CULTURE OF CANNAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

CULTURE OF CANNAS.

ANNUAL LIFTING BENEFICIAL

Cannns givo the (lower gnrden an untidy appearance if left in tho beds and borders during the winter months. On that ac count they should bo taken up annually and divided, saving sufficient for tho nost season's requirements and discarding the remainder. Cannas impart a very beautiful and tropical aspect to the gar den by their stately growth and massive foliage of various shades of green and coppery bronzo surmounted by spikes of gorgeous (lowers, in various colours, pro duccd on immense trusses lhe now dwarf, large flowered cannas arc a great advance upon tho older sorts, being of much more compact and floriferous habit. Tho foliago, too, is very distinctive ('annas, require a fairly well-sheUorod locality and show to best advantage judiciously arranged In groups or in sopnrato beds. They aro ot the easiest cultivation but aro benefited by a change of soil annually or if tho old soil is well enriched with inanuro. In addition to their suitability for planting in the open ground, the dwarf-growing varieties nrn splendidly adapted for pot and tub culture.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

E.D.. Morrinsville. —Nnmo of shrub with small leaves is Olea sativo (European olive). Tho other is Olearia Postern, which is grown for ornamental and shelter hedges. There is still time to propagate several varieties of shrubs from cuttings.

J. 8., Onehungft.—lt will bo quite oil right to dig in the lupins now 3ft high, spreading them along each trench Plant the potatoes 4in apart, scattering n little boncdust and superphosphate, in euual parts, along tlio rows.

13. J. 15.. Clevedou. —Tbo following is a con ciso list of shrubs that may bo easily grow)?from seeds: —Acacias of all varieties, abutilons of sorts, barberries of sorts, Aralia Sieboldii. Cassias capensis and othors, Clianthus puniceus, crythrinas, genista of sorts, polygalas, rhaphiolepia, Rhus auccedanea. Schinus mollc (pepper), sevainnoniaa. cistus varieties, cullistcmons. heliotrope. Acmena tloribunda. and lien thanien fragifera Sow ripe seeds shortly after {fathering them in pots, seed frays, or in tlio open ground in a .prepared bed. " Wondering," St Ueliors.—Ho culti-

vation of Argentine sweet peas: Sow seeds in pots or seed trays without soaking them Plant the ecedlinga out when about P.,n high Autumn sown seeds should be eady tc transplant into their permanent quarters now Old plants resent anything but slight trimmings Renewals are necessary to keep up a succession of flowering plants

"Ignorance." Pakaraka. —Cabbage leaves are affected with a black rot. a bacterial disease, for which there is no effective cure Pull up and burn the diseased plants.

" Winsome, Waitanguru. —Leaves to identify belong to Verbascum thansus, a variety of mullein It iB an herbaceous biennial, a native ot Europe (Britain) It is locnlly called Aaron's rod, blanket itaf, Jacob's staff, torches, etc. It spreads from the numerous seedH that the spikes produce, and in soma soils becomes a weed, especially in volcanic and hilly localities. It it easily kept in check by not allowing the seeds to ripen

" Manures. Dannevirke.—Turt trom eld crass pasture is rich in humus, more or !e6s according to the quality of the soil iitid award It gradually decays, adds moisture to tho soil, and produces tho best tesult in the second year. Adding lime decomposes the turt quickly and renders it easily assimilable by plants Wood ashes mo rich in potash and are valuable for plantß requiring that element. You can dig in ummal or organic manures and apply wood aehes as a top-dressing Super can bo applied at almost any Beason. but prefer ence should be given to its use in lhe Bpring Never mix baßic slug with super or -sulphate of ammonia, or super with nitrato of soda or nitrato of lime. Kainit can be mixed with basic slug and applied at tho snmo time. Nitrato of soda should bo applied separately in small doses to growing plants during tho spring at intervals of Ironi two -weeks or nioro. according to circumstances Never uso more Minn lewt. per acre at n timo. Kaimt is tho cheapest and most economical form of potash to use. Sulphate of ammonia can t-o mixed with super and any acid manures. Bone flour or dust, mixed with superphosphate in equal quantities with a litllo sulphate of ammonia, is a valuable fertiliser. Blood and bone is better applied separately. For onionß soot is a complete manure. A good mixturo as a top-dressing consists of 61b. super, 31b. kaimt, and bib. nitrate, the latter in three applications. Cabbages dearly love dung with a topdressing of kainit and a littio super axiu ; frequent small doses of nitrato of soda.

" Silverton. Birkdalo.—in growing teas during tho wet winter months there is always a risk of tho stems and leaves turning black. Unless they are slaked to keop them oft the ground, there is not much hope of preventing the species of mildew even by spraying. Spraying with Borddeaux mixturo, the 4-4-40 formula, oi limo sulphur, starting when the plant? are quito young, or freely dusting with sulphur, ib the only feasible preventive. lricy pio not worth tho risk of growing out of season.

C.J.W'.. Pukekohe.-Correct manuring fcr CupresßUS Lawsoniana, euealypta, tree lucerne, wistarias, Daphno rubra and Capo gooseberries is bonedust steamed, and tor actinidid. fejoa and persimmons equal parts of boneflour and blood and bone. r>ow tree lucerne seed early in October and eonk tho seed in hot water for 12 hours. A heavy dressing of roach or quicklime will rid tho ground of sorrel

C.C.8., Silverdalo.—l, Name ot iris is filifolia, a native of Spain, and very similar in its growth to tingitana, but much longer ill its folia. To make it flower, treat the same as tingitana 2. Re geraniums being unhealthy, with very small leaves and with stems showing decay; Better do away with them and start a new Btock Treating the Boil with White Island product should destroy fungoid germs.

" Enquirer. '—Name ol shrub to identify is Escallonia Ingranii, a valuable ornamental. evergreen, hedgo plant, of hnrdy dense growth It is easily trimmed and cultivated. It is named in honour of Escalon, & Spanish tra.vellci\ who found the first apcciea of this genus in New Granada.

" Shamrock,' Foatherston.—The writer Knows of no climbing plant the botanical name of breslini. Kindly send a twig or leaf. To start eleagnus into growth, dig or strip on each side and apply a dressing n{ blood and bono manure. „ Kepos