Readers' Problems:—Some Queries Answered

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23181, 29 October 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Readers' Problems: —Some Queries Answered

■ Tomato Trouble. —Please find enclosed a longitudinal section taken from a hothouse tomato plant, about Oin. from the ground. Will you please identify by common and scientific names?—" Commercial," Otahuhu. Specimen is too small and dried up. but the dead tissue is no doubt caused by the common Grey Mould, scentific name Botrytis cinerea.- • ; ' Mulberry Fruits.—Enclosed are some specimens of black mulberry. Can you state what is the matter with the fruit, and why it does not set? The tree is only a few years old and has grown well. The last two years there has been plenty of bloom, but just at the setting stage the blooms shrive! up and die.—"Mulberry," Waiuku. , There Is nothing wrong with the mulberry except youth. As the tree becomes older it will settle down to fruiting; at present its energies are directed toward gaining stature. Unusual Plant. —The enclosed specimen of plant grows quickly in spring, and dies by the end of January, but does not flower. The height is between 3ft. and Ift. Would it bo of any use as an indoor plant, and can you name it as no one here seems to know tho plant at all.'—"Unusual," Waerenga. Arum dracunculus, commonly called "Snake Lily." The plant should flower eventually, ana the shape is similar to the arum lily. Colour may be purplish brown or yellow green. As the flower gives off an offensive odour it is hardly likely to bo suitable for indoors. Identification of Tree.—Please advise the name of specimen, and if it would be possible to cut well back to make a good shaped tree. It bas been overgrown by another tree. When would be the best time to cut it? I find your answers to readers most helpful.—J.S., Putaruru. ..The tree Is Japanese flowering cherry, and the blooms resemble the variety Kanzan. uh* tree can be pruned into shape, but x -^ er . ea inclined to be attacked by gummoeis when very hard pruned. If, howevfer, VSt k. immediately the flowers JU Jree will recover more rapidly , en* there u leaa-danger.-ot disease. Paint

over the cuts with a sood lead paint, or Bordeaux powder stirred into raw oil. Identification of Bhrub.—Could you please let me know through your columns the name of the enclosed shrub?—"lnquirer," Waitoa. Fremontia califomica. Native to California. Red Kowhia Seedlings,—Could you explain what has happened to a kowhal. Seeds of the red kowhai were planted, and now I find that the flowers, instead of being red, are a greenish white.. This seems strange to me. Could you state whether next year Ihe flowers would be red?—M.H.. Avondale. - There are both the red and greenisn-wbite varieties, and you have evidently sown the med of the wrong one. There is no possibility of the flowers coming red next year. The two varieties are distinct. Grate Grub Beetle*. —Please advise me through your helpful column whether a weak solution of salt spray would prevent the grass grub beetle from attacking my few nectarine tree leaves. If not effective, can you advise what to do? Each year tiio fruit fails lo mature on account of th<t leaves being stripped. What spray should I use for the leech on a small pear tree? —K.C., Kiwitahi. The salt spray would hardly be likely to deter the beetles. Arsenate of lead is the best spray to use both for the nectarines and the pear, to save leaf damage. Use half an ounce of the powder to ono gallon of water, and spray every ten days lo a fortnight while the trouble lasts. Many of the beetles can be killed by the use of sulphur torches in the evenings. Spread sulphur thickly on a piece of scrim, then roll it up tightly, tying to keep in place. Light several of theso where the beetles congregate in tho evening. Preserving Flower*. —Would you inform me through your gardening notes how to preserve flowers. There are some pretty native orchids here. Last year I tried to preserve some blooms in methylated spirit, but it took all the colour out of them.—".Orchids." Kaingaroa. •- . t

