WOOD ASH

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 20

WOOD ASH

A Valuable Fertiliser Wood or vegetable ash contains nearly one-tenth of its bulk of potash, which is immediately dissolved in water, and so becomes available for plants almost at once. In addition t'd potash, which is the fine powder of the ashes, there is charcoal. This is oue of the finest natural soil sweeteners, and absorbs ammonia which might otherwise be lost into the air, yielding it up later to the rootlets of the plants. Wood ash is most likely to be effective it’ applied at cropping time or, later on, to plants in growth. Separated into its two components, charcoal and ash, the ideal method is to apply the former on the ground and fork it in lightly, and hoe in the latter round growing plants. The ash may be mixed with all manures except ammonia salts. A quarter pound of wood ash should be applied where one ounce of sulphate of potash is usually given. With ammonia manures, wood ash causes a loss of ammonia, and the applications should be made at not less than a fortnight’s interval. As wood ash is strongly caustic it must not touch plants, but given as a top dressing round them and hoed in, or applied a few days in advance. Applied alone or in mixture, wood ash should be rake(l, hoed or forked into the ground, never left on top, STRAWBERRIES Manure Difficulties Strawberries are a difficult crop from a manorial point of view. The plants are surface-rooting and quick-acting fertilisers, which invariably contain sulphate of ammonia, are apt to burn the root-tips; unless they are applied very carefully they will burn the leaves and crowns as well. Further, they encourage leaf growth rather than root developmedt. For these reasons it is esesntial to apply plant food in an organic form, and this should be done now and in early spring. A suitable dressing-can be made by mixing six parts, of bone dust, one part sulphate of potash and three parts dry sand. This should be applied at the rate of 2oz. per yard run and forked in lightly and a similar application made at the end of August. CORRESPONDENCE Answers to Inquiries Idesiu Volycai-pa. — Male and female dowers are borne on different plants. To ensure a crop of berries it is therefore necessary to plant one or more of each sex in close proximity to one another. (Miss K.G.. Hastings.) . . Iris Distinctions. — The Japanese iris has a fibrous root system and dies down in winter. It requires a rich soil but will not tolerate lime. On the bank of a stream is a popular site for planting thes<* beautiful exotics. The bearded group have fleshy creeping rootstocks (rhizomes) and must have lime. They do best in a sunny situation and require a well-drained border or bank. (“Beginner,” Wellington.) Carnation Cuttings.—You do not mention the type you are growing. If they are the popular border carnations, you can transplant now, provided they have rooted. Perpetunls are transplanted in August or September. (“L.,” Levin.) Trees and Shrubs for Island Bay.— Whether you grow natives or exotics depends largely on whether you want attractive evergreens or gay colours. I would plant both. The eoprosma hedge you suggest is ideal for withstanding those southerly and salty zephyrs you talk about. 'Other natives which would do well arc the manukas (the red, pink and double pink are really beautiful shrubs), pohutukuwns, olenrias. pittosporums (particularly p. erassifolium). seneeias and ngaios. Among the more colourful exotics which do well at the seaside are the hybrid brooms (you should certainly have biirkwoodi. firefly and Geoffrey Skipworth), the banksins. cotoneasters, cscallonias, proteas and flowering gums. The natives can be planted fairly closely together to form a variegated hedge effect, if desired The brooms can also be used as a hedge or ns standards. Proteas and banksias require the most space. The strip 50ft x 12ft. will accommodate about 30 mixed shrubs. Always buy native plants from your nurseryman. Plants lifted from the bush do not lake kindly to transplanting (“V.,” Wellington.) Pruning a Passion Vine.— After planting a passion fruit vino, cut out’the side shoots and keep the plant growing upwards until it roaches the wire supports, when it may bo allowed to make three or four lenders. Spread each leader along the wires, occasionally pinching out the ends to induce the formation of fruit-l-earin«- laterals. (Anonymous.) To Kill a Stump— Bore holes in it and fill with saltpetre. (Anonymous.)