FRUIT AND OTHER TREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

FRUIT AND OTHER TREES.

TRANSPLANTING SEASON. The preparation of tlio ground for I lie planting-out of fruit, shelter and other trees and plants should no longer be delayed. . The season for transplanting is rapidly approaching, so that any ground marked out for this purpose, if not already prepared, should bo well broken ilp, worked and placed in readiness, so that there will be as little delay as possible when lime for transplanting arrives. Ono of the most important matters to ensure success in transplanting is to see that the soil has been well prepared beforehand, so that the soil has had time to sweeten. In too many instances, little or no preparation is made until the time for lifting arrives, and in many cases, not until the trees aro received. This especially applies to many amateur planters. Careless planting is not only unfair to the trees, but is often an expensive experiment for the planter. When the ground is well prepared beforehand, the transplanting itself is such a simple operation, that it seems almost incredible that so many trees are lost each season through neglect and careless handling between the time the trees aie lifted and their being placed again in the soil. Yet, this occurs in many instances when trees are planted. Even the most healthy and best rooted trees, if they survivo, often fail to mako satisfactory growth. That this fault is not with the trees is frequently proved by trees from the same sources, when carefully planted in tho samo locality, making luxuriant growth, nor is tho soil always tho cause of failure, though well-worked and prepared soil is an important factor to their success. Such failures, however, aro invariably laid to inferior trees instead of the results of bad planting. NEED FOR CARE. To tho inexperienced person, tho planting of fruit and other trees is considered such a simple operation that so long as a hole is dug and the roots covered, success should be attained, yet it is an operation that requires a good deal of care and thoughtr—by the exercise of which a tree may in two years, bo as well established and productive as a carelessly and badly planted treo would be in double that time.

In planting, the main object should be to encourage the trees to become quickly established, not necessarily with the view of making it grow into a big tree as quickly as possible, but to obtain strong healthy wood, well-furnished with fruiting spurs, and a well-developed root system, as it is upon these two things that the future health and bearing of the tree depends. There is in no case the same risk of failure when the soil has been well-prepared beforehand, so that the work of transplanting can be expeditiously performed as soon as possible after the trees tire lifted. In many cases the cause of failure is allowing the roots to become exposed, until they become parched and shrivelled, and until all the vitality is taken out of them, although most varieties of fruit and other deciduous trees are not so liable to suffer to the same extent as evergreen trees and plants. Exposure of the roots of any varieties, results in their growth being so severely checked, that they take a long time to recover. VALUE OF WRENCHING. All evergreen trees'and plants require to be prepared by wrenching some weeks prior to lifting. Wrenching results in an abundance of young fibrous roots being formed allowing the plants to be lifted with a good ball of earth attached to the roots. These fibrous roots, however, being quickly grown, are naturally soft and tender, and are quickly injured or destroyed by exposure to the snn or harsh winds. With these, as other trees, there should be as little delay as possible in planting after the plants are lifted.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Kaiti,"' Cisborne. —The weed is named Gnaphalium luteo-album (the cud weed). It has no feeding value for stock. It is often prevalent on lawns and is found in poor pastures, where tho grass is thin, but j:ot where tho grass is thiek. " Shrubs," Manurewa.—You ask for a selection of eight flowering shrubs suitable for planting on an inclino where tho soil js clay about Gin. under the surface, tho shrubs not-all to flower at the samo time and being specially wanted for their flowers. If the clay is fairly friable and you intend filling the holes with a better Quality i f soil, the following varieties should answer your requirement:—Abelia lloribuiida. JjjScuJloma rosea, hydrangea (a free-grower), Polygala grandis, Viburnum bieboldii, Veronica saliciiolia, Genista undreamt, Berberis Darwinii. n,nd I'rostranthera notundifuliit. A white azalea*would do, provided a good deep hole filled with loamy soil was made. The above are fairly dwarf, compact habit of growth.

" Inquirer," Henderson.—From your description of the lemon tree, collar rot is? attesting the bark near tho ground and causing tho leaves to turn jellow. Cut away tho diseased bark, removing all that is affected, and smear the cut surface ever with a mixture of carbolic acid and Stockholm tar, one-third of tho former <fnd twothirds tar. Remove tho earth from Hie baso of tho tree, take 2lb. or 3lb. of fresh lime, and whitewash the trunk. Secure good drainage.

" Amateur," Hokianga.—Suitable flower ing shrubs for light, sandy Boil to stand the hot summer may include the following. —Acacia Baileyanu, Brugmansin Knigktii, Cassia floribunda, Erythrir.a crist-galli, escallonia of sorts. Hibiscus camdeni, ericas of sorts, azaleas, neriums, proatranthcra, Magnolia grandifiora, Polygala grandis, several vsronieas, lasiandras, tamarix (two varieties). Malvaviacus arboreus, Abelia floribunda, abutilons, grevilleas, Diosma eropoides, euonym,is of sorts, Synnga grandifiora, etc. Seedlings to plant now ».nd flower for a long time include Iceland poppies, calendulas, linarias, larkspurs, antirrhinums, sweet scabious, Margerito carnations, etc.

E.W., W aim auk u.—Tho opecimen sent for identification and referred to in the Bkiui.o Is the laccbark (lioheria populnea). Tho plant growing in your hedge now about Oft high may bo safely removed during the winter and transplanted elsewhere. It would be better to allow it to remain and obtain young plants from the seed. fluiiu now in flower, seeds should mature. Seedlings often come up around tho parent trees. " Paraw," New Lynn.—-Tho apple is tlje variety Willie Sharp, a good dessert. Tho tree is aphis-resistant. E.H.C., Tokaanu.—The specimens arc:— 1. Chenopodium album, commonly called fot hen, a troublesomo annual weed that spreads rapidly from seeds, which will lny in the ground and germinate after over ywo yearß. Hoe the seedlings up before they come into flower and seed. It is a native of Mexico and haß become widely distributed throughout the temperate regions. 2. Tetragonin expansa, the New Zealand spinach as it is called. It is a good substitute for spinach. It is a native of Japan, Australia and South America. It is a succulent trailing herb, quite different to tho chenopodium.

" Orange," Mount Albert.—The Jaffa orange takes five years, and ofte.n more, before it conies into flower and bears. Well water during dry weather and apply a liberal dressing of farmyard manure around the tree on the surface, or blood and bono or other nitrogenous manure. Watering with Boapsuds after the washing is helpful to lemonß, orange and other citrus fruits. G. 8., Island Bay.—Tuberous-rooted begonm seeds take from three to four weeks after sowing to germinate. If they take longer, the seed is not much good. -- Kepos.