TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J.C., Te Araroa.—For reply, see noxt week. G.M.A., Pokcno.—For reply to your auery. Bee answer to " Passion Fruit." " Inquirer," City.—Propagate guavas from seeds sown in shallow seed-trays during the winter, " Querist." Napier.—The wcetl is Hypericum Aegyptiacum (Egyptian). It is a native of North Africa and tlio Levant. M.8,, Patumahoe.—Spray tree tomatoes with Gishurst's compound, using a syringe that will wet the undersides of the leaves. S.J.R., Hnmilton.—The specimen belongs to the mint family. It is n native ot Britain, a herbaceous perennial named Mentha gracilis. G.M., Waiuku.—The leuf from a large tree growing at Orua Bay is Negundo aceroides (maple-like), a Nort'.i American ornamental tree, or Acer negundo. C.S.. Waiotu.—The two seedling apples evidently are from Gravenstein, but arc much brighter in colour and less striped. They are not of sufficient merit to name. " Orange," Onehunga.—Mildew is affecting the outdoor grapes. Spray with soluble sulphur. The late very dry weather may have caused the corrugations on orange leaves. F.J.8., Taumarunui.—Without a personal knowledge of the district, it would not bo' possible to enumerate a list of nlpines and other plants that flower during the summer in the National Park. " Amateur," Mount Albort.—The Gravenstein apple flowering recently is caused by a sudden flow of sap after the very dry period- The Irish peach apple often flowers out of season and fruits. The (lowers had better be cut off. " Lasiandra," Bay of Plenty.—Some defect at the roots must be the cause of your lasiandra assuming the unhealthy appearance. The grass grub may be present. Lift the plant later in the autumn and oxamine the roots and replant. " Taka," Takapuna.—The specimens are:— 1. Omalanthus polyandrum. or carumbinm. a distinct species, native of the Pacific Islands. 2. Melanoselinum decipiens, a native of Madeira 3. A fresher and better specimen is necessary for accurate identitv tion. I. J. Grose, Eiver's Road, Whakatane.— Mr. Drummond states that the are the intrrduced cabbage-white butterfly (Pieris rapae). It is very destructive ,- n gardens. Its habits were dealt with in Mr. JJrummond's column in the Hkkald on January 3, 1931. R.J.R., "VVnihi.—The two apples are the well-known and popular Gravenstein. They are splendid spefimens. This variety varies considerably in colour, some being much more highly striped thnn others. Albany Beauty is a highly-coloured sport from Gravenstein. "Pah," Epsom.—Tuli'pb may be propagated from seeds sown at once in seedtrays in light sandy or volcanic soil, with sand mixed. Place the eeed-trays in a cool frame. They take about four years before flowering. Therefore raising from seeds is a slow process. N.C.. Tauranga.—The grapes are attacked with oidium or powdery mildew. Spray with soluble sulphur and dust the foliage when moist with the same material. Bordeaux mixture is also a good remedy. Treatment should have been applied in the spring and continued at intervals. " Te Poi," Matamata.—To pievent fungus and cracking of nectarines fruit when partly grown, spray the tree during the winter with lime sulphur, and. when the bloom buds are swelling, with Bordeaux mixture, the 8-6-40 formula. When the young shoots are developing, epray with soluble sulphur. Your variety may bo one that is subject to cracking. D.M.F., Tauranga.—Plant, tulips in March and April. 3in. deep, in light sandy, loamy, volcanic 'soil, with (>in. between the bulbs. A little well-decayed manure may be used. For propagating purposes, allow them to flower. Lift the bulbs when the foliage is partially matured and do not allow them to remain exposed, but remove them at once to the cellar. " Constant Reader," Tauranga. The potato moth lays its eggs in the eyes of the potatoes after digging, when the tubers are exposed on the ground or stored uncovered. As soon as they are dry after digging, place them in clean sacks or in bo/.oa with earth on the top, or cover them with straw. Placing the potatoes under water will kill all the. grubs and pupae. Fumieate them with carbon bisulphido. Never leave them exposed. C.V.U., City.—l. All fruit t r e.es in bearing should Teceive an annual manuring of phosphates and basic slag in the autumn, followed by fiupfjr in the spring. A dressing ot nitrate of soda before the blooms open facilitates the. cropping. Apples should be given a liberal dressing of bnsic slag or lime. 2. Coprosma3 strike from cuttings about Gin. long. Ti. Prune wattle aft*r the flowering. 4. Macrocarpas sft. high: Slightly trim the eides up. 5. Propagate kowhai from seeds, not cuttings. 5.8.P., Wellington.