READERS' PROBLEMS: Some Queries Answered

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 10 (Supplement)

READERS' PROBLEMS: Some Queries Answered

" Fungus," Howick.—Colloidal sulphur and copper have their uses, but cannot ho regarded as comploto substitutes for Bordeaux. The first-named is used in conjunction with lime sulphur for various diseases at summer sprayings, such as brown rot of peach. Colloidal copper Is useful when quick results are required in an emergency. " Anxious," Whakatano.—l. The triple T buds on the pencil wood are usually two' blossom buds, which are round and fat, and one wood hud in the centre. This is usually smaller .irid thinner. Tho principal aim in pruning tho peach is to get rid of tho old wood which has carried fruit and retain tho previous season's wood to fruit the coming season. !2. In the formula for Bordeaux tho bluestono is given first, thus: (I—l—lo would equal (ilb. of bluestono, 41b. of limo and *lO gallons of water fresh rocho lime should bo used. 3. The sooty deposit on citrus is the result of a scale insect and tho trees should bo sprayed with a white oil spray at 4 per cent strongth in August. "Lily," Otahuhu.—l. Guavas are propagated by seeds. Sow the seeds in boxes in spring; then prick out the plants when largo enough. 2. Guavas are gross feeders and anything in the way of animal manures is suitable. Cow, sheep or horse manures are the best. Failing those, apply a good dressing of blood and bone. Thcso should bo applied in lato winter or early spring. E.L.M., Tanranga.—l. Seedling penrs are rarely satisfactory, as they have a tendency to revert to tho wild variety.. There is nothing

wrong with tho pollination or the poars would not set at all. 2. The fig is Ficus coluninaris, from Lord Howe Island, known thero as the Banyan fig. L.3., Waihi.—There is no advantage in twice grafting the vines. Tho vines in question have probably been varieties which were first grafted on blight-proof stock, then changed over by grafting again with a more popular variety. The blight-proof stock is a necessity against the phylloxera disease, to which vinos on their own roots aro susceptible. J.S., Ellerslio.—(l) For the measurements of your glass house about. 351b. of blood and bono would bo required for tho initial dressing. (2) One ewt. of lime applied before the watering. (3) For the three top-dressings, Ullb. of tho mixture would bo required at each fortnightly application. If sulphate of ammonia is required to hasten growth, (ilb. would be sufficient at one application between the other dressings. "Novice," Huntly.—(l) Name oi' shrub Euonymus japonicus aureus. These shrubs may be planted from now until September. (2) It is best not to put manure with newly planted subjects. A mulch of well-decayed manure can bo spread over tho surface of the soil, or a few handfuls of bonedust lightly forked in. H.C. J., Ponsonby.—Coal ashes should not bo mixed with garden soil ns they contain chemicals which aro injurious to plant life. "Chokos," Kaitaia.—Nothing would bo gained in planting tho chokos so early;

August or September would be quite soon enough. The plants may be treated exactly the same as marrows and pumpkins, by making a bed with decayed manure well mixed with the soil. A sunny position is necessary and plenty of water in the growing season, but the soil should be well drained. "Lawns," Hamilton.—A good mixture for lawn sand consists of twelve parts (by weight) of fine sand, one and a-half parts of sulphate of ammonia, and three-quarters of a part of sulphate of iron. It is rather early in the season to apply this, tho application being best deferred until September or October, when conditions are drier. "Worriol," Thames. —A check given to the tomato plants would cause them to assume a blue tint, and usually take some time to recover. As your house is heated to 55 degrees the temperature is quite satisfactory. The difficulty with the seedlings might possibly be traced to tho fact that the seedlings are pricked off from the seed box, which would be of tho same temperature as the house, into cold soil brought in from outside. Always have the soij in the house for a few days to warm up before pricking off at this season of the year, or a good alternative is to turn the soil over with a heated shovel. This will avoid chilling tho plants. J.E.W., North Auckland.—The best time to clean out tho lily pool is in September, just ns the plants aro commencing to grow. The posit ion under an overhanging tree is a bad one from all points of view, for not only is the sunlight shut off from the lilies, but there is always the trouble of leaves falling, which decay and foul tho water.