COMING DAFFODIL SHOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22202, 31 August 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

COMING DAFFODIL SHOW

AMATEUR'S OPPORTUNITY P 11 ' 1 FEATURES GOVERNING QUALITY T/lere is now such a bewildering array of daffodils, that not only tho beginner, but tho more experienced cultivator can be excused for not being thoroughly conversant with all that is latest in the bulb world. The Daffodil Show of tho Auckland Horticultural Society to be held in the Town Hall on September 4 and 5 will give an opportunity of seeing these lovely spring blooms at their best, renewing acquaintance with old favourites, and noting new varieties.

The daffodil is appreciated as a harbinger of spring, the forerunner of many floral displays to bo enjoyed in tho garden in tho months to come. At the time of writing tho climatic conditions have been anything but favourable for the development of the blooms, and a few more hours of sunshine each day would bo appreciated by most growers. Of most importance to the new competitor is to exercise his judgment as to what quality in a daffodil really means. Fresh condition is essential; symmetrical form is a strong point. A good balance between the widespread back petals (technically known as the perianth), and the trumpet or crown, is a feature which has a great bearing on tho judges' estimation of quality. Size only cells when it is obtained without coarsenass, or any irregular unbalanced eflect. Forcing Late Blooms Tho buds of one's best blooms may threaten to be too late for the show. Watering with comfortably warm water, in which a pinch of nitrate of soda has been dissolved, will do much to speed up progress. On tho other hand if tho days are exceptionally warm, it may be advisable to cut the blooms a few days before the show, placing them in water in a cool room. Total darkness is not desirable as it destroys the purity of colour. The water should be changed daily in the vases, and violent fluctuations of temperature avoided.

TO CORRESPONDENTS "Kauri".—The shrub in Solanum aviculnre, native name poro-poro. It should flower the coming season with u purple mauve blossom, like a potato flower, followed by fruns about lui. in diameter and yellow in colour, ihero is a variety sometimes seen with white flowers. O.Tj.V., Dargaville.—There will not be nnvthing harmful in the coke ash as most of 'the sulphides have already been removerl in the treatment for gas. Ihe percentage of coke ashes among the wood ashes will not be of any benefit, neither will it do any harm to the garden. Thanks lor your appreciation. "Te Awnmutu".—Golden branches in totnra trees are not uncommon, but an entire tree is somewhat it rarity. Variegation in trees and shrubs is, strictly speaking, a virus disease, and specimens are usually more wenklv in growth than their naturallycoloured fellows. When green branches appear in variegated trees it is usual to cut them out at once, or the viffour will soon crowd out the variegation. The chlorophyll, giving the preen colour 1o the leave 6» is absent in the variegated portion. "Te Hana."—AVoodlice arc one of the most difficult pests to deal with. The first step in clearing them out should be to get nd of any rubbish in the vicinity, as the posts are especially fond of congregating in rotten timber, heaps of stones or rubbish Mix 21b. of bran with loz. of Paris green (poison). Just moisten with warm water, in which a little treacle has been dissolved, then 'make into baits and lay where the pests congregate. "Carnation," St. Heliers.—lt will most likely be birds that are eating the centres of the carnations; stretch some black cotton over the plants, or spray with nicotine sulphate. to make the growths distasteful to them. One teaspoonful of nicotine sulphate to one gnilon of water, with plenty of soap powder added. (2) The lemon tree is lacking nitrogen: apply now about 2lb. of sulphate of ammonia round the base, away from the trunk, but more where the rain will drip from the leaves. C."W\. Paeroa.— (1) The white flower is Tagiisaste. or as it is popularly known, tree lucerne. The tree has probably reached its limit of growth at about 10ft. p and eight to fen years is about, its length of, life, but usually plenty of seedlings are available to carry on. The flowers are excellent for bees as they contain considerable nectar. The azalea is probably starved. Give a good thick top-dressing of leafmould and keep moist during the summer. These plants do not like lime or artificial manures. "Interested," Taupo.—To control the leafcurl of peaches and nectarines, spray just ns the buds are commencing to move with Bordeaux mixture at winter strength, or what is more convenient to most people— Bordeaux powder, 120z.. to four gallons of water. The one spray, if well done, is sufficient for control. (2) The plums evidently need a pollinator. Obtain Bonio branches of another variety in bloom and hang in the tree in jars of wafer to cross-pollinate. If growth is too excessive, refrain from winter pruning for a season. "Fumigation," Onehunga. A much simpler way of finding the cubic contents of a glasshouse for fumigation is as follows:—For a span-roof house: Measure the height to the apex of the roof from the ground, next the height from ihe eaves to the ground on each side, ado the three measurements together and divide the product by three: this will give the average heieht. Multiply the average height by the width and the result by the length in feet: this gives the cubic contents of the house in feet. For a lenn-to house only the height of front and back needs to be measured for average height.

