INQUIRIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 92, 18 April 1940, Page 19

INQUIRIES

VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

Te Awamutu.—As . soon as the leaves of paeonies commence to die off naturally or as the result of frost they may be cut down to within a few inches of the ground. A mulch of rotted manure placed over the crowns will be i very beneficial. The small pink arum lily, the proper name of which is Richardia Rehmannii, can be grown in any ordinary garden soil. It likes a warm, sunny position. The flowers turn green as the seeds ripen. It might be wise to protect the ground by mulching if you do not wish to; lift the root for the winter. I suppose j you have fairly hard frosts and if so the root might be destroyed. The "Sumach," a leaf of which you enclosed, is not poisonous. Because it belongs to the "Rhus" family it has been confused with Rhus toxicodendron, the poison ivy of North America. This poisonous plant is almost indistinguishable from yirginia creeper. PRUNING VARIOUS SHRUBS. L.E.W.—Cydonia Japonica requires no regular pruning, but the secondary shoots may be cut back as soon as flowering is done at the end of the spring. No regular pruning is required for viburnums. Old stems may be cut away from thick, crowded bushes in the winter. Flowering plums and peaches should have any necessary pruning done immediately after flowering, as blooms are produced on young wood of the previous year. The only cutting necessary is to remove unsightly branches, thus keeping the bushes a good shape and shortening back lateral growths about two-thirds of their length. "Begonia."—Your inquiry is the subject of an article in this week's notes. CARROTS AND RUNNER BEANS. "Carrots."—Carrots are liable to attack of a small aphis which causes the foliage to turn rusty and when this occurs in the early stages may totally destroy the crop unless taken in hand. Spraying with an insecticide—"Black Leaf 40" or other nicotine preparation —will destroy the insects but it may be necessary to make two or more applications, as they are underneath the leaves and rather hard to get o»t. The best method is to spray" up one side of the row and down the other" With a fair pressure the foliage bends over and gets a good soaking. Runner beans may be cut down when cropping is over but it is wiser to let them die down naturally. After, removing the tops loosen up the soil and give a dressing of bone-dust. When [growth commences in the spring or just before, give a good mulch of cow manure.