Replies To Correspondents

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 11 (Supplement)

Replies To Correspondents

W.F.M., Tauranga.—Specimen of climber Hardenbergia, tho Australian bean flower. "Grower"—Tho brown weevil covers a large area and specimens have been received from widely separated districts. " Perplexed," Keniuera. — Tho ancmono rust is ono reason why anemones fail in some gardens. One part of tho life cycle of this fungus is spent in plum trees. Another fault is growing the corms in tho same ground too frequently. The best results are obtained from fresh seedling corms that havo not previously flowered. After flowering, throw them away and plant fresh corms the next season. T.L.J., To Awamutu.—(l) Cuttings of fcijoa in the open ground would be hardly likely to be successful in your district. Bottom heat is required for a good strike. Layering would bo tho best plan. (2) Albany Surprise grapo was raised at Albany as a seedling from Isabella. The exact date cannot be given but it was previous to 20 years ago. CI) It is quite unnecessary to wax vino grafts. Tio in and mould up tho soil round the union. The grafts should be examined occasionally and roots from tho scion or shoots from tho stock rubbed off. E.M., Hamilton.—Tho empty pupae cases are thoso of tho Crano Ely, better known as tho Daddy Long-legs. Tho larvae are tho leather-jackots nearly always found in grassland, and theso aro destructive in the garden. The best means of dealing with the grubs is to lay Paris Green and bran poison baits at dusk. Paris Green, V,lb.; bran Gib. Mix together dry and store in a tin. When required for use damp the bran with water in which two tablespoonfuls of treacle have been dissolved. Damp so that the mixture just holds together and no more. Broadcast in the places infested with the grubß.

" Berry," Otahuhu. —Name of tree, Myrtns Laurina. The berries are of no value as a fruit. K.M.R. —(X) Spray the treo tomatoes with lime sulphur 1 in 120 as soon as the majority of the fruits have set, and at intervals during the season. (2) Cyrtanthus obliqua, native to South Africa. H.M., Thames. —The stock leaves havo been eaten by some caterpillar, probably the larvao of tho diamond back moth, which is fecdinir very lato this season. Spraying with arsenate of lead, half an ounce to one gallon of water will stop the trouble. M.1.P., Mt. Bosk ill.—The name of the hedge plant you require is Euonymus japonica aurea, popularly called Golden Euonymus. This may bo planted now and the best plan is to obtain plants from a nursery. Cuttings arc- rather slow >ind no sheltor is as the plant is quite hardy. F.N., Epsom.—(l) Guavas can bo raised quite easily from seed and will fruit in duo courso, but tho growth for the first few years will be slow. (2) Tho seedlings will not requiro grafting. (3) Tho seeds may be sown in boxes or in bods in the open ground as soon as tho seed can bo obtained. Tho seeds, being rather hard, will be soaked by tho winter rains and como up in tho spring. M.W., Paihia. —(1) The lime sulphur would be best for tho peaches in summer—l to 120. Spray with Bordeaux just as the buds are moving in early spring. When the blossom has fallen, spray with lime sulphur. (2) The gum exuding from the branches is a disease known as " gummosis." There is nothing you can do for this. Very hard pruning will sometimes bring on an attack, owing to the over-supply of sap. (3) Cut the fuchsia hard back; in winter.