Gardener? Queries...

Press, Volume C, Issue 29535, 9 June 1961, Page 8

Gardener? Queries...

How con 1 best apply D.D.T. to my lawn and garden? There la a mild Infestation of grkMgrab. (L. 8.5.. Woodend.) D.D.T. is best applied as a dust to the soil. Solutions may be used and are equally effective. but they involve much more mixing and measuring The rate of application of actual D.D.T used I* very low—only about lib of actual D D.T. being needed per 1000 square yards. However. DD T. Is sold mixed with various diluting materials tor different purpose*. so that the rate of application of bought materia! may be different. SO per cent, wettable powder is probably the most convenient. and w*H need applying at U'.b per 1000 square yards. If you have only 5 per cent, dust available, then this will need applying at Ulb per 1000 square yards. This small quantity ts difficult to apply evenly, however, and it ts best to "bulk up" the mixture to give a rate practicable to handle Soil or sand may be used, or DDT and superphosphate mixtures are available ready mixed at suitable concentrations. The average section is about 1000 square yards, and to apply a bulked mix at lor. per square yard—quite a suitable rate to handle—will require (S2iib of mix In total. This could be 141 b of 59 per cent. D.D.T. and 811 b of soil, or 151 b of 5 per cent. D.D.T and 4T|lb of soil. Identical results would be obtained, incidentally, the cost would be only about Ils for 1000 square yards. I have two gardens—one a rose bed—heavily infested with convolvulus. Can you advise on how to clear the ground of this weed? (A.D.N.. Waikari.) There are two distinct types of convolvulus. The taller growing, white flowered plant, sometimes found in hedges. Is not difficult to control, but the prostrate small-leaved and small-flowered variety is much more difficult. Unfortunately, neither weed can be controlled without harm to other plants in the same ground. The only exceptions to this are when M.C.P.A. is used in asparagus against bindweed, and M.C.P.B. used amongst blackcurrants against bindweed. So you will have to clear other plants from the area first. The best material to use is 2.4 J). applied at manufacturers’ recommended strengths, preferably when the plants are reaching flowering stage The roots in the ground will be killed from a treatment then, but not at other seasons, when only the tops will be killed off. I have lifted crops of Red Dakota potatoes from two separate plots. Although the soil In both plots was treated the same, one of the plots has produced scabby tubers, but not the other. What Is the cause of the trouble? (E.J.H., Avonhead road.) Your trouble Is probably potato scab, in which the disease, whilst having a disfiguring appearance, does not harm the culinary qualities of the tubers. The difference tn result in the two plots is probably diue to some soli treatment in the past, probably last season. Heavy liming and manuring can cause an increase in soabbiness. I have two Irish Peaeh apples bearing a second, although very meagre crop. The trees blossomed very earty in March and the apples are now about the size of walnuts. Is this very unusual? The main crop was a very heavy one this last season. (E.f.H., Avonhead.) This is not a common occurrence. A second blossom ts sometimes produced where the tree has received a severe check, but it is not common for fruit to be actually set as a result. You will find that next year's crop will be practically non-existent, since it is next year's flower buds which have produced this second crop. Plant for Identification, and request for advice on fruit pruning. Mrs L. T. Talka, Tlmaru.) Your specimen is the native plant. Poro-poro, or Solanum aviculare. which la sometimes grown as a garden plant for the orange coloured berries. It prefers semi-shade, where it will grow to 8 or Mt tall. The green berries are poisonous, but not when they are ripe and attractive in appearance. I will discuss fruit tree pruning In an article in the course of the next week or two. Quince require very little in the way of pruning—only occasional thinning of die branches.

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