TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19508, 11 December 1926, Page 5 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Clematis," Kaikohe.—Re best time to take up and transplant the native clematis (Clematis indiva) that are growing wild in the scrub: Autumn is the best time. The smaller plants will transplant better than the large ones. Dig them up with as much of the roots intact as possible. They may be cut back to within a few feet from the roots. With reasonable care in the lifting they may be transplanted with safety,

A.S.H.B, —Allowing dudes the run of the garden at night and during the early morning is certainly an effective means of getting rid of snails and slugs, but from the writer's experience the ducks will devour tasty young lettuces and members of the brassica family. Young ducks are less harmful than old. D.M.C.. Arapuni.—Regarding comprehensive treatise upon culture of potatoes and cabbages for profit, any reliable book on vegetable gardening will give you the required information. Local conditions, notably proper time to plant potatoes to avoid frosts, is most important. You should be able to obtain this information in the district.

_ " Thelma,'' Taranaki.—From your description of the disease that has affected your lilies and the appearance of leaf forwarded showing small yellow blotches, eelworm is most likely the cause, being the same insignificant insect that is «o destructive to the, narcissus family. Lilies arei difficult to treat for this pest. Submitting the bulbs to the hot-water treatment would be too severe a remedy. When they are quite dormant, lift the bulbs, shake off all the soil at the base, and dip in a solution oi formaline. Failing this, thoroughly clean the bulbs, and after keeping them for two or three weeks replant them in new soil that is free from the eeiworms.

" Rosa," Mount Albert.—Three good pillar rosea are:—Mrs. Aaron Ward, Indian yellow, free and continuous flowerer, one of the very best: Paul's Scarlet Climber, vivid scarlet-crimson (does not fade); and Lady Gwen Colvin, apricot-salmon-shaded chromeyellow and carmine. Plant in clumps, three plants to each, in the mixed border. These pillar roses are most attractive. Lady Maureen Stewart is one of the best dwarfgrowing, dark-red roses and is delightfully perfumed. - Lady Hillingdon is the best yellow tea rose. It is always reliable.

G.T., Bemuera.—Thunbergia Gisbonii is the name of the Golden Glory vine. It is a native of tropical Africa, but, growing at a high elevation, where the nights are cool, it is sufficiently hardy to succeed hers. It is one of the moßt. distinct climbing plants of recent introduction and is a decided acquisition. The flowers are of a deep orange colour and borne in great profusion. It is .well adapted for rock w'ort and covering old tree stumps. The writer is unable to say if plants of this climber are to be obtained here. " Inquirer," Herne Bay.—Castanospermum Australe is the name of tree that you have noticed growing _ in the Sydney Bctanicai Gardens. It is commonly called the Moreton Bay chestnut and is limited to one species. The palm that you describe with fan-shaped leaves, and instead of a single stem is surrounded with numerous offsets, is one of the charmerops, either humilis or macrocarpa, a very hardy variety. " Arborish," City,—Catalpas thrive well here, provided they are planted in fairly sheltered situations. Although deciduous and very hardy, they are affected in positions that are fully exposed to our westerly winds. Experimental plantations of catalpas hero for timber purposes were a saiiunj. Kepos.