TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" Hedge," Dargaville.—E'rom tho middle of Juno to tho middle of August is tho proper time to trim macrocarpa hedges. Young hedges of black wattlo (Acacia docurrens) should be pruned prior to .the spring growth. Albizzia lophantha should also be pruned in early spring and ngain during tho summer if necessary. " Anxious." Pupakura. Unseasonable planting, with continuous wet, is tho chiet cause of your fetocka wilting and rotting at tho roots. A liberal dressing of lime and sulphur lightly worked into tho surface soil prior to planting assists in controlling tho collar rot that attacks stocks, asterß nud other seedlings. White Island product r.n. 1, applied to the foil 20 days before planting;, ia sairi to bo efloctivc in destroying dnmping-oU organisms. C.M., Ellerslie.—Echcverias that havo been badly affected with frost may possibly emit shoots from tho stems, but aro riot, worth leaving, as they will take too long to make satisfactory plants. The safest plan is to tnlcc them up early in the winter to save them from occasional severe froßts,

T.E.D., Nelson.—Madiola multiflda, .or orange mallow, is tlio name of the creeping weed sent to identify. It is a native of North America. It becomes troublesome in lawns nnd other grass plots. The best way to erodicato it is to hoe or draw it up with u rake. It is surface-rootinj; and seeds freel/, but is easily controlled it kept from seeding.

W„ Edendalo.—The severe frost experienced recently is most likely tho cause of tho youug shoots of your two lemon trees turning brown nud shrivelling. No remedy is necessary. Cut off the affected tips. Iho trees will break into fresh growth again

" Manures," Hamilton.—Re best artificial manures for roses intended for the production of flowers for exhibiting: When the young shoots start after tliQ pruning apply '2lb. to 31b. of sulphate of ammonia and 3!l>. of super pur JO square yards as a surface dressing. During the flowering season nitrate and sulphate of potash arc potent nnd quick-acting stimulants either as a. ton-dressing or in liquid form. As a liquid npply )oi. each of nitrnto of potash and phosphate of potash to the gallon of water. During the winter tho surface of the rose bed should receive a dressing of basic slag or basic super at tho rale of lib. to 2lb. per square yard

" Kiwi," Morrinsville.—Fireblight is easily rccognisod l>y the young shoots and also the spurs on tho trees turning black. An 00.-o of sap is sometimes detected at tho base, of tho trouble. Tho only remedy is to cut olf and burn all affected portions, taking care to cut below the diseased parts.

Garden friend," Mitngero.—lte treatment of tuberous begonias expected to arrive from England in October: Plant tho tubers in shallow plant trays, arranging them about 2in. apart. :n a compost of fibrous lnum rnd leaf mould with an admixture of sand. After they havo started to mako roots nnd leaves pot them into •tin. pots in ordinary potting soil. If intended for bedding out in the open ground, plnco the tubers from 2{in. to 3il). anart in tho traya and allow thorn to make Sin. or <•' -••owtli before planting out early in December. F.S., Parnell.—Twi! pounds of caustic soda, to 10 gallons of water is the correct winter formula for fruit and other deciduous trees nnd shrubs, with 100 z, srfft soap added. Use half or les3 of the caustic soda for summer applications, when, the trees and shrubs are in leaf. An ideal winter sprav specially recommended by oxport orchardists consists of 2lb. of caustic soda and ono gallon of led oil to 100 gallons of water.

" Correspondent."—Tho. cases attached to twigs sent for identification contain eggs tho praying mantis, a friendly insect that should be carefully preserved and not destroyed, as this mantis preys upon flies and ninny other insects. " Amateur," New Lynn.—Tangitnna irises arc most erratic in their habit of flowering. The bulbs you planted may havo been too rranll. In a Remuera privato garden there is a splendid display of these irises in full flower. In some clumps every ph'nl is ill flower Tho bulbs wero properly dried off When you take yours up. place them on an iron roof fully exposed.

W.J.D.. Christchurch.—Bumbusa aurea should bo sufficiently hardy to withstand your climate. It makes a very beautiful, close-growing hedge and does not sucker, as do most of the varieties. Bnmbusa vulgaris slnnds a considerable amount of frost when established, but may not be hardy enough for very frosty districts. It would succeed in summer. This variety is also :i 11011Huckerer. but gradually increases from the numerous shoots from tho base. Kepos.