Gardeners’ queries

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 14

Gardeners’ queries

In the process of pruning my forsythia I came across the enclosed. The lumps on the branches of what I have included with this note are to be found on i various other parts of the bush, which looks all right. Is this some sort of disease that needs attention or is it just an unusual growth? H.H.(Chch). The swe] ,. ing on the enclosed branches of forsythia are galls which have been caused by a fungus. Incidence of this kind is far more prevalent than would appear, and in severe attacks this can lead to the death of the infected cane. All shoots bearing these galls should be cut back below the point of infection and the shrub then sprayed with a copper-base spray. Incidentally, the ideal time to prune forsythia is directly after it has finished flowering.

Could you please let me have the name of this shrub, and is it a native? Also could you tell me

why I get so few flowers on my geraniums? They grow well enough, mostly in sunny dry corners. A.G. (Cheh). The shrub appears to be Myrtus communis, an attractive, hardy shrub with edible dark blue-black berries: it is not native to New Zealand but is of predominantly Northern hemisphere origin. With regards to the failure of your geraniums to flower, it is hard to think of reason(s) for this as they are generally floriferous. Dryness and/or over-feeding are the only two suggestions which come to mind. I have been reading in a current edition of a gardening magazine that it is not that unusual for Sansevierras to flower. However, as I have one and it has never given even a semblcnce of flowering, nor for that matter have I seen one in bloom, I wondered if there is any

special treatment to give them in order that it may do so. J.B. (Cheh). Flowering in sansevierras is not a general occurrence, but it does seem to be a little less uncommon than would appear. The bloom, a greenish yellow, is very fragrant. Inducements to flower are said to be a pot-bound condition, a high availability of superphosphate and maximum lightRecently you have ' recommended acephate for the control of white fly and aphids. Even now at this stage of the season I am still severely troubled with these pests in both flower and vegetable gardens. I have tried unsuccessfully to purchase acephate at several garden supply shops who all say that this product is only available to professional growers in large quantities. I would appreciate your help and advice in obtaining

a supply of acephate. G.R (Sumner).

I am sorry to hear of your problem in obtaining acephate, which is th? name,of the chemical. not the proprietary names under which it is sold. This systemic insecticide is definitely available to home gardeners and is even packed in special sachets to make up five to ten litres o! spray.

Could I please have this pear named? It comes from an ole tree, and has quite a quince flavour; it is marvellous for bottling and cooking and not bad for eating either. M.H. (Cheh). The variety of pear which you have growing is known ’as Kieffer's hybrid. This pear originated in the United States and is certainly distinctive of flavour; it. is regarded as primarily a bottling and culinary fruit, but is very pleasant to eat when at just the right stage of maturity.