TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" Correspondent."—The tendril and leaf of climbing plant carefully packed in cardboard box is the New Zealnnd passion flower (l'assiflora tetrandra), a free-flowering climber producing showy orange-coloured fruits. It ia quite hardy and easily grown. "Gardener," Ohakune.—Ro treatment of tulips that have produced such beautiful flowers: Wlion tho foliage lias dried off, lift tho bulbs and transfer them—without allowing them to remain exposed to tho sun—by placing them ill a pot or box in a collar or other cool plate. A little dry sand may be mixed with them. They will keep until the proper timo for replanting in ordinary garden soil, about tho middlo of March. " Curious," Groymouth.—-Tho plnnt is tho Eucalyptus ficifoliu, tho scarlet gum. Some of the leaves turn brown and wither unaccountably. Your bettor plan will bo to cut off tho tops that aro affected, as you suy the lower portion is green and fresh. W.L., Hamilton.—l havo received your description of tho disease that attacks your Mamie .Ross peaches, when, about tho size of walnuts, and stops their growth nnd gradually turns them black and hard and causes tiiem to remain on tho trees until the following season Spray with Bordeaux mixture when the buds are swelling in the spring. Spray now with soluble sulphur, lib to 10 gallons of water. Repeat this at fortnightly intervals until tho fruits bogin to ripen. For peach trees apply basic slag in the autumn, followed by a small dose of "super" in the spring. This is (lie best method of supplying tho trees with phosphate. which all fruit trees in bearing should receive every year, Sonic growers apply a dressing of nitrate of soda, lewt. per acre, just before the blossoms open.

S.A.T.. Mangonui.—Tho name of the shrub illustrated in tho Christmas number of the Weekly News by a branch on Mr. Pycroft's arm is Cordyline terminalis, a nativo of the Kermadecs (Sunday Island), and also a nutivo of the north of New Zealand, previously grown by the Maoris in tho Ray of Islands, but now almost exfinct there. It is a very graceful and easily-grown shrub, hearing (looping panicles of flowers. The shrubs growing at Ahipara in the scrub are evidently some of the original natives. T.J.M.. Fareketu Valley.—The specimen wrapped in sphagnum moss is a leafless parasitic herb called Orobauche minor, that attaches itself to the roots of several garden plants, notably sweet noas. nnd also on clover, and strangles tli« plants upon which it clings. It is becoming very prevalent in many gardens and other places. As soon as it makes its appearance on any plants pull before it has time to flowet and seed. Several of the species are agricultural pests. " Amateur," Halcombe.—'The 'disease that attacks the onions is a species of fungus belonging to the genus odium or mildew. The only preventive is to spray with Bordeaux mixture, the •1-4-10 formula, or with soluble sulphur, which must bo applied before the mildew takes hold. Dusting with fine-powdered sulphur when the

leave"! are wet with dew is al«o recommended. " D. McM.," P&rakai,—The male flowers of the Japanese walnut Juslans Sioboldii are produced in oatkinu; the female (lowers in terminal droppu'K clnstors, as 111 the specimen enclosed in ycur letter. I hey pollenato and fruit abundantly. The tree from which the female flower is taken should fruit this season, The trees are, of easy cultivation and 'very prolific, producing their fruit in pendant bunches. W.P., Takapuna.— I The wintor is the proper time to cut Cuprcssus macrocarpa, and not at this season, when the new growth has started.' It will stand a lot of cutting if done when the growth is quite dormant. Large limbs may bo cut off and they will restart into good growth. The small white eye birds are on the lookout for insects ami are not injurious to Die flowers of fruit trees. Later they nro injurious to grapes when getting, ripe, as they peck into and spoil so many ot the berries.

To Arolia.--Affected shunts of Gentians, acaulifl (blue gentian) to hand. It is hard to say what has caused them to turn yellow ancr fall off when handled. Woodlice may have caused the injury. lo prevent them from attacking tho plant, break up a few moth balls and scatter mound the plants. They will keen wemdlio.c off. A light layer of 'fine metal chips on the surface around the plants, is beneficial. The seeds of Erythronimri sempervivum and nubrotias may be sown at once in seed pans or trays, When tho sentlings are large enough, prick them out. luto shallow plant trays io grow on. " Novice," Waipukurau.—lll preparing a new hod ot a permanent character for asparagus efficient drainage is essential. This is best affected by placing a layer of medium scoria or brick rubbish over the whole of the bottom. connecting it with a drain to carry any water away. Dig tho soil out (lie width and length of the bed to a depth of JSin. This will allow a covering of Jin. of scoria or brick rubbish over the bottom and give a depth of Mill above for prepared soil, consisting of good fairly light loinn, with a libera quantity of river or seashore sand. A little roau sweepings or other gritty material may bo added. After the bed has been prepared and allowed time to settle, dig into the surface a liberal dressing of well-rotted manure and the bed will be ready to receive tho plants next winter. lwo-year-old healthy roots are preferable to three years old. Iti roizurd to the bed that yon are cutting from, (he sonkagft from the rising ground and several dressings of salt and nitrate of soda, and also mulchings of decayed hay and lawn clippings, has kept the soil too wot and caused the surface to become hard and to crack. 1° ' IC 'P to remedy this condition, apply a liberal dressing of river or sea sand. A little quicklime may also be ffiven. Asparagus requires a good soil, neither too heavy nor too light. Discontinue cutting about the <ust week in December in order (o allow (he plants sufficient (op growth to properly sustain tho loots for the succeeding year. As soon as the foliage turns yellow late 111 tln» autumn cut it oIT.

F.A., Remuera.— -Boussingaulta btisclloides is (he name of the tuberous-rooted climber of which you havo sent a tuber fication. It is very quick-growing m the summer and produces tubercles. It is a native of South America. It becomes a nuisance if not properly controlled. Kepos.