TO CORRESPONDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 8 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS

C.L.M.—The cuttings will be more successful if inserted about the end of March, and given some slight protection from frost during winter. " Seeds" (Ruakaka).—The gladioli seeds can be sown at once and should make small cormleta for planting at this timo next year, or even earlier. " Maketu."—Sample of grass is Poa scabrella (pine blue grass), native of the Pacific coast, principally California. It will assist greatly if the entire plant is sent when requesting identification of grassss. ; L.G.D. (Otane). —The specimen of flowering tree is Grevillia robusta, ihe Australian silky oak. The dry period last season lias beon the cam© of quite a number of exotic trees flowering in unusual profusion, the dry conditions being more like the climate of their natural habitat. W.J.M. (St. Heliers).—When the poplar roots become a pest, there is really no way of getting rid of them except by digging out, as every small piece of root will throw up a shoot. These should be'dug out. If they are in the paths, cut them olf as fast as they show above the ground, and in time thfly will die out.

J.M.C. (Te Kuiti).—The palm appears to bo suffering from some root trouble, probably bad drainage, which has caused the roots to die. It would be advisable to turn the plant out of the pot. If any of the roots seem diseased, cut _ away. Repot in a clean pot with ample drainage. It may be that the roots have already died In this- case there is no hope of recovery. P.W.D. (Whangarei).—The leaves show all the symptoms of leaf scorch, the principal cause of which is potash deficiency. It may take a year or two to right the trouble by applying dressing of sulphate of potash in autumn or spring. Do not apply any phosphatic or nitrogenous fertilisers until the proper balance is restored. Spraying will ho of little use for this trouble. " Eotorua."—The colours of hydrangeas are very unstable. If your soil is at all acid, all of the blooms will so blue, the thndo varyinsr according to the variety, in Bpite of anything you can do. Lime is advised to assist in keeping the pink colours, but even this is not effective in a very acid soil. Old mortar rubble buried under the pinks and reds may have some effect in reducing the acidity.

L.Ct. (Whansamata).--The freak potato is a case of irregular metamorphosis. Potato plants will in many cases produce quite 11 number of tubers from the axils of the leaves if the items are layered down and slightly covered with Boil. In this ca3e a portion of a le&f stem lias been buried at some time and formed small tubers. The tubers formed under these conditions are usually small and of little value.

M.R. (Kutarere). —The eryngium is attacked by red spider. If you have any fruit trees in the immediate vicinity, the trouble lias probably spread from those. Lime sulphur, at 1 in 120. or sulphur dusted over the plants on a hot, still day, will remedy the trouble. It may as well to mention that the eryngiums dislike disturbance at the roots, and, once planted, should be left to establish themselves without any unnecessary digging in their immediate vicinity. " Urewera" (Mount Albert).—l. Carpodetus eerratus (putaputawheta). Q. Nothofagus fusca (juvenile form). 3. Ixerba brexioicles (tawnri). 4. Elytranthe tetrapetala, one of Ihe native mistletoes, which is para, fitic on other trees, chiefly those if the nothofagus species. The plants are somewhat difficult to establish, and in nature the berries are attached to their host about April. The experiment can be tried on a young plant of nothofajjus, but there will be many failures before success is achieved. P.P.C. (Mount Wellington).—lt would be taking a very treat risk to resow onions on land which has carried a mildewed crop. Tlie only satisfactory method of cleaning the site is to give it a rest from onions for two or three years. Lime will be of little use in combating the mildew. The winter spores will bo in the ground to infect the next crop, and wet, poorly-drained land is more subject to the disease than that which is drier. Spraying the plants with Bordeaux mixture or lime eulphur will give some measure of control if an adhesive is added, such as fish oil soap, as it is difficult to get the spray to adhere to onions. W.J.W. (Howick). —1. Place the potatoes in tho sun to become thoroughly ripened, and then place on end in trays with a little soil between and keep moist. When exposing tho potatoes for ripening it will be advisable to spray them with arsenate of lead, otherwise they will become riddled with tho grubs of the potato moth. 2. The asparagus seed would have been best sown about September. Sow in, drills about half an inch deep, and keep free from weeds If it is intended 1o sow where tho planls are to remain, mako tho drills 18in. apart and sow a few seeds at intervals of Gin, afterward thinning out to one plant, in each place. If the seed is of good quality, th.;re should not be much difficulty about germination.

" Cordon'' (Rc.niucra). —1. I presume you mean an espalier-trained tree, as a cordon has but n sintrlo branch, or a double cordon two. one on each side. The three branches should bo tied down into the horizontal positions they arc to occupy. The leading shoots should not bo pruned at all, but kept tied in. Any lateral growths which arise from the branches are pruned this month to about fivo buds, to assist the formation of fruit buds. These growths are pruned back in winter to below the shoots which have arisen from the summer pruning. 2. The new wood on the peach is that which will carry the fruit next season, but. as you do not want the tree to become too high, these may be shortened back half-way now. Subsequent short growths will be made, which may bo left to carry fruit. " Grateful"—l. Specimen of tree is Melia azedarach, native of China. '2. Cannas, height 2ft.: Atlanta, rose; Duchess of York, carmine-bronze .foliage; Queen Charlotte, scarlet and gold (very dwarf). Medium height, about 3ft.: Claudo Drevet, canary yellow spotted scarlet; Duke of Marlboro', deep crimson. Dr. W. Hoggnrt, scarlet with bronze foliage; Senator Milland, orange scarlet, bronze foliage: J. B. Van der Scholtz, golden yellow, spotted scarlet. Tall varieties, sft. to 3ft. • King Humbert, orange scarlet, red markings. bronze foliage; Wyoming, bright orange, splashed scarlet, hronzo foliage; Pennsylvania, orange scailet, streaked gold, bronze foliage. Plant in spring, when growth starts; sow peeds in spring or as soon as ripe. Cannas are not • particular as to soil, but like a shady place, liberal manuring and watering in summer. KEPOS.