TO CORRESPONDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 34 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS

A.J. (Pokeno). —1. Plum is Pond's Seedling. 2. Apple is Stone Pippin. E.A. (Thames). —The flower is from the Australian silky oak (Grivellea robusta). B.C.G. (Kaiwaka).—The weed is the smooth hawkbit (Leontodon autumnalis), and is not the dandelion as used for medicinal purposes, which has much larger leaves and flowers, with an unbranched flower stem. E.C.D. (Te Puke). —1 A form of Myoporum laetum (ngaio). 2. There should not be any difficulty in raising plants from the ripe drupes. 3. Will not stand very heavy frosts while young, but when established is fairly hardy. T.W.S. —The troublo is a rust, which is caused, in some instances, by the roots penetrating to a waterlogged subsoil, and in others by over-ripeness of the leaf, There is no cure other than removing the affected plants and improving the cultivation and drainage. " Worried" (Taupo).—The beetles are native ladybirds, and, as these live on other insects, are not the cause of the damage to the foliage of the passion vine. This may be caused by sotne other insect on which the ladybirds are feeding. Aphis or hoppers are the more probable offenders. Spraying with nicotine sulphate or kerosene emulsion will keep the pests in check. " Primus" (Waihi).—Apples are affected with scab. The treatment should begin at the green-tip stage, in spring, with lime sulphur, 1 in 30, repeated at the " pink stage," just beforo the blossoms open, and a third application when the blossoms have fallen, at 1 in CO. Subsequent sprayings will be necessary in a wet season _at intervals of about one month, especially if any of the disease is seen. P.M. (Te Aroha).—The plums were in too decayed a condition to ascertain the variety, but the disease is brown tot. Spraying must commence immediately the Blossoms have fallen with lime sulphur, I—loo, followed by periodical later applications. In all cases the treatment is preventive, not curative. Details are given in the garden notes from time to timo when the treatment should bo given. P.O.C. (Epßom).—l. If the lawn is infested with penny royal, it is a sign that it is too damp and the condition will not improve unless the lawn is drained. Topdrt'Bsing with sulphate of ammonia will then encourage the grass, to the exclusion of the weeds. 2. The meat meal could be used, but is likely to create an offensive smell. 8. The superphosphate is quite good for lawns, but will encourage the growth of clover. " Hedge" (Waikato).—Both the abelia and Lonicera nitida would stand in the positions mentioned. The abelia makes rather a stiaggling hedge, but clipping should be done immediately the main flowering period is over. Part of tho beauty of abelia is the coloured bracts which form after the flowers. In clipping these aro lost. The tecoma hedges 6re best clipped at midsummer and again in late winter or early spring. If Cut in lato summer or autumn, tho young growth is liable to be damaged by frost. G.W. (Cambridge).—L 'Resin and soda sticker: Boil 2lb. of lesin and lib. of washing soda in one gallon of water. Boil till a cleat brown, which will take about half an hour. Boil out of doors, with some cold water handy to check the tendency to boil over. Use one tenoup 6f the sticker to every four gallons of spray. 2. The best way to store the potatoes is to make ft clamp on high ground. Place the potatoes in a heap, cover with straw or fern, finally banking earth over tho straw. Be sure to leave some ventilation on top. Small drain pipes are good. Place one at every 6ft. of run. "Bulbs'' (Hatfera).—l. .The disease is grey bulb rot, the bulbs being infected frotn the soil. The insect is not the cause of the disease, but lives on the decaying matter. Tho trouble appears first from planting slightly-affected bulbs . Afterwards the trouble will reappear unless steps are taken to give the soil a rest from bulbß. 2. The soil can bo sterilised with formalin, 1 in 50 parts of water. This will be enough for six square feet. Fresh bulbs can bo planted three week? later. 3. New ground each year will be preferable, as the bulbß are infected from ihe soil. 5. Manuring has nothing to do with tho trouble. 4. The same trouble affects the hyacinths. Treat in the same way " Jonathan" (Rotorua). —1. It is best to self-pollinate all tho first generation of seedlings. Then you have the chance of every combination possiblo from the cross. The first generation gives no indication of what tho second generation is likely to be. 2. If the bulbs are planted again, it iB hardly likely another variation will occur, but, if it does, it cannot be fixed by selfpollinating the blooms. The only way to " fix" any variation is to propagate that special plant vegetatively by means of the cormols, which are found around the base, and which come true to tho type of the mother plant.. 2. The scab is a bacterial disease and the manure may certainly be a predisposing cause. 8. Spray the trees with Bordoaux powder, loa. to one gallon of water, when the spots are .first seen. The name of tho tree is erythrina (coral tree). 4. Tho appearance of the apple leaves iB consistent with the later Btages of black spot and slight spray burn. The Bordeaux would be preferable to tho Burgundy, but there should be no harm to the sprayer in using lime sulphur if it is thoroughly cleaned aftor. Lime sulphur will bo more effective in tho control of black spot during the summer months. KEPOS.