Readers' Problems:—Some Queries Answered

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23333, 29 April 1939, Page 10 (Supplement)

Readers' Problems: —Some Queries Answered

Bean Beetles.—Bean enclosed was harvested this week. On investigating the spots on the beans, I found insects in each. Can you tell me what these insects are and how they get inside ths outer husk unbroken, even as an egg. The insect dug out was alive, and looked like a common borer or a tiny bronze beetle. —H.G.S., Auckland. No bean was found enclosed, but the insects will be bean beetles. Eggs are laid by the beetles on the flowers of beans. On hatching, the tiny grubs cat their way into the need. The tiny hole, grows over. Iho grubs eat out small cells in the speeds which appear as translucent spots. Pupation takes place within the cell, the grubs remaining with the seed for the. winter, eating their way out in spring to start another life cycle by toying eggs. Tho only remedies are to hand-pick the bean seeds, rejecting all showing the spots, or fumigate the seeds by placing in an airtight box with a saucer of bisulphide of carbon. Use half an ounce for each 10 cubic feet of space in' tho container, and leave for '_>4 hours.

Tomatoes from Cuttings.—(l) Can tomatoes be propagated from small slips or branches? What is the method? (2) This last month the new branches of my apple trees are covered with a woolly substance which I take to be aphis. "What can I do to clean them? (3) Do passion fruits require any cutting back or pruning? Many of them hive a brown scab on them. — 'Jay-Eye-i.ec, Manurewa. (11 Tomatoes can easily be raised frofn slips or cuttings. Dnring the summer months roots are quickly formed if the cuttings are inserted in tho open ground, shaded and watered for a time. At the present season glasshouse protection would be needed. Cuttings. of the Bide shoots about four inches long, cut below a joint, then inserted in sandy soil soon root. (2) The best way to irot rid of (ho woolly aphis 18 to Obtain a supplv of the parasties from the Department of Agriculture. In the meantime have an old tin with some linseed oil and a brush hanging in the tree. Every time you see a patch give it a vigorous rub with the brush, (.i) Passion fruits are not long lived. Jhe most satisfactory way is lo crop them as heavily as possible without pruning. When the plants commence to fail, replace with younger plants. The scab can be controlled by spraying periodically with Bordeaux powder one ounce to T>ne gallon of water, or lime sulphur 1 in 120.

Nomenclature of Plants. —(1) Johnson's Gardeners' Dictionary gives Hermione and Helena as names synonymous with Narcissus. Could you tell me if this is common usage, or give mo the reason or connection? (2) Could you give mo a short description of the following plants!—lanthe or Celsia, Lalaga, Linnea, Esmeralda, Ophelia, Aspasia, and lone. —"Hermione," Parnell. (;i) Your copy of the dictionary must be the obsolete edition. In the latest 1017 edition. these old synonyms have been deleted. The work done by the International Botanical Cotiigress since 1870 has resulted in some ordisr, Instead of the chaos which proviously existed among plant names. The rule of priority is the guiding factor. Hermione and Helena are all now included under narcissus. Some of the old names have been dropped i entirely, y while others which had priority have been retained. To fully discuss your ques-

lion would take up too much of our limited i space, but if you would like more information on this interesting subject,. I will bo | pleased to furnish it on receipt of a stamped and addressed envelope. (2) Iftnthe, now known as Celsia, is a plant with a spiko of j yellow flowers, grows freely round Auckland, and is-a naturalised weed in many places. | Lalago, name obsolete. Linnea, named artcr the great botanist, Linnaeus. It was us i favourite flower. Evergreen sub-shrub with trailing steins and slender, stalkod pinkish or white campanulate twin flowers. Common . name, Twin Flower. Nativei of cold regions of Northern Hemisphere. Esmeralda, name now obsolete, the species probably transferred to another genus. Ophelia, now known as Swertia. Perennial and annual; hardy and tender plants chiefly from South Asia. Leaves opposito, flowers blue or rarely yellow and hoiffhi about one foot. Used as rock garden or border plants. Aspasia. epiphytic orchids from Central America, about eight species in all. lone, tropical orchids from Eastern India. In some works these are included under Bulbophyllum, which they much resemble.

