GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 August 1927, Page 7

GARDENING NOTES.

(By ‘‘Waratah. ”)

BOU Y AIIDIAS. Bouvnrdia.s may be pruned at any time about tbe end <>J July. Small plants should have all the thin, weakly stems cut away to allow the main stems to develop into the limbs ol the future plant. Established plants should he cut hack to within 18 inches of the ground. The pruning should be done with a sharp knife, and each cut made just above a pair of leaf buds. After pruning give the soil a dressing of old stable manure' or vegetable refuse and a good sprinkling of bonedust. VALLOTAS. Yallotak (generally known as ••Scarborough lilies”) can he lifted now if the clumps have become cramped for space. It is not necessary to lift them tinless this is the' case, as they flower better when well established. They do well in any kind of soil, hut must have a sunny position. When replanting the toi> of the bulb should be above the surface of the soil. Add, a little bonedust if the soil be poor. It is not advisable to use manure unless the soil is very poor and light; if used it must he well decayed. SPRAYING FRUIT TREES.

Spraying siiould be done every sea-' son to destroy insect pests and fungoid diseases or to prevent the trees being attacked by them. Do not wait until the fungi have attacked tbe trees; fungicides are merely preventives, and are most effective when used in early spring. After the disease has developed it 7s too late to save the trees from serious damage. Much time, and material is wasted through lack of knowledge of the proper spraying mixture for a particular kind of disease or insect pest’a ltd the proper time to apply it. The insects which cause damage to fruit trees are divided into two classes —chewing insects and sucking insects. The chewing insects comprise those that chew and eat the leaves or fruit of the trees. The most common and destructive are : The caterpillar of the codlin moth, leaf-roller caterpillar. pear slug, bronze beetle, rasp-herry-hud weevil, tomato caterpillar. To destroy this class the tree must be sprayed with a poison which will be taken into the stomach of the insect along with the particles of food. The sucking insects comprise those that suck the juices of the plant by inserting a beak into the tissues of the foliage, stems, or fruit. A large number of this class on a tree or plant will soon extract so much of its vitality - as to cause the affected part to wither and die. The principal insects in this class are: Mussel, San Jose, and other scale insects, mealy hug. red-mite. pear-mite, t-hrips, leaf-hoppers, woolly aphis and other aphides. This class must be sprayed with a solution of a. caustic nature which kills them immediately it touches

them. 'Hie principal fungoid diseases which affect fruit trees are black spot on apple, and pear, leaf-curl on peaches and nectarines, bladder or -pocketolu 111 s, brown rot of stone fruits, shothole fungus, powdery mildew on apnles. verrucosis on lemon and orange trees. The parasitic fungi whrh cause these diseases hibernate during the winter within the living and dead tissues of the host plant unon which they have found lodgment, and during the first warm da vs of spring send' out small snores which correspond to the seeds of the higher plants. These spores are disseminated bv the wind and insects from tree to tree. and with favourable conditions of moisture and warmth send out small branches whi'-li penetrate into the living tissues of the" host and cause it to become diseased. By the application of a fungicide to a plant we prevent the development of additional spores which would cause its disease. WTien the tissues of a tree or plant are covered with a thin, even coating of a fungicide no fungi can develop upon them. Thusi if a fungicide he applied at regular intervals of about two weeks during the spring and early summer, a fungoid disease- mav he hold entirely in check. A fungicide is a. preventive, and its application should begin long before the disease has advanced far enough to manifest itself to any extent.

Lime-sulphur solution is the most useful ''(impound for those who have on.lv a few trees and have no conveniences or time to make different- kinds of sprays for the various classes of pests and diseases, as it serves the dual purpose of a fungicide and a contact insecticide, and with the addition of arsenate of lead a .food poison to kill chewing insects such as the- caterpillar of the codlin moth. It may be purchased' ready for use with the- addition of cold water, and should be used at the rate of one part to nine parts of water on all classes of trees when dormant. When the leaves are on the trees' one part to fifty .parts of water should he used on apple and pear trees, and one part to 100 parts of water on peaches. nectarines and plums. The winter strength solution will also kill any moss or lichens' growing on the trees. Arsenate of lead to destroy the caterpillar of the codlin moth should he used at the rate of two ounces to each four gallons of lime-sulphur solution (with the quantity of water added ready for use), or if only spraying for codlin moth plain water should he used. Commence spraying as soon as the majority of the petals have fallen, and repeat the application at intervals of 2 1 days throughout the season, the object being to keep the fruit- and foliage constantly covered with poison To ensure an even distribution of

the spiaying material and ail instant and lusting adhesion the addition of a spreader to the mixture- is advisable, as the spraying material is deposited as a film instead of minute spots. Its use is not absolutely necessary. and probably those who have only a few trees will not care to go to the trouble involved in its preparation. Powdered casein is one of the- mast satisfactory spreaders to use. and is prepared, by dissolving five ounces of casein to half a gallon of water. Then slowly slake five ounces of burnt lime and make up to half a gallon. Pour the- lime-water slowly into the casein, stirring well. Put the- requisite quantity of water into the spray tank, add the casein mixture, agitate thoroughly, then add the other ingredients. This is sufficient for 100 gallons of spray mixture. Spraying to he effective must ho thorough; every part of the trees must he sprayed, and when leaves are on the trees the undersides must he sprayed, as this is where most of the insect pests congregate. Xcver spray fruit trees when in full bloom. The spraying may wash off the pollen, and the fruit will not set when this occurs. Do not spray when leaves are covered with dew or rain-drops, or the solution will drain off or collect in large spots; poison is more effective when npolied to dry foliage. Spray if possible on a calm day. and when leaves are on the trees in cloudy weather or after sunset, or damage

mav he done to the leaves by the rays •if the sun shining on the wet leaves Wash out the spray pump thoroughly with clean water after the spraying is finished. _ CURRENT WORK. Plant shelter trees, hedge plants, shrubs, roses, fruit- trees and hushes. Plant rhubarb in deeply dug and heavily manured soil. Place the roots three foot apart in rows four feetapart. Plant shallots, garlic. potato and tree onions. Prune fruit trees and hushes. Finish pruning roses. Lift am] replant in a fresh position any perennial flowering plants which have liecome overgrown. Plant cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce plants. Place seed potatoes in shallow boxes ina light, dry position to sprout. Protect the boxes at night from frost. Give asparagus beds a dressing ot nitrate of soda at the rate of one ounce per square yard. Sow broad beans. Make a sowing of early dwarf pea-s in a sunny position sheltered from cold and boisterous winds. Sow carrot, lettuce, radish, spinach, and turnip if the soil he in a suitable condition. Sow seeds of hardy annual flowering plants under glass. Sow under glass cucumber. Cape gooseberry, and tomato seeds.