Answers To Correspondents

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 9

Answers To Correspondents

WET COASTER, Rangiora: There is no reason why you should not crop that old fowl run .this coming season. I would, advise your digging over the area rather roughly, leaving it until the end of August when you should turn it over again before planting the potatoes. There should be no necessity to give the soil further manure, other than by adding a tablespoon of superphosphate stirred into the hole for each tuber.

ADVICE, Papanui: (1) The begonia plant can be ripened off by moving it from the living room to a cooler position and easing the water supply. Like gladiolus bulbs, the begonia should be allowed to ripen off its foliage gradually for two or three months before potting up again about September. The pot could even be placed on a veranda or outside in a warm position, then started off again in fresh soil in the spring. (2) There is nothing wrong with the behaviour of the paeony roots. They are shallow rooting but no harm will follow your adding soil on top to cover them.

AMATEUR, Kumara: Your nectarine trees are affected with the disease “gumnosis,” which causes the eluding of gum to which you refer. It is a fungoid disease and can be controlled by full winter strength spraying with lime sulphur now and at summer strength again ,in October-No-vember. It is necessary also to cut out the gum secretions when seen, painting over the cuts with paint or creosote. Give a good dressing of lime around the tree now and repeat this again after next spraying.

Matua Refitted.—Refitted at a cost of more than £ 100,000, the Pacific Islands passenger-cargo ship Matua is expected to sail from Auckland today on her normal run. Accommodation

was renovated and some plates between decks replaced.—(PA.)