"Roses," Thames.—The condition of the rose tips is an effect, and the cause will he found nt the roots, which will probably be dead. The wood is very soft and pithy and would not carry flower, being in an unripened state, and the roses, if there is any life in the roots, should be pruned hard hack to where the wood is firm and hard without the soft pith. If the bones were in a green state when buried, they may account for the condition, as roses will not tolerate any decaying matter near the roots, find no manure of any kind should be placed where it will come into direct contact with the roots, especially when newly planted. "Subscriber." Tnkanini.—(l) It is not necessary to prune the lavender at all at this season of the year. Trim the plants over evenly as 6oon as the flower is over nest season. (2) Prom your description, the trouble with the calendulas is a leaf spot of the Heteropntella species, but cannot say for certain without a specimen. The treatment is to spray with Bordeaux powder, loz. per gallon as soon as the disease is seen. Ti i ° Temova l °f affected leaves. Destroy nil plants nt the end of the season, but do not dig them in. This trouble is always worst m a wet season, and as infection can be carried on the seed, it is aa well to sterilise before sowing. "Grafting," Pukekohe.—The best time for crafting fruit trees is just when the sap °u )j stock is starting to rise; the scions should have been cut off some time previously and laid in a cool place. Stocks used commercially are in brackets. Apples (Northern Spy layers). Pears (quince or seedling pear). Penches and nectarines (seedling peach). Apricot (seedling peach or almond). Plums (seedling or Myrobalan plum). Cherries (Mnheleb or Mnzznrd C herry). Grapes (there are several varieties Of the American grape that are blight-proof which are used for stocks, principally varieties of rotundifolin or vulpina). Quinces are hest on own roots. For citrus fruits (sweet ornnge. sour orange, cifronelle and poncirus trifolintn). Budding will be found to be the best method for stone and citrus fruits, and grafting for the pip fruits. E. 8.. "Whakntane.—(l) "With the addition if loz of sulphate of potnsli to the squnro yard there should be nmple plant food for tlie roses. For the mildew, spray with lime sulphur as soon as the disease appears and nt intervals of one month during the summer. (2) Twelve roses. General McArtiuir, Mrs. Sam McCredy, Golden Emblem, Hadley. Betty ITprichard. Earl of Warwick. Mdme. h. Herriot, Mrs. Herbert, Stevens, Angelo Pernej. Conitessc de Castillejii. Pose Marie, Ophelia. l<our hybrid perpetuals. C omninndnnt F. Fauvre, Coronation, Frau Kark Druschlu, Prince Cnmille do Pohan Four pol.vAntha roses. Firoglow, Chnrmaine, Coral Cluster, Golden Snlmon Superior (3) If the ordinary passion fruit will not stand the clinint? Iho Tuesonins are hardly likely to be successful (4) Proten mellifera would be hardy enough for your district. "Kaingaroa."—lt is ns gratifying to me ns well as yourself that the treatment has been successful. It w/iuld bo better to use tho blood nnd bone now: three parts of the blood nnd bono to one part sulphate of ammonia. Stablo manure put on now would tend to keep the soil cold. Use this material as a mulch about November. Any material will do as a mulch to retain moisture in the summer, dried grass or weeds if nothing elso is available. Do not omit tho ninnurings twice a year at the times given before Tho quantity will, of course, increase with tho age of the trees. The sooty appearnnc is a fungus which grows on tho honeydow dropped by insects, and is almost a suro sign of some Bcale being present. You will find on examination, sum 11 round spots, which are the scale insects. A white oil spray in early spring, when tho trees nro not in flower, is the best Temedy. While oil emlusion can bo oblnined from nuy seedsman and should be used at 2 per cent strength. The stable manure would bo excellent for the Feijoias used as you suggest, as they require good feeding to obtain the beat results. Far from being a bore I find your letters very interesting. " i Kepos.