Is Your Problem Here?

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 14 (Supplement)

Is Your Problem Here?

J.P. (Otnhuhu) a»U» :—Can yo* identify the enclosed bulb flouiert Alstromerla psittacina. FIO tell* me:—l have a flg tree that, every year, thed* all its fruit ichen onl- half ripe. People have given me rariout reasons—one that it requires a tree of the opposite sea near it. Would you tell me what is likely to be the real reason and the remedy f The reason is that the so-called fruits on a flg tree are really a mass of minute flowers on a fleshy base which is pearshaped with a small aperture at the top. Some varieties of figs will set without fertilisation, but others will not, and where this is the case only a small fly can enter at this aperture and fertilise the flowers. To introduce this fly the best way is to beg or steal a branch from a tig tree that is known to carry fruits. The branch should be taken Just as the fruits bejrin to ripen as It is at that period that the fly emerges from the fruit to seek a fresh home in the small green embryo fruits that are found in the axils of the leaves. Simply hang the branch In the tree and leave it there. Another cause of tigs dropping is the dry spell. They need a damp, moist soil, especially at their ripening. A good dose of salt will often cause a tree to crop, the flg being a native of the seacoast. M.T. (y etc ton) asks :—Can tton tell me the average number 0/ tomatoes grown on a tingle plant of the ordinary smooth round tomato f J have eight plants, one of which hat 120 tomatoet

on a single, plant, while others have an average of 75 tomatoes. Is this unusual? X cannot tell yon the average number of fruit per plant carried by the tomato. Usually if a crop is to be measured it is given in "weight per plant," but 1 do not know the average even then. A plant that gives 101b or over is certainly above the average. Making a guess, I should say that 30 fruits, going five or six to the pound, would be about average. Anyway, if your fruits are a fair size your planta will be above the average. INQUIRER (Parnell) writes: —Some time ago you slated that one reason why tomatoes did not ripen properly, leaving green and yellow portions, was due to the Irrk of potaxh in the soil. (1) Should the sulphate of potash be dug in when preparing the soil before plantinr/T (2) Should it be applied as a liquid manure when fruits are ripeningT (1) Potash Is best applied when the ground is being prepared for planting. A good mixture is:—Superphosphate, three parts; sulphate of ammonia, two parts: sulphate of potash, one part. This should be applied at the rate of Soa to the square yard. You can, of course, use any manure and add additional potash. Wood ashes are a source of potash. If, later on, when fruits are beginning to show colour, there are signs that your soil still larks potash, you can apply it by dissolving loz in four gallons of water and applying it as a liquid manure. Or you could give it dry, allowing a teaspoonful to a plant and "watering It in well.