TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A.H.J., Pokeno.—The peach is evidently a seedling from tho Triumph, an early yellow-fleshed peach of superior Sierit and flavour. Your eeedling is of luscious flavour, with a very Email stone, yellow flesh, and is well Worthy of naming and perpetuation. M.C., Taupo.—The leaf with flower bolongs to the sweet or Spanish chestnut, Castanea sativa, syn. vescn. The" gummy exudation on pinus insignia is caused by a species of scale. They will probably outgrow it. Grubbing-up or spraying with a weed-killer the seedling, brooms that are becoming plentiful is the best method of controlling nnd killing them. "Ngapuhi,' Paeroa.—lt is difficult to account for flowers and leaves of hydrangea ■'being so affected as the sample sent. As hydrangeas aro propagated so easily from cuttings,. the best plan-will be to root out and burn the bush and grow another from a cutting from a Lealthy plant. "}3lu6 Tree," -Pakaraka. —The name of the branch with the head of lovely mauveblue flowers is Jacaranda mimosaefolia. Plants can be obtained, from any nurseryman or seedsman. A.J.8., Rotorua.—The specimen of twigs with ' seed vessels is Alnus glutinosa, the common alder, a native of Britain. W.H.C., Waiau Pa.—The leaf belongs to the sycamore (Acer psoudo-platanus), of which there are a few Aub-varieties. T.H., Opotiki.—The plums on the Japanese plum tree being smaller than previously and of inferior flavour, the pear 'slug or leech would impair the vitality of the tree and affect the fruits. On first appearance the tree should have been sprayed to kill the insects; winter spraying and want of cultivation" would also affect the tree.

" Rye Grass," Kawhia.—The grass >ia called Lolium temulentum (darnel).. . It. flower stems run up to a height of about 2ft.. .It .is good food for .stock until the seeding stage is reached. However, the seeds are poisonous to stock and to human beings when they are accidentally ground with wheat.

E.R.B;, Silverdale.—To destroy blackberries. that., have come up stronger than ever after being cut down;, boil until dissolved lib. of white arsenic and 31b. of washing soda in one gallon of water; dilute fo 10 gallons and spray the blaokberries. Seeds of pansies and poppies, gathered after they aro ripe, are suitable for sowing for flowering the following season.. Sow pnnsies from now until the end of May.

E. 8.8., Geraldine.—To grow asparagus on an extensive scule for the market, field culture is the most profitable. Select the very best soil. An alluvial flat is ideal. Deeply plough tho required area, following with a subsoil plough to loosen the subsoil well. Next disc well to pulverise tho soil. Arrange the rows not less than 4ft. apart between the rows and 2ft. between each plant in the rows. Mark out the rows with a plough by going twice in each row, throwing a furrow each side from the centre of the row. Apply a fertiliser evenly scattered along the bottom of each row. Mix well with the soil, using a cultivator, and set your plants at the end of July. Select healthy sets from the seed-bed or row, spread the roots out evenly, and cover with 2in. or 3in. of soil. When the plants shoot above the ground hoe tho soil up to make a level surface. Field culture is most profitable. "W. 8., Ruatoria.—As a preventative and remedy for the cabbage fly or «.oth, which is the worst pqst the cabbage-grower lias to fight against, especially during the late summer and very dry autumn, spray with a mixture of two teaspoonsful of arsenate of lead and one of Black Leaf 40, or other niccotine extract, mixed together to the gallon of water; This mixture is also effective against the cabbage aphis. Apply through a fine nozzle on the syringe. Give first application when tho plants are in the young stag.}.

"Potato."—Arran Comrade is the name of the potato with blue skin and prominent largo while eyes. It is from the same raiser as Arran Chief.

" Beginner," Waiuku.—Manure from tho stable and horso droppings are invariably used for the mushroom bed. A proportion of cowdung in the proper stage might be used in tho mixture. The length of time the various seedlings you name take before being ready to transplant depends on conditions of growth, also time and mode of sowing. fiotorua.—Tho name of the grass is Bromus erectus, a native of Britain, a perennial. It thrives in dry, volcanic or light, sandy eoil. It grows wild in England on chalky pastures. It is considered a good grass for hay and pastures. It is doubtful if the seed is procurable locally. Try the seedsmen; if they are unable to supply, it could bp imported. It would take about tho same quantity per square yard as Crested Dog's Tail. J.P.. Ellerslie.—A pohutukawa tree may bo trimmed hard back and shoot out afresh. It may bo cut. buck now whilo tho sap is active. W.R.C., Epsom.—lt is necessary that the potatoes be perfectly dry to prevent rotting. Pitting is the most common plan for storing the tubers. Dig out a pit nine inchea deep and -3ft. wide at tho base in a dry situation; pile tho potatoes up in a ridge as high as convenient, and cover with nine inches of soil dug out from either side. Alternatives are to place in barrels with a covering of six inches of sand or dry earth, or placo in a cellar with a covering of dry straw and earth on the top. Avoid storing any that are unsound or affected with the potato worm. . - W.McS., Mount Eden.—To grow onions for seeding, select the best-shaped and finest specimens from this season's crop, and plant in rows about nine inches apart in the rowß and 18 inches between each row early in August. For cabbages, select the best -heads and allow them to flower and seed. For seed growing no further manure beyond that used in growing the cabbages is necessary. Rhubarb may be grown suocessfully and profitably from seeds. Ebpoa.