Readers' Problems

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23719, 27 July 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

Readers' Problems

Lemon Trouble.—(l) Enclosed are loaves of lemon and orange affected by .some blight. Pleuso .enlighten mc as to what it is and the necessary steps to take. (•_') A two year old coloneastcr lias grown rapidly, but for soine time certain branches have been withering. Could you .please define the reason for thisf—"Citrus" Te Aroha.

(1) The citrus are affected with wither-tip disease and are also deficient in nitrogen. Spray at intervals with Bordeaux powder, one ounce to one gallon of water. Apply sulphate of ammonia lo the trees in March and again in August of each year. C2) Cotoneasters arc subject to the fireblight which affects them in the manner described. Cut out the affected branches as soon as they are seen, down to clean live wood where no stain can be seen in the inner tissues.

Brown Rot In Peaches.—Would you advise tho