READERS' PROBLEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

READERS' PROBLEMS

Eradicating Slaters.—Could you advise a way of getting rid of slateTs? We spend most - of our time picking them from the walls; and now they are. attacking the plants in the garden.—V.M.,' Paeioa. . ~ , . ... Horticultural' napthalene sprinkled in their haunts wili discourage the pests. Poison baits are also arffood way of reducing their numbers. To six pounds of bran add a-quarter pound of Paris, green (poison). Shake the powder over the rran through a tin with holes in the top. mixing all the time. This mixture >,may be stored nntil required. For use, damp some of the bran with water, in which two lablespoons of treacle havo been dissolved. The baits should be of such a consistency tha: they just fall apart. Broadcast at dusk. Keep away from fowls, as it is poison. A few old sacks laid down will encourage the slaters to congregate beneath, and spme of tlje bait may be placed there. Clear up amy decaying wood or rubbish in the vicinity, as these form great breeding places for ttiem. Lifting Nerlne Bulbs,—(l) Should nerine bulbs be taken np every year, or how often P (2) When should they be planted again and how deep? (3) What kind of soil suits them and should they be manured P (-1) How often should grape hyacinths bo lifted? —G. 8.. Kaukapakapa. (1) Nerines should not bo disturbed any mere than is necessary. Leave them alone until they become too crowded. (2) When lifting is ntcessary, do it immediately after flowering and replant at once. Keep the nose of the bulbs just at tho surface of the soil (3) A good loamy soil, well drained, suits these bulbs best, Little manure is needed if the soil is in good condition. When growth commences a little bonedust forked in, or a mulch of old dry cow m/tnure will help the growth. (4) Grape hyacinths do not need lifting nntil they become too crowded, which is indicated by the flowers becoming small. Replant as soon as possible v as the bulbs deteriorate by being kept out of the ground too long. —J I ) I s the aluminium sulrecommended for the destruction of SSKt ?- 8 ordinary alum. How is it dtru\ trV« H f M?® beneficial or harmful to JniA t, « . J 3 ,) Am enclosing leaf of SM contrcnedV-E.H.. Birkenhead 8 be sulphate is different mm alum. You will protably obtain your

requirements from wholesale chemists. The recipe will be repeated in the near future. (2) Lime cannot be considered either beneficial or harmful to citrus. Very little is required by them. An excess of lime would, however, deplete the nitrogen supples which, arc the chief, requirement, of citrus. (!i) Beet leaf spot can be controlled by spraying with Bordeaux powder one ounce to one of water every two or three weeks, Where the disease is very bad it is advisable to give tho land a spell from beet. Incorporate some potash with the manures. One ounce of sulphate of potash per square yard (4) The best control of the leaf miner of cucunihors is to pick off and burn the leaves as soon as they are seen to bo affected. It Is out of the question to spray these plants with distasteful sprays.Pansy Disease, —Will you kindly advise what is afTecting my pansy plants. They were healthy seedlings.—H.B.G., Ngaruawahia. The plants are affected with virus disease. There fs no cure for this, and it would bo the better plan to burn tho affected plants. If you had cucumber plants in the vicinity last season, which were affected, .the disease has probably spread from tlieni. Roots of Lupins.—Enclosed samples of lupin roots with some disease. Could you aflvise what disease this is and if it will attack vegstabes sown after lupins havo been dug in. Peas and beans last season had a similar disease and did not do as well as they should have. Can anything be done to prevent this?—"Kaukapakapa." There is nothing wrong with the lupin roots. —The nodules on tho roots are formed by tho nitrogen fixing bacteria, without which tho legumes could not thrive. Peas, beans, clovers and other legumes all have these nodules, and the more of them there are the better the plants will do. The failure of tho peas and tpcans last season must have been due to some other cause. Passion Fruit Trouble.—We have a twoyear passion fruit. Up till a week ago it was making lovely new growth, then suddenly it took on a drooping, wilted look. Could you please advise tne cause and cure if any. The soil is rather heavy, but the vine is in tho drained part.—F.M.. East Tamaki. The symptoms point to a case of collar rot., due to excessive wet. Evidently the supply of sap has been cut off in some way. Slaters sometimes ringbark the plants at the base. I ainting tho stem with arsenate of lead will P«J. hc9e . pe . B . ts - Examine the bast of 1 fouoJ? a causo will probably be