Personal Problems

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 10 (Supplement)

Personal Problems

AMATEUR (Thome*) says: Last season my kumara crop was ruined by a worm or grub, and I wish to plant potatoes in the same ground this year. Will you advise me what to use to get rid of 'the pest, and the best method 0 f application f Treat the soil with napthalene, apply it now and fork it into the soil. If the kumaras were spoilt last year by the grubs you will need to treat the soil thoroughly if you intend to plant potatoes this year in the same position. The napthalene should be worked in the soil three weeks before the potatoes are planted. + + + + RAMPAGE writes-. I om having a clay ramp built into a garage. What should I plant on the'sides to prevent the day being washed away T It depends how much surface there is to cover. Common green ivy, pegged down gives good results as a cover to unsightly banks. The ivy can be planted either at the top or the-base. A little care and attention may be necessary at the start such as a little encouragement in thei wav of soil or manure, and if the weather is drv water may be required. Once it is established it will easily look after itself. + + + -tX.Y.Z. ( Kingsland) says: My rhubarb ha, been eaten away during recent tcct eather. I have hunted around and found a colony of snails and slater, housed in the crowm together. J Ka l wondering if one or the other or possibly both, were the cause of' the trouble. The pests that I found were close by the rhubarb. Could you advise me a remedy f It is difficult to say that the snails and platers were entirely responsible. Certainly the evidence is against them, but I have not heard of them entirely eating away rhubarb crowns, although they will damage the young leaves. The remedy is to dust the crowns either with Derris dust or arsenate of lead. Derris is non-poisonous and therefore safest. The arsenate of lead powder should be mixed with ten parts of flower of sulphur and the mixture dusted over the rhubarb crowns. + + + "f M. (Fitham) says: A Jew branch,is «f my Pink Pearl rhododendron are looking sick, and I enclose some leaves, and would be glad of your advice to tmve it going furthert I think it may be doe to tfee e»H, wet weather, or perhaps the plant nee<ta some manure, such as sulphate of ammonia Apply a teaspoonful about once every ten days. Do not use superphosphate or any manure containing lime or a lime compound ; this includes basic slag.