—To press fern leaves, after gathering place the fronds in a book between sheets of newspapers, with blotting paper on top. A few everlasting flowers include Acroclinium rodanthe, atatice elichrysums, Hurcea elegans, Lunaria annua. Globe amaranthus, eryngium. xeranthemuns. and W'aitzia aurea. Suitable growers are:— Agroßtis of sorts. Brim maxima, eragrotis. Hordeuin jubatum, Stipa pennata, Tricholaena rosea. Lagurus ovatus, panicum, Sctaria machrochactii, and others. " Arbor," Rcnmera.—The peach trees making very vigorous growth for several years, but producing few fruits, may be eliy cropping varieties, or you may have manured them too liberally with nitrogeneous manures. Apply phosphates to produce fruiting. Take up the clump of yellow arums when the foliage has matured, and store and replant next spring. Liberally dress the eurfaco of lawn with eulphato of ammonia to kill the weeds. Top-dress and resow some fresh seed in April, or dig the surface over and resow. E.W.N.. Whakatane.—Specimens to hand. The walnuts are attacked with the walnut fungus. Spray the trees in the winter with lime sulphur or the caustic soda-alkali solution. In the spring, as the buds arc swelling, spray with Bordeaux mixture, the 10-G-40 formula, and when the fruit nre in their early stagej with soluble sulphur at intervals. The potato is badly diseased with the scab that causes the surface to become rough and warty. Excessive use of lime causes scabbing. Do not plant again in land from which Bcabby potatoes have been taken. As a preventive, soak the potatoes in a solution of loz. corossive sublimate (o eight gallons of water one and n-half hours before planting. The potato is Robin Adair. " Passion Fruit," City.—To grow passionfruit commercially, first properly- prepare the area by draining and deep cultivation. Erect a trellis, consisting of a top and bottom wire, along uprights, with brushwood of tea-tree or other material interlaced between, for the vines to ramble over naturally. Arrange for the rows 10ft. apart and the plants in the rows 6ft. apart. Dress with blood and bone three weeks before planting. Plant healthy seedlings in September. There are two varieties, Pussiflora edulis and the mammoth. The edulis is the best. The. area between the trellises must bo kept lightly cultivated and utilised for other light-rooting crops, keeping a good distance away from the roots of tho passion fruit.

" Stranger," Mount Eden.—The numbers attached to your specimens were accidentally mixed. The following brief notes will aid you in their identification: —The shrub with yellow flowers is Sestrum aurantiacuni; the herbaceous plant with mauve fiowers is Thalicteum dipterocarpum: that with scarlet flowers is Crassula coccinea, a succulent; that with blue flowers is Verbena hybrida; the conifer with silvery foliage is Chainaecyparis equarrosa; the plant with five fernlike foliage is fhe common fennel; that with thick, broad green leaves is Acmona floribunda: that with green-pointed leaves is Daphne odora. There are two varieties of ligustrums. The broftd leaved is chinensis; the smaller, with the leaves close to the stem, is undulatiun. The shrub with seed attached is Melicytns ramiflorus. The name of the tobacco is Nicotiuna affniis. ' Farmer and Gardener."—From the appenrance of the peach twigs, they have been attacked with the black aphis of the peach, a serious pest. The larvae hybernnte on the roots during the winter and crawl up the stem in the spring, and may bo found on tlio lower sides of tlio loaves and 011 fhe tons of the branches, Spray with Black Leaf 40, and add some treacle to make it more adhesive. Gisliurst's compound is also effective. A white oil solution will do, or tobacco waste, consisting of 21b. of tobacco waste and lib. of soft soap to two gallons of water. Leaf hoppers; an honoferous insect, belonging to the jassvideae in the form of a little moth, is infesting the passion-fruits. Spray with Black Leaf 40. adding some f-oft- soap to make it more adhesive, or use Gisliurst's compound. Rhaphiolcpis ovata is t) > name of the shiub. C.S.C., Birkenhead.—There are, 110 doubt, positions and soils where, under proper treatment, outdoor vines could be successfully grown in the Birkenhead district. That vines can bo successfully and profitably grown is proved by the success attained in the vineyards in the Henderson district, where vines, both for wiuemaking and for table use, are extensively grown. These vineyards are, however, under fhe management of expert vinegrowers. Vine culture is too comprehensive a sub.iect to be dealt with in iv small spaco, and the apace spared in these columns will not admit of dealing with your inquiries in sufficient detail to be of value to yo.i in your quest. You should write to the Director of Horticulture, Wellington. This department has for years been growing grapes extensively in their vineyard at To Kauwhata, Waikato, experimenting and testing numerous varieties with the view of determining the most suitable kinds for both winemaking and dessert purposes. This department will furnish you with all the information you require. Kei-os.