INQUIRIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 19

INQUIRIES

DAHLIAS. D.B.—Dahlias are best left till they dij down naturally or are cut by frosts, but they are very hardy and little damage will be done if they are cut down as soon as flowering is over; The tubers may be dug at the same time. Replant about August in fairly rich, well-worked soil: Fowl manure is very good for these plants, which also require plenty of water during the flowering period. GERANIUMS AND LILY OF THE VALLEY. E.A. —The best time to cut back geraniums is in February, but probably you would do no harm if you cut 011 some of the largest of the old wood at the present time. Lily of the Valley are best lifted in July but oldestablished beds give the best results and are better left alone except for cutting out a few blocks from the thickest parts, filling in the holes with clean fresh soil. DAPHNE LEAVES TURNING YELLOW. D.D.G. —This is a common trouble with daphne, the cause being obscure. Possibly the climate is somewhat cold for them at Heretaunga. Give them a fairly heavy dressing of decayed cow manure and later in the summer a further mulch with fresh cow manure. Be careful when working rount^'fhe bushes not to damage the roots, wnich are near the surface.

It is difficult to say what is causing your ericas to die. These shrubs like leaf-mould or peat and cannot stand lime—possibly the presence of lime is the cause of the trouble. The only thing you can do is to cut out all dead branches and give a topdressing of leaf mould or bush soil.