PALMS AND SCALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

PALMS AND SCALES.

Palms cultivated in pots are liable to be attacked by scale insects. These pests fasten on the leaves as well as the stems, and the presence of them often escapes notico until a deal of injury has been done. Even %vhen the foliage is dusted and sponged occasionally they settle and become thoroughly established. Deposits of white material on tho stems are the covering used by the pests for their protection. Underneath this the insects euck the sap out of the tissues and deprive the plants of sustenance. An easily-made and effective mixture against scale on palms and other broad-leaved plants in pots (says an exchange), and one which some readers may like to try, is a mixture of starch and kerosene. Dissolve a tablespoonful of starch in sufficient hot water to mako ifc the thickness of milk, and add a teaspoonful of kerosene to the pint. Stir this thoroughly, and spray while warm, not hot, over the leaves, or put it on with a soft cloth or sponge. It will kill the insects, and in a few days can be washed off along with the dead insects, by spraying with clean, cold water, or, if left, ifc will gradually crack off. Flour can be used instead of starch, but the ■ |atWi d,

and the bark can bo easily raised for the insertion of the bud- No matter ' what the variety or size of the stock, the above conditions are essential to ensure success. In this matter the trees often vary ccn- I siderably, for, while large fruit-bearing trees often cease to make satisfactory J growth fairly early in the season, younger j and more vigorous trees continue to grow and are in a condition for budding much later. While young stock of apples, j pears, peaches, etc., especially for budding, can often be successfully worked until well into April. Any trees that have already been budded should be carefully examined, as any that have failed may yet be rebudded. _ The recent heavy rains are almost certain to result in the reaction of the sap and to allow of the trees to be successfully worked. I ADVANTAGES OF THE PHACTICE. The advantage of budding is that the work is performed just at the time when the fruit is in season. It is at tliis» time, when the qualities of the fruit and their fruiting capabilities are fresh in the minds of the growers, that few mistakes are likely to bo made as to their adaptabilities to the requirements of the growers. ■ Another advantage, as frequently mentioned, is that with peach, nectarine, etc., other varieties will take readily and succeed well, and such varieties, for instance, as many of the Japanese plums, as well as several kinds of European plums, grow well and fruit abundantly upon these stocks. New fruit, too, can be quickly tested when worked upon healthy, wellestablished trees. So long as a tree is healthy, budding at the right time with the varieties to be tested will produce fruit much more quickly than newlyplanted young trees, providing the trees receivo reasonable treatment.