SPRAYING

Northern Advocate, 22 June 1937, Page 2

SPRAYING

||| (By Miss K. Pickxnere). Tena Koutou! all members of the 7- SWeet Pea Glub, By now most of you; will have transplanted your sturdy 7. little plants to their permanent quarters. You will probably And that from now; on until the warmer weather comes, your plants will, not grow very much, hut don’t neglect them because fiat that, or one or other of the Garden Pests will take them. There is an old that “plants will .grow for those who love them.” 1 . You know, don’t : you. that this really means that people who love plants will' look after them i and help them to grow and flower. A few years ago there lived in Auckland i . a gentleman who was famous as a ii > meteorologist and as a gardener, too. (His name was Clement Wragg. Your % parents will be able to tell you more about him); He said he bad some niagic words which he used whenever s he . planted anything, and which >7 always brought success. They were simply, “God bless you. Grow!” But, I think, don’t you, that he must have given his plants a great deal of care ■ -and attention besides? &■ Now Mrs Logan has given you a * full account of the pests that attack r- sweet peas, and I hope you are on the % look-out for them all. Frequent dressings from now on, of lime, of soot and ;; of wood-ashes will all help to keep your plants healthy. The lime may be dusted onto the plants but the soot and wood-ash should not touch them. 7v It is more often in the warm

weather that the fungoid and insect ■ pestis appear. The chief of these is thrip, a tiny insect that attacks the plants, turning the leaves a whitish colour. We can fight these pests with spraying, however, and for this pur- . pose I recommend the following three •sprays. " I.—Lime sulphur solution. (Mix one part to fifty of water). I think you should ask your parents or your teach- • 7 er.s to help you with this. 7: • 2.-r-A weak solution of soap suds, to which lime sulphur may be added (one part to fifty).. -

S.-rPermanganate of Potash (Condy’s Crystals). This is perhaps the best spray, as. it kills fungus, provides potash for the plant, and makes* the leaves very unattractive to the biting insects, beetles, etc. Use very weak. The solution should be pale* pinkish in Colour. ' There are several other sprays that cbuld be used, but I recommend these three as they are hot poisonous and arje effective. Remember when you are spraying* that your sweet, peas have delicate foliage and be gentle with them. Take 'care,.not to make too strong a mixliure, or you will do more harm than good.

In conclusion I would like to tell you that while many recommend spraying, some of Whangarei’s most experienced growers do not spray at all, and yet are very successful. For those of you who are unable to procure sprays I would suggest that you should dust your plants every week with Flowers of Sulphur. Do so on a sunny morning; while the dew is still Oh the plants, for the sulphur requires moisture and warmth to release its fighting qualities. And now, sweet pea enthusiasts, Kia Koa wish you joyv