GARDEN QUERIES

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32251, 20 March 1970, Page 20

GARDEN QUERIES

I enclose leaves from a i Wheenie grape fruit. j Would you please advise I what causes the leaf dis- i tortion and how to treat it? j| —"Grapefruit” (Nelson). I This disfiguration, crink-:' ling or bullation of the leaf, is a curious physiological condition to which grapefruit and even oranges seem to be susceptible. Its cause has not been discovered yet! but it is thought to be partly ! due to exposure to cold winds. Could you possibly identify the pear which comes : from a very old tree? I Although not a long keeper | it is a delicious dessert l pear. Also could you inform me of when is the j correct time of year for taking japonica cuttings.— , “Wondering One” (Banks Peninsula) ! Sorry, but 1 cannot identify ithe pear. The most usual methods of propagating jjaponicas, by which it is !taken that you are referring Ito the Japanese quince, is from seed or by laying previous season’s wood in springtime. Plant for identification.— Efiquirer (Chch). —Too dessieated for recognition on arrival. Sample of plant which grows underground (Blackball). —Impossible to identify from specimen sent. Would you please tell me what is wrong with my house plant from the fallen leaves which I enclose? The plant was cleared with a fine paint brush, stored in a tub of water, allowed to drain, dusted with sulphur and put back in the room. It was coming on well and I thought I had it cured but as you see I have not.—D.H. (Chch.). The problem is mildew and although sulphur is a recognised cure, the use of karathane is suggested. I enclose a sample which I hope you can identify for me. It was suggested that it might be Mercury Bay weed which has been in the news lately as a substitute for grass. 1 am very inter- I ested in this possibility and would like your opnion of it as such. The sample I is from an uncultivated shady patch and as far as I know has not flowered.— J.R. (Hawarden) The plants sent are indeed specimens of Mercury Bay weed, Diehondra repens, widely known as kidney weed on account of its kidney shaped leaves. It is a hardy plant which in many countries, particularly in the United States, has been used in place of grass in lawns, it will withstand reasonable frosts and hot summers and is at home in sun or shade. It remains green in summer but does require some moisture during this period: it does not require much maintenance but once established

■it is very difficult indeed to get rid of. You could establish an area of same from the patch you have got by transplanting plugs allowing 6in to Bin on the square between each one. Plugs can be less than 2in in diameter and ; should be firmly planted and ■ kept well watered until pro- ’ perly established. i , Usually I have a good [I crop of strawberries but ? | this year the first cropping j season there were no flowers—runners only. The ! plants were sturdy and healthy so I removed runners as they appeared and then defoliated them but still nothing happened. The second cropping season produced a few flowers on about three plants and some fruit. The plants were put out in autumn from self-raised runners I (red gauntlet) and they y received no check. Could d you give some reason as to I g why this should occur?— I s M.R. (Chch). 8 Red gauntlet strawberries. s are very much inclined to I g produce runners which can n only be restricted by continual removal. Lack of flowering is usually due to! s- one of two causes. Frost can; n severely affect fruiting by destroying the blossoms as was the case with many c- crops last spring. Extensive y use of nitrogen fertiliser can also inhibit blossoms and in such cases prolific growth is usually made. . Will you please advise me on the following? I have a good line of tomatoes I and would like to keep , some seed for next season. [ What is the best way of i cleaning the seed so that | they are free flowing?— > A.H. (Chch). Pulped fruit should be placed in a wooden or d earthenware receptacle. Then >- add a 1 per cent hydrochloric i- acid to the pulp and water allow to stand for two to three days to remove the gelatinous layers from the seed. The seed should then be washed thoroughly and dried on a sheet of glass. Twelve Jb of fruit yields approximately an ounce of seed. Alternatively concentrated acid can be used applying 1 fluid ounce for every 51b of i fruit. This should be stirred at intervals over a period of three to four hours. Then wash and proceed as outlined above. I am preparing an ” asparagus bed. I would ’’ appreciate advice on the “ best variety or strain of y plants to order for the y spring. Also should I try ‘‘ to obtain one or two-year- ? old plants.—C.M. (Ashbur- “ ton). t e Reliable varieties of j asparagus include California i. 500, Mary Washington and r Coniston. The general prei- ference is for planting one t year old plants as they are i- easier to handle and less sub- | j ject to dainage in the process.