LEMON CULTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

LEMON CULTURE

CARE IN PLANTING When lemons are planted in suitable soils and reasonable attention is given to' their cultivation, there are few fruiting trees that yield better crops or give bettor returns for the spaco they occupy. Few fruiting plants, however, need more careful attention in transplanting, and few that succumb more quickly when badly planted and neglected. Many of the failures result from their being planted in soils that are quite unsuitod to their culture, such as soils of a stiff, clay nature, with little or no provision being made for draining away surplus moisture. In such soils the plants may, for some time, continue to grow and produce fair crops of fruit, but unless they receive freqiient cultivation and manuring, the plants in such soils soon deteriorate and bocome unprofitable. Most of the citrus fruits aro naturally surface-rooting plants and will not succeed in undrained land, or where the roots are in contact with stagnant moisture. This is most important, ho that if the land is not naturally drained tlio planter should see that such provision is mado before planting. The soil in which lemons or in fact most of the citrus family succeed best, is that of a deep, rich loam, or soils of a deep, free, open nature. In soils of this character there is invariably a free outlet for surplus moisture so that thero is no need for artificial drainage. The soil in which the plants are to be planted should, if practicable, be enriched with well-decomposed manure or other decayed vegetable matter, which should be well incorporated in the soil. In planting a very important point is not to place the roots too deeply in the soil. Deep planting is often the cause of failure, and often results in decay or rot setting in around the base of the stem. Shallow planting, as frequently stated, is one of the most important things to be observed, and if the soil is at all of a retentive nature the safest method, after the ground has been prepared, is to spread the roots out upon the level surface instead of in a hole, so that when the roots are covered with soil a slight mound will be formed. The advantage of this method of planting is that it allows free drainage for surplus moisture while the soil, being slightly raised, gathers warmth and assists healthy root growth. With trees planted in this way staking is naturally more necessary to prevent the plant being swayed about with the wind. Once the trees are established the subsequent treatment consists in keeping down weeds by light hoeing, and in mulching the «urfaco in spring with manure or other suitable material. Lemons and other citrus fruits are naturally surface rooting, and the roots require more protection than deeperrooting plants.

GEUMS This is another class of hardy perennial suitable for autumn planting for spring and summer flowering. The two varieties, Mrs. Bradshaw, with its large and full, double, 6carlet flowers produced on tall branching flower stems, and Lady Stratheden, with its fine rich, golden-yellow flowers, also large and double, contrasting with Mrs. Bradshaw, are a great advance on other varieties of geums. The flowers of both kinds are valuable for cutting. Well-established seedlings planted in the autumn soon come into flower. TO CORRESPONDENTS 8.E.K., Northcote.—Apple is a very fine specimen of the Northern Spy. The fig is White Genoa. A.E.R., Hamilton East.—The plant is Polygonum sachalinenso, a forage plant, as well as ornamental. It is a native of Japan. " Puzzled," Ramarama.—How to prevent potatp grubs spreading from infested potar toes into others just dug out: Fumigation wit"h bisulphide of carbon or placing the potatoes under water overnight is to be recommended., This will kill all the crabs and pupae, as they generally pupate near the skin. Take them out of the water, thoroughly dry the tubers and place them in clean bags or in boxes with a surface covering to prevent the moths getting at them to lay their eggs. Most of the potatoes that becomo uncovered in the field or exposed after digging are liable to become infested with the worms. No seed potatoes showing signs of grub should be planted. " Carpenter," Papatoetoe,—Suitable seed potatoes of Northern Star and Gamekeeper varieties will do for your own planting early in May. A good plan is to place the sets in shallow trays and start them. As a precaution against fungus spray the young potatoes when about 3in. high. To save kumaras for prorogation, place the tubers in a, rat-proof case, mixed with dry sand or charcoal. Early in November place the kumaras in a framo on some manure to provide a gentle bottom heat, covering them with sand or fino earth. When the Ehoots aro about 3in. long, take them off to bo heeled in close together for planting. To save cabbage and cauliflower seed, select good heads of each in the bed and allow them to run to seed in the spring. The seed heads must be protected from small birds by covering them with scrim.

" Bene," Olcaihau. —Names of potatoes are:—l. Kei'M Pink. 2. King Edward VII. 3. M:n >stic. Tho disease on potato marked No. ; is rust, probably grown on fern land. Super and lime have a tendency to cause rust. A chango of soil and locality will often prevent rust. 4. To store potatoes in bulk, pit them by digging a narrow trench and thatching tho top. When potatoes sprout rub off the first and second shoots. 5. The sprouting should begin about from five to six weeks before planting. 0. To clean and savo tomato p.nd Capo gooseberry seed, crush tho fruits into a pulp, mix with dry sand, sift through ft zino sheet or tray to pass tho fine sand through, place the seed in tho sun to dry. rubbing it through tho hands until thoroughly dry. Then sift the seed. This leaves it clean and bright. 7. Do not cut or trim banana plants. 8. Bud pcncliGß on penjeh fitocks, plums on pliiTii• apples on apples and pears on pear. Somo succeed on the quince. A.M.Y.. Waitoa.—The specimens aro:— 1. Erylhrina cristigalli. 2. Scotch or Ayrshire rose 3. Campanula garganica. 4. A.1112a reptans. 5. Physali3 peruviana. Macluro aurnntiaca (the Oswego orange). *' Inferested." Panawa—The very Urge apple is Prince Alfred. Tho round, evenlyshaped is Cox's Orange Pippin.

"Shoots," Umutni.—Oxalis crenata The tubers aro odible. The yam. common Chinese variety, is Dioscorea batatas, quite a different order to. the oxalis. There aro several varieties of dioscorea.

R.L.J., Mamaku.— Loganberry leaves aro badly affected with tho rust fungus that attacks tho blackberry. Being on tho upper sides of tho leaves, it is more easily treated by spraying with Bordeaux mixture and soluble sulphur. Winter' spray with lime sulphur.

" Inquirer."—Brown rot is tho disease that attacked tho peach. Spray the tree in tho winter with linio sulphur; in tho spring, aa tho buds are swelling, spray with strong Bordeaux mixture, ■ and when the fruits have formed with soluble sulphur, ono in ton. .T.E . Nelson. —The black nooty appearance on lemon leaves is caused by scale insects. Spraying with Yolck. a solution of white oil. two tnblespoonful to tho gallon of water, will effectually cleanse the tree of scales. " Amateur," Now Lynn.—Violets grown for commercial purposes should havo the runners cut off. Tho best manuro for violets is blood and bono and boncdußt in eaual parls.

" Apple." Mauku.—Apple leaves are affected with mildow and another species of fungus. Spray tho trco in winter with lime sulphur, in tho spring, whon tho buds are swelling, with Bordeaux mixture, and after the fruits liavo formed with soluble sulphur. E.H., WarkwoTth.—Weed is Erigeron canadensis, tho Canadian fleabane, a common roadsido weed. P. 8., Silverdale.—Leaf belongs to tho hedychium, the eamo order as the ginger (Zingiver officinale), which is too tender to grow here in the opon ground. Tho variety is probably Hedychium gardnerinna, which has Bweet-scentod, lemon-colourod flowers and grows freoly in tho open ground. M.H., Remaora.—The troublesome weed is the creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens). It lias long runners, rooting freely at the nodcß or joints, and is difficult to get rid of. The other weed with purplish flowers is Fumaria officinalis. It is not a troublesome weed. KEPO».