Trimming Old Fruit Trees.—Will you kindly advise the best way to trim up old apple trees, and when? They have been sadly neglected and have ft lot of growth and also large knots on the branches. The apples are good and quite a good crop.—E.R.F., Birk- j '""The cutting back can be done now before the leaf falls; it is then much easier to see how .nuch to take out. Commence by sawing out the large branches blocking up the centre, or where they cross one another. Next, shorten the remaining branches to where a vigorous young branch is starting. Try to keep a good Bhape in the tree, leaving no bare stumps. Trim round all the saw-cuts with a sharp knife, then paint them over with a lead paint ; or with Bordeaux powder stirred into lin- ; seed oil to prevent disease gorms entering. ! Manures for Lemons.—(l) Will you kindly advise the mixture of manures for lemon troes? 02) I have a guelder roso which is supposed to berry. It bore a few bunches this season, and it is a tall tree about six or seven years old. Can you advise any treatment to improve its berrying P (3) Enclosed is a pod of seed and part of the leaf of a plant, in growth like a native flax. It has a white, star-like flower. Will you please name it?—" Questioner." St. Heliers'. (1) Three parts superphosphate, two parts sulpbato of ammonia, one part sulphate of potash. Apply March and August. 02) I ho shrub is probably making too vigorous a growth to berry well. Berry-bearing shrubs are like fruit trees, and should have the lateral growths encouraged and the vertical growths suppressed. A check to the growth will ensure the formation of more fruit buds. Root pruning at the present time should Improve matters. The benefits of this will not, bo seen next season, but in the following one. f3) Iris dichotoma, belonging to tho sub-genus Pardanthopsis. Pear Scab.—T am enclosing a pear, and would like your advice upon it. The tree looks healthy, but most of the fruit is liike enclosed sample. Some are a little * *R. J; but none have a nice clear skin, iwo other pear trees 'growing close to this one have no sign of blight —"Pear, Opotiki. The trouble is peor scab, and is controlled by routine spraying. Spray just as the buds

are showing groon in spring, with Bordeaux mixture 0-4-50. When the blossoms are showing Out are not open 4-440, and tho same again at petal fall. Onion Varieties.—l am not sure if enclosed onions are tree onions or shallots. I know they arc not potato onions, as the latter have a hard piece below. Will you pleaso advise what they are, and also if tho first lot of bulbs oil tree onions are better than those small ones which appear right at the end? —"Doubtful Bulbs.'" Thames. The bulbs are shallots. Full. size bulbs should bo planted of the tree onions. If the small bulbs are planted they will not produce a crop the llrst season. Daphne Pests.—(l) My daphne has a white blight on the tips wHiere tho flowers form. Will j>ou kindly remedy? 1 have been putting ashes from the copper around the plant. (12) What spray should bo used for an orange free covered with black aphis? Your garden notes are greatly appreciated by us. "Daphne," Epsom. , ~ . (i) The blight is probably mealy bug. Spray with nicotine sulphate, two teaspoons to ono gallon of water, with plenty of soap added to make a lather. Apply the spray with plenty of force. <2> Tho above spray will also be suitable for the black aphis. Treatment of Fruit Trees.—Jl) Could you kindly name an apple from this explanation. Not yet ripe, but a dark red with light spots about tho size of a pin-head all over. Average size apple, firm, red right, through* and bitter. (2) What treatment would you adivse for lemon and orange in drained swamp, already topdressed with burned shell, about ono third sand and the rest of a peaty nature? (3) What is the best shelter, for sandy and semi-sandy country? (4) Could .you give the treatment of apricot and nectarine on same type of soil? —L.K.. Awanui North. ; (l) It is difficult to namo an applo from j a description, but most of the details would apply to Stayman Wlnosap (2> Jho princi ! i,nl point with citrus on drained swamp is tc see that the trees do not become waterlogged i in winter. Fertiliser should bo given at least ' twice a year, in March and again in August j Two parts super, two parts Nulyhuto of am ! nionia and ono part sulphate of potash. (Sh | Tho following members of the pine family will do well on sand. P. Insignis, I. Marl timu and P. Muricala. For smaller break ! winds the native Pittosporum crassifolium h i good. (1) The apricot and nectarines will re I quire p.lcitliful supplies of lime, applied if ! the autumn, on the peaty soil. For the apri cot tlioro is no better manure than the sail sea mud, if .vou are near the sea. Apply t good mulch of this in autumn. Shrubs tor Planting.-—-(11) Can you re commend any shrubs with the. following ad vantages: Evergreen, low-growing, not ove i three or four feet, bushy and compact to th< ! ground, hardy, and with a long flowerim period? If none possess all of these virtues I can you think of some that have most, o ! them? (2) Has anemone japomca a lorn flowering season? Does it die completely ou of sight wiien not in flower, or does th plant remain visible all tho year? (3) Hav Russell lupins a long flowering period? D they die completely nway, or remain vlsibl all the year?—" Shrub," Ngatea (I) Abclia floribunda; Adcnandra unlltora Ardisia japonica; Berboris Wilsonae; Choisy ternata; Chorlzema illicifolium; Eriostemo nerifolia; Eutaxia diffusa; Felicia angust! folia; Pcrncttya mucronata; Piens japonica

