TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

M.A., Bemuera.—The name of dwarf* growing and exceedingly free-flowering shrub is Deutzia gracilis carminea, a soft rose with carmine reverse. H.W., Kihikihi.—Tho flowering twig is a variety of Tamarix gallica (tho tamerisk), or flowering cypress, an elegant-flowering shrub or small tree, with exceedingly graceful feathery green foliage. Tho variety plumosa is a very beautiful form.

D.S., Bemuera Road.—Tho abnormal or freak flower of anemone to hand with four flower heads 011 the 0110 stem. When the stem becomes flattened, such as in flower senf, instead of retaining a cylindrical form, it is known aa a fasciated flower. " Florist," Warkworth.—Tho gladiolus flower is probably a variety of Colvillei. The ro3e resembles Geo. Dickson. Several 9f the dark reds are so much alike that it is difficult to accurately name any particular variety from an undeveloped bud. " Ruru," Opotiki.—Tho fruit on slender branch is tho Japaneso Prunus inume. which is more useful as an ornamental winterflowering treo than for its fruiting qualities. Being a slow, slender-growing species, very little pruning is necessary. It will succeed under ordinary treatment and is best adapted for the mixed shrubbery. " Piha," Parnell.—The specimens are:— 1. Santalum Cunninghamii syn. fusanus, tho New Zealand sandalwood. It is a small tree, which flowers green in short axillary cymes. It i 3 a native of the North Island. It bears large red berries, which are very pretty. 2. Olearia furfuracea, the akepiro. 3. Senecio Ivirkii, the forest treogroundsel, a lovely-flowering shrub.

R.8.W., ilount Eden.—Tho old wistaria that flowers in such profusion every year is probably a grafted plant on a 11011 or sparse-flowering variety, consequently suckers from the roots would be several years beforo they began to blossom. Propagation by layering branches from tho flowering plant or by cuttings taken o/T early in the winter would be the most reliable method of reproducing flowering plants. H.P.E., Pokeno.—Exuberance of growth during the early summer is probably accountable for your passion-fruits not maturing properly until the spring. Withhold all nitrogenous manures, and apply as a liquid manure Joz. of phosphate of potash to the gallon of water. Basic slag, if applied early in tho winter, would have been beneficial. A surface dressing of lime is advisable. Also stop all leading shoots.

" Lily of the Valley," Raglan.—Tho Lily of the Valley not flowering, although the clump 3 are in an healthy condition, cannot be accounted for. When onco planted and established, the crowns keep increasing. The larger ones flower each year without any attention excepting a top-dressing of manure or rich soil in the autumn. Do not disturb the clumps. You should get flowers next season. The plants may not be yet sufficiently acclimatised. " Inquirer," Topuni.—The specimen bearing tall spikes of ornamental, yellow blossoms is Verbascum thapsus, commonly called mullein in England, and also flannel leaf and woolly mullein. The other creeping species is the Capo weed (Cryptostemina calendulacea), a very obnoxious weed ill pastures. It spreads rapidly from seeds and is difficult to kill, as tho plant keeps alive when' hoed up and matures it a seed. Neither are related to the ragwort.

E.E.L., Mount Maunganui.—Tho malformation causing tho bladder or mummifiedflattened plum fruits is caused by the fungoid disease, Exoascus pruni. Spray with the 8-G-40 formula of Bordeaux mixture ns iho flower buds are showing colour. It only attacks the Japanese varieties. Trees that have become stagnated and lack vigour and are overcrowded with blossoms aro liable to develop the bladder-like fruits. Pruning to encourage now growths and liberal manuring is recommended. W.G., Waipapakauri.—The insects in the tin are the small brown beetles that nro so destructive to rose bushes and somo other plants at this season. Tho name of the beetle is Odontria zeylanica. a New Zealand species. Spraying tho bushes with arsenate of lead paste is about the only effectual remedy, a tablespoonful to tho gallon of water. Shaking the beetles off into a receptacle will lessen their numbers. • They are usually very prevalent where native teatree abounds in closo proximity to the garden.

" English." Christeliurch.—Stachya betonica officinalis (the wood betony) t3 a native of Europe (Britain). This plant was formerly used in medicines. J do not know if it grows in New Zealand. The variety arvensis (tho field betony) is common in the North Island and is a bad garden weed in Wellington. Phytolacca decaudra (Virginia poke weed or red-ink plant is an introduced species. It is common in the volcanic areas around Auckland and is found in other parts of the North Island.

" Onions," Pali Koad.—'Tho cause of tho tops of seedling onions turning yellow when from Jin. to 2in. high would not bo fungus, but improper preparation of the beds in your light volcanic soil. Previous to preparing the drills for sowing tho seed, the ground should bo well trodden or rolled, and after sowing tho seeds tho whole surface should be again trodden and tho bed afterwards rolled. Tho basic slag would bo beneficial. With regard to fis treo covered with small fruits, do not pick any of them off. Any that do not mature will fall off naturally.

" Pohutukawa." Porangahau.—Tho daphne twigs are so thickly infested with a species of brown scale as to suck the life juices out of the plant, eventually killing it unless somo remedial measures are adopted. 'J ho writer has never previously seen daphnes badly attacked with any scale insects. Remedies aro twofold—natural and artificial. There is a white species of fuligua that surrounds the scale and closes the exit of tho young broods. This has proved very effective locally 011 scale-infested plants. Some insects, too. aro parasitic on the scale. Artificial remedies are numerous. Brushing over tho infected stems with Gishurst's compound or the caustic soda-alkali solution should be effective in treating daphne bush.

".Macrocarpa," To Hana.-Seeds of Cupressus macrocarpa may ho sown in shallow seed (rays or in thf> open ground in beds or rows. Sow the seeds thinly in well-pulverised Foil, and cover them lightly about one-quarter of an inch deep with fine earth. Afterwards cover the beds with brushwood or sacking. When the seeds begin to germinate and appear abovo the soil, remove the covering. f J he soil in the seedtrays should be kept to a genial moisture. Cover them with a sheet of paper and remove it when the seedlings appear above the ground. Sow n I once.

"Reader," Wairarapa.—'Tho tin with insects and beans that they have eaten into as they are germinating is to band. The insects are two forms of millipedes, tho minute black ones being the most destructive. They are difficult, to treat, without injury to seedlings or growing crops. Sprinkling soot and nitrate of soda, and also lime, allowing it. to wash in. and frequently stirring the soil, is recommended. Before sowing beans and peas, work in fresh lime along the drills and in tho drills, with a littio soot added. A liberal dressing of waste salt on ground not wanted for croppine and frequent stirring is effective. Carbon disulphide is tho most, effective remedy. Make small, round holes about Bin. deep and at intervals of about Oft;, apart. Pour loz. of the liquid down each hole and fill it with earth. Tho vapour permeates the soil and completely destroys all insect and parasitic life. Kepos.