TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Ptgreketu Valley.—Name of native plants are:— No. 1, Dianella intermedia (also a, native of Norfolk Island, etc.); 2, Pimelia prostrata, a small prostrate spreading species common in many places; :i, Gaultheria antipodu, the snowberry; 4. Lyccpodiuni densum, the pine-like club-moss. " Hedge,," lit. Roskill.—Escallonia ingraniii is the most suitable for your purpose. 'lt may be allowed to grow to a height of from sit. to Gft. Requires only one annual cropping and is very hardy, closegrowing- and ornamental. Early in June is the best time to plant. Arrange the plants loin, apart. It is very difficult to select a hedge plant with which cattle will not interfeie. Holly would suit in this respect but is too slow a grower and is subject to scale. " Fig Tree," Alt. Eden.-—Fig to hand in a very bruised Btute. It is probably the variety called Brown Turkey, a very good and reliable cropper. White Adriatic is the best tig for your district provided partial shelter is provided. H.E.6., Taurangft.—Specimen to. be named is Malvaviscus arboreus, a native of the West Indies. Flowers are scarlet, of spreading habit of growth. Mixed in the hedgo row it has an ornamental effect. Bears clipping well. It belongs to the order malvaceae. " Rarawa," Onehunga.—No. 1: Dacrydium cupressinum, the rimu, one of the most graceful and ornamental qt all conifers; will grow well in your soil; plant in a sheltered position. No. '2 iB the native tanakaha (phyllocladua tnchomanoides), also suitable and very ornamental.. No. It is cyathodes acerosa. the mingimingi; not a desirable slyub for a small place. " Critic," Eden.—Lupins belong to the leguminosae family, and like pens are .partial to limo. which is best applied to the soil two or three months prior to sowing the seeds, or at the time digging the lupins in. Super or basic slag may be freely applied when preparing the soil for sowing lupins.

F.G.H V Pirongia.—Names of plants are:— No. 1: Hypericum androsaemum, the common tutsan, one of the St. John's worts that has become very common. No. 2: Erigeron canadensis, a very plentiful weed, common on roadsides. D.AI.G., Anawai.—Leaves of sweet peau aro affected with the yellow streak fungus and also show signs of mildew. There is no effective remedy for the yellows. Tho mildew is common at this late season. Pull up and burn all the plants and sow new season's batch in new ground that has been well limed. Zinnias in many places have been attacked with a- species of fungus; too Into to effectually treat them. In previous years zinnias have been free from leaf diseases. " Gardner." Gisborne.—The acacia genus is ono of the largest, containing over 400 species, making it difficult to accurately name any excepting those varieties that aro generally grown. 'Specimen sent closely resembles tho variety verticillata, a New Holland native. " Summer Pruning, Opotiki.—Winter pruning stimulates vigorous growth rather than Iruit production, and is of special or essential value in shaping young trees and in resuscitating growth in old trees that lack vigour. In dealing with healthy, wellshaped trees which have developed a good system, only sparse annual winter primings aro required. Summer pruning checks vigorous shoots that interfere with tho symmetry or balance of tho tree by outgrowing tho weaker outs, and is of value in removing some of the shoots to admit of more sunlight and allow of the better development of the lateral fruit-bearing growths. Trees that produce fruits on the short side brunches may be summer pruned with a view to producing blossom buds on those spurs. Summer pruning must be done at. a stage when u.e growth is maturing after mid-summer. Tho gradually or slowlyflowering sap produces fruit buds, but if the pruning is performed too early in the summer new shoots aro the result. Any growths that have out-distanced the others should bo cut back earlier to allow a more uniform distribution of sap and not rob tho weaker shoots. In treating apple trees , that have been winter-pruned and have made very strong upright shoots, break these shoots over, allowing them to hang down without completely detaching them. By this system the sap in the broken portion gradually returns and plumps up the buds below the break. This treatment IS effective with the Northern Spy. Summer pruning is chiefly applied io peaches, apncots and nectarines that bear fruil upon tho young previous year's wood. Jo give illustrations such as you suggest would be difficult and would not be of great assist"iLTl.H., llikurangi.—The white blight on grass appears to be a species of mealey bug. To kill the scale that is bo injurious and detracts from the appearance of our native cabbage trees drastic treatment is required. Tho caustic sodi. alkali solutiou should be the most effective. M.A.8., lluntly.—The flowers to identify aro the pyrethrum parthenium. a native of Europe. The dried leaves and flower heads are used ns a powder. In the fresh state they are made into a tea by pouring one .mart of boiling wr.ter upon a handful of the green leaves and flowers. It is a valuable tonic. The insect powder sold ps Persian and Diilmation is the product of another variety of pyrethrum. Kepos.