Podalyria sericea; Viburnum plicatum. t«) Anemone japonica flowers in the autumn, for from four to six weeks, and always has a few leaves showing above ground. (.3) Itusseil lupins flower tor two or three months when established as clomps. The flowering stems die down in winter, but usually a small tuft of leaves is showing above ground all winter. Identification of Apple.—Could you kiftdly let me know the namo of apple' sent in separate parcel? I wish to plant a treo of the same variety.—"Apple," Mornnsville. Northern Spy. Usually a long time coming into bearing, but is worth waiting for. Identification of Shrub. —(1) Will you kindly name tho specimen of shrub enclosed? Name of apple?—J.B.A., Northcote. (1) Erythrina indicft. (2) Winesap. Glassy appearance in centre of apple is, water core, a physiological trouble, tho origin of which is in doubt. Identification of Plant.—Can you, please identify enclosed leaf? The plant is now approximately 18 inches in height, and. is growing rapidly. At present it is growing in a small box. Is it a tree or' sfc.ru b and when can it bo transplanted?—W.B.C., Whakatane. A leaf is not sufficient material to identify a plant, as plants are classified by their flowers. However, the leaf appears to be a species of polygonum, but which ono I am not prepared to say from a leaf. Tar Distillate Bprays.—ln the columns of the HERALn have appeared recommendations for tho treatment' of fruit trees with tar distillate spray fluids in winter, which it is stated are sold in a form ready for di ution with wator. Where is the solution sold? I am informed by local firms that they do not stock it and have never heard of it. In common with evory other person who has used caustic soda solution as a winter spray 1 huvo found that no precaution, including greased hands, will prevent tho opiirator receiving burns wnen spraying. Miro, | liemuera. i Names of trade firms cannot be Riven in the columns. The necessary information has been posted to you. It should bo realised that theso tar distillate sprays are also caustic, and likely to cause burns unless precautions are taken.

Garden Making.—Will you kindly adviso the best way to go nbout making soil prpductive that has been used for a chip tennis court for seven yeurs. Beneath the top layer of special clay, I spread a thin layer of green oxide which certainly stopped ho weeds from growing. I have cleared the clay from a portion of the* court, leaving the soil bare. It is in my mind to make a garden if possiblo.—E.H., Devonport. Dig the soil over as deeply as possible, trenching two spits deep if there is that amount of good soil available. Bury as much organic matter as possible in the bottom or tho trench. When completed, the top should be rough to expose as much soil to tho action of the air as possible. Give a heavy dressing of lime on tho surface to finish off. Fork the soil down in spring. Mildew of Grape.—Can you advise what is wrong with enclosed sample of grapes? The vino is about 10 years old and always has a good crop, but just before gotting ripe they commence to go hard turn brown and drop off. I have sprayed with lime

