sheaf begins to burst when you will have to plant them. (2) I cannot help .vou with the iris without further information as to what they are. Rhisomatose Iris should be planted with the rhizome on the surface and not below the soil. The plants will probably flower this coining season. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ M.C. asks:—The cause of hundreds of lemons turning bad, developing an unpleasant smell and falling off. The trees have been bearing well for five years; we have never had this trouble 6e/ore. We are on top of a hill, the ground is loam and clay. Due to brown rot. Collect and bury deeply affected fruits. Cut away dead twigs and burn. Cut away all branches ! which come within 15 inches of the soli. Fork over the surface of the soil benelM the trees, burying weeds, etc. Spray tne trees with lime sulpnur 1-120. Spray at intervals of three or four weeks from the time fruit sets to when it begins to colour.

M.if. (Tc Atatu) writes'. —Last year I planted a few plants of water melon. They grew well, but, at the time of ripening, leaves amd «timers went hlack and black spots appeared on the fruits. (1) "What was the disease and what is the treatment. (2) What manure or fertiliser suits the melonT (3) My vines were attacked with the powdery mildew; it killed all the young "hoots. I have never sprayed them. Can you tell me if there it any remedy or preventivet

(1) Due to leafspot. Spray with eollodial or lime sulphur, o* dust with flowers of sulphur. The first mentioned gives the best results. Treatment should begin when the plants have made a few large leaves and applications given every 10 days or so. (2) A complete manure Is required. If the plants are slow in getting away, give a little sulphate of ammonia occasionally. (3) Powdery mildew, when its gets a firm hold, is difficult to control. Spray with lime sulphur 1-120 every 10 days, except when the plants are in flower. Spraying must stop when the berries begin to show colour.