TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" Camellia," Takapuna.—Names of upecimens to identify, with mode of propagation, are:—l. Hcemanthus, increased by bulb offsets. 2. Dolichos lignosus alba; seeds. 3. Genista canadensis; seeds and cuttings. 4. Viburnum Sieboldii; cuttings. 5. Solandra grandiflora; cuttings. 6. Nerium splcndens; layers and cuttings. 7. 100 withered to identify. 8. Podalyria; seeds. 9. Magnolia fuscata; layers. 10. Brachysema lanceolatum; cuttings. 1. Acmena floribunda; seeds. 12. Rhaphiolepis ovata; seeds. 13. Lonicera flexnosa; cuttings and seeds. 14. Dombeya mastessii; cuttings and layers. No. G (nerium) is badly infested with scale insects. Spraying with the caustic soda-alkali solution or with black leaf 40 will cleanse the bush of these insects and also aphides, which attack the tips of the branches. M.E., Otakiri., Bay of Plenty.—'To save strawberry plants that are affected with the grass grub, apply the bisulphide of carbon as recommended in answer to "Subscriber, Levin. " Umutoi," Apiti.— I The name " ti-tree" is erroneously applied to the common manuaa (Leptospermum scoparium), or tea-tree, cot "ti;" also to the large white tree, teatree (Leptospermum erecoides). l'here are Quite a number of varieties of leptospermums, notably -Chapmanii Nichollsii, a double-flowered white Ti-tree refers to the cordyline family. For example, Cordy line indivisa, the broad-leaved cabbage tree; Cordyline Australis, the common cabbage tree: also to the miniature cabbage tres Cordyline pumilio, or ti-rauriki of the Maoris. " Amateur," Buckland.—The failure of strong, healthy broad beans, flowering profusely, to set pods is caused by bumble bees inserting or piercing the flowers with their proboscis and destroying pollenation. Cover the rows with light scrim to prevent access by the bees. " BTassica,"' Parnell. Cabbages are hungry plants and are greatly benefited by a liberal amount of nitrate of soda in small fortnightly doses. " Little and often" is the maxim in the use of this stimulant. " Azalea," Matamata.—Nos. 1 and 2 belong to the Azalea indica or Indian section. No 3 is Azalea ama>na, a native of China. A number of very beautiful hybrids have been obtained by crossing this species with A indica. No. 4 specimen is Choisya ternata, the Mexican orange blossom a very beautiful, hardy, evergreen shrub. It is easily propagated by cuttings and layering. " Doubtfml," Silverstream."—The email round seeds belong to the sweet pea family. The very hard-shelled seeds evidently belong to some deciduous tree or shrub. J.A.W., Cambridge.—The unhealthy appearance of the pepper tree is the result of the past cold, wet winter and not to any form of disease. It will break into healthy, new growth as the season advances The flower to identify is Prunus pseudooerasuß pendula, the Japanese weeping, flowering cherry.

" Subscriber," Levin.—To effectually deal with grass grub on lawn, apply carbon bisulphide. Dig email holes Bin. to 10in. deep at regular distances of from 2£t. to 3ft. apart, cover the whole surface, and pour 2oz. of the liquid bisulphide into each hole; then carefully close up the holes with earth. The vapour permeates the soil and destroys all insect and parasitic life. It ia highly inflammable and must be carefully handled. No light or heated metal must be allowed to come m contact with the vapdur or a conflagration may result. A liberal dressing of quicklime, two tons to the acre, will greatly check the ravages of the grass grub, Heavily rolling the surface is also recommended. Bowling greens that are frequently rolled are fairly free from the grub. " Hori," Hawera.—Much depends upon the variety of potato. Some kinds have a tendency to throw out long, straggling roots, with small potatoes at the ends, several appearing near the eurfa.ee. Growing potatoes in the game ground for more than two years in succession should _ be avoided. Too liberal use of lime on light soil is not recommended. To sum vp, obtain fresh seed of a kind that produces its tubers closely together, and as a fertiliser use slb. super, 21b sulphate of ammonia, and 3lb. of kainit or potash rer 40 square yards, or 3oz. of the mixture per yard of each row. A little bonedust may also bo added. The potatoes may be planted as the _ digging proceeds. Insert the sets about sin. deep. Allowing poultry to run over the newly-dug soil will reduce woodlice and other insects. " Dianthus," Epsom. _ Superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia may be liberally applied to carnations at this season as a top-dressing, but carefully avoid letting any,* fall upon the leaves. Super, <toz., and sulphate of ammonia, 2oz„ constitute ft liberal dressing per square yard, tor cabbages and other members of the brassica familv, farmyard or stable manure is ideal. A liberal amount of nitrate of soda in repeated doses every 10 days will be found most effective. _ Kepos.