sulphur, and dusted sulphur over them but it makes no difference.- L.5.,. i arau. The trouble is mildew. It is necessary to begin treatment early in the season before the visible "signs of tho mildew appear. Burn all the fallen leaves, then give the vine a thorough spraying with Bordeaux mixture (j-4-."0 strength. Just before growth starts in spring give another spray, at ,the same strength. From tho time grpwth starts, except when in flower, the vino should have periodical sprayings with Bordeaux powder, one ounce to one gallon of water. Tree Tomatoes.—l have a tree tomato in bloom at the present time. Should pick off the flowers or not, as it is so late. ArtUur, tho flowers now. There will bo a better crop developed at tho normal season next spring. Lemon Disease.—Ono of my lemon trees has become affected as specimen enclosed. What is tho complaint and how can it be dealt with? Your gardening hints and notes are much appreciated. —"Unlucky, Heme & thc disease is verrucosis This is easily controlled by periodical sprayings with Bordeaux powder at the rate,of one ounce to one gallon of water. The spraying will not of course cure those fruits already affected, but if the ing is applied as soon as the main blossom has fallen in spring, when the young lemons arc tho size of the top of a finger, and repeated once a month through the summer, the next crop should bo clean. Identification of Apple.—(l) Will .v°u kindly identify enclosed apple? recommend some shrubs up to about, _0 fee , which would grow on the eastern slopes facing sea in Murray's Bay area.? T ) Vo " 1 , cl . ' c ' t " on and grapefruit succeed? — K., n r (1) Purlin's Beauty. ('-i) J) 10 , t ?.l lemon and grapefruit. would depend 'on thc amount of shelter which could be provided. The following will stand tho sea winds fairly we ll; Livgunaria Patorsonii, Arbutus Unedo, Pittosporums, Griselina littoralis, laniarisk, Olearias in variety, Escallonias, Pohutukawas, Karakas, I'hotlnia t.errulata, Docloncnvis co«a, Westringia rosemariinfolius. Many of tho native Hebes will also be found useful. Pruning Vines—(l> A i.cwly-plantcd Black Ilambro' grape vine in a glass-house has made growth of three laterals about ten feet long. What is the programme for pruning next season ? (2) Corms of begonias and cyclamen always seen to bo affected by small grubs which eat them vight away. What could be done to prevent this? —J.A., Devonport. (1) You must first decide how many rods you require to develop on the vine, one or two Any in excess of what is required should bo cut away right to their point of emergence. The remaining oies are shortened to three or four foot. Incidentally, these arc not laterals, but leading shoots, wluch will eventually torm the main rods, -tho laterals will arise from these next season and should be pinched when they have made seven good leaves Tho topmost shoot is not pinched, but trained right up tho glass to continue tho extension of the rod. This in turn is pruned back the following winter to four feet of tho growth made. (2) Dust the corms over with sulphur and arsenate of lead powder beforo storing away, Ono part of tho former to two of tho latter.

Planting Shrubs.—l have a piece of ground about '27 yards by IS yards, medium heavy soil. I wish to plant flowcting shrubs, and would be thankful if you would give me the nanus of suitable shrubs not to grow more thtin five or six feet in height. They must be ablq to withstand severe frosts. —"Interested." Hamilton. Aiwptevis glandulosus (Tasmanian laurel). Aucubiv japonica; Berberis Darwini, Berberis Sparkltir, OeniH'tlius Glc-ire do Versailles, Gerald!'or wax flower, Cotoneaster Franchettii. Cotoneaster Serotina, Pyracantha augustifolia, Diosma erieoides, Eriostemon nerifolia, Fqrsythia vimlissima, Garrya elliptica, lverna japonica Hike pleno, Magnolia fuscata. Polygala spcciosV, Skimmia japonica, Viburnum Sielioldtii "Weifiela floribunda.