There are several ways of preserving (lowers. (1) A few lumps of paraffin wax or some "ti.s are neeued. IMit these in a pan and melt ovei a fire. When the wax is meltfil it is important to see that the Wax is fi"ee fronl specks of dirt. The flowers to be treated should he in as perfect a state as possible. When the wax is melted, hut not actually boiling, the specimens are dipped in the wax. Hold them in the wax for half a minute, moving about all the time to prevent air bubbles. As soon as the blooms are taken out, they will start to dry. The transparent nature of the wax coating enables the colours of the petals to be seen plainly. The bloom* will keep indefinitely. C2) Stand the flowers upright in a box, then pour in perfectly dry sand until the whole flowers are covered. Stand in a dry place. In about ten days -the sand can be poured out again. .At first the flowers will be brittle, but on exposure to the air will become harder Floweis preserved in this way should not be placed in sunshine or the colours will fade. Identification of Plant, —Please let me know the name of enclosed plant.—W.G.S., Birkenhead. Tradescantia virginiana (Blue Spiderwort). Rock Melon*. —I extract a wealth of helpful and interesting information from your notes. J propose to plant about an acre of rock and water melons and have ploughed the area. w'*ich was in gooi' grass, r.nd have allowed it to lie rough for about -Jix weoks. I note in a catalogue that sar ly soil or sod land is best for melons. What is meant by sod land? Whit artificial manure, combined with the grass turned in, would be best? 1 have a stack of rotted hay. Would a few forkfuls dug into each hill or placed at the bottom of the holes, be beneficial? Would it be good for mulching, o- likely lo throw too many grass seeds?—" Coast," Thames. Sod land is land that has been ploughed out of turf, exactly as you have done. A good fertiliser for the melons is superphosphate

one part, sulphate of ammonia one part, sulphate of potash quarter part. Allow about four ounces to each hill worked into the soil in a radius of ono foot from the seed setAppl.v sulphate of ammonia, half an ounce to each hill, just as the vines commence to run out. Again a month later. The rotted stack can lie mixed with the soil in the hills. Thoroughly incorporate with the soil. It would be likely to bring many grass weeds when used as a mulch. Russell Lupins. -Am enclosing a leaf from my Russell lupins; many leaves are affected in this way. Could you let me know if this is a disease affecting the plant and what would be the curt F —G.M., Pneroa. There is no disease apparent; tho trouble arises from some cultural fault. The leaves appear to have been scorched. Sudd.en transference from comparative shade to bright sunlight would cause such a condition; or lack ul water. Scale on Plant*. —Will you please advise how to treat the scale on the leaves and stems of the red plant enclosed, and also how to kill the little white specks on the lace fern ?—-U.0., Waiuku. The red plant is Iresine Kerbstii. The quickest way would be to cut the plant hard hack and burn the old affected loliage. Spray the stems reuniting with nicotine sulphate, two teaspoons to a. gallon of water. New growth will he made quickly at this season of the year. The same treatment can be given the fern. Use plenty of soap with the nicotine to make t> lather. Tlngitana Iris.—(l) Could yon give the correct treatment for Tingitana iris during the summer mont.is? (12) Ilow can nut gruss be eradicated from u lawn?—S.C.. Epsom. (1) Lift the bulbs when the foliage ripens, and expose them to the full sun all summer. If possible keep them from getting wet. Replant in autumn when the shoots start again. (•_») It would be impossible to eradicate thp nut grass from a l.wn without digging up the whole area and removing the tubers from which the grass springs. -The tubers will

he found two or three feet down, and as Ions: ns they remain, fiesh shoots will be thrown up. Iceland Popples.— -Some time ago you mentioned in readers" problems that you would advise whero to aret good poppy seed. I am desirous of raising plants early for winter flower. I would also like to know why some blooms, after being picked and placed in water for a day droop their heads and the stalk just belov the head completely wilts, f burn the stems thoroughly and give fresh water. —"Curious," Whangarei. (1) Information has been posted ro poppy seed. ('!) If buds are picked too soon tho stems will wilt. The right stage is when tho buds stand erect and just showing colour. Burn the ends at the earliest possible moment, but it is possible to burn too thoroughly. All that is needed is to sear the ends to prevent loss of sap. Lillum Seeds. -A month ago I sowed seeds of Lilium tenuifoiium, auratum, regale, distich uni and phillipinense. Yesterday, seeds of L. sulphureum, centum, Tliomasonianum. Kraemerii and. Leitchlini. I would like to know when those might bo oxpeuted to germinate. Sown out of doors with paper over the top to retain tho moisture. I will need to watch that (he plants do not become drawn through germinating under the paper, and would greatly appreciate the desired information.—H.O.T., Epsom. The speclpx of lilies vary greatly in tho time of germination from seed, and it should not ho expected that all will germinate ut about tho same time. It depends largely on tho aye of the seed. While such rapid growing kinds of tenuifoiium, phillipinense, regale and sulphureum should appear within a month to six weeks if the seeds are reasonably fresh, such kinds as auratum, Kraemerii and cernum may take up to 12 months if tho seedn are old and dry. The best procedure would be to remove tlie paper and erect a scrim covir about a foot or 18 inches from the ground. This will che what shade is required and also allow of the germinating seed to be kept under observation.