ASPARAGUS CULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

ASPARAGUS CULTURE.

ENSURE STRONG ROOT ACTION Asparagus beds that liave been liberally supplied with manure and have received proper attention, are now rapidly developing their crops. It is during the growing season that care must bo executed in cutting. The tendency too often, especially where the supply is limited, is to cut strong shoots as soon as they are well above ground, trusting to any weaker shoots that come up later in the season to carry on root action. It must be borne in mind that under such hard cutting the roots are weakened.. By allowing only small, weak shoots to grow there is insufficient encouragement for strong, vigorous root growth. To secure a good annual crop year by year, a few strong shoots should bo allowed to grow unchecked from each crown, in order to encourage the formation of new roots, and a new set of buds for next season's crops. Too many shoots are by no means an advantage though, and it is better to thin out some of the weaker ones than to deprive the plants of all the stronger shoots. These need not be left at the commencement of the cutting, but should be kept cut until the strength of the shoots begins to decline. ATTENTION TO HEDGES. The clipping of evergreen hedges should, m every instance, be delayed until the young spring growth is more matured. The frequent cutting of tecoma hedges is accountable for the premature dying of the plants. The leaves are the lungs, and continual cutting of the young shoots and portions of the foliage saps the vitality of the plants. TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Quid," Te Kopuru.—Name of specimen to identify is Ulmus suberosa, the corkbarked elm. It grows into a large, spreading tree. According to Hooker, it is a form of the common elm (Ulmus compestris). " Nectarine," Tauranga. leaves are affected with curl. The trees should have been sprayed as the, buds were swelling in the spring with a strong solution of Bordeaux. Spray at once with soluble sulphur, lib. to 10 gallons of water. The affected leaves will fall off.

A.V., Akaroa. —The sooty-black appearance on orange tree is caused by prevalence of scale insects. The best remedy is to spray with the caustic soda-alkali solution, prepared as follows:—To make 10 gallons, obtain 2lb. c.f caustic soda, place in a benzine tin partly filled with water, ttir until dissolved, and dilate to 10 gallons. Next dissolve lOoz. of Boft soap in a little boiling water and when quite dissolved pour into the 10-gallon solution. Always add the soap last. Well stir, and it is ready to use. Adding lib. of carbonate of potash makes it more effective in killing eggs o.f red spider, etc. If orange tree is clothed in new spring growth, use only lib. of caustic soda, lOoz. of soft soap, and lib. of carbonate of potash. " Awainoa," Oamaru.—Re treatment of three-year-old tree of yellow magnum bonurn plum that is accumulating a mossy growth on its branches, with the bark scaling and falling off: Lime-washing the trunk and branches or using the caustic soda-alkali solution, half' strength, is about the best treatment. For a young tree to be so affected suggests something wrong at the roots, consequently its recovery is doubtful. " Seafront." —Prunus pissardi plums grow well close to the sea, excepting for occasional gales, which affect the trees. Suitable trees and shrubs for sea coast include Metroeideros tomentosa (pohutukawa), Corynocarpus laevigata (karaka), Sophora tetraptera (yellow kowhai), Pittosporums crassifolium and eugenioides, alecuo3iuias, Cupressus macrocarpa, Pinus baiepenßis and niaritima, melicytus (the mahae), Brachyglottis repanda (the rangiora), Meryta Sinclairii (puka), Tamarix gallica, poplars, willows, Sapota costata, Ligustrum sinensis, _ and lagunaria. Smaller-growinp shrubs include veronicas, escallonias o:: sorts, Griselinia lucida, Polysala gx-andis, bamboos, coprosmas, enonymus, hydrangeas, loniceras or honeysuckles, olearias, senecio, Quercus ilex (evergreen oak tree), raphiolepis, guccas, Rharanus alaternus, oleanders, pampas grass, and several others. " Pod," Remuera.—The malformed, podshaped or mummified fruits of Burbank and Sultan plums are caused bj; a species of fungus. Spraying the trees in winter with the Bordeaux mixture, 6-4-40 formula, would have prevented this malformation. To prevent the spread of tho disease, spray at once with soluble sulphur, lib. to 10 gallons of water, or pick off and destroy all the affected fruits. " Tuberous," Mangatapu.—Much depends upon the age of the seed of tuberousrooted begonias as to time of germination. Fresh seeds should come up in 14 days after sowing. The pot or pan in which the seed is sown should be covered with a pane of glaßs, with a little mos3 covering to provide shade until the seeds germinate. " Curious," Mount Eden.—Name cf climbing plant with handsome evergreen foliage is Stauntonia hexaphylla. This plant bears edible fruits. The yellow spots on tho hollyhock leaves are caused by a species of fungus, commonly called the hollyhock fungus. The only treatment is to spray with Bordeaux mixture. This disease is most troublesome and has been the subject of much investigation and research in Britain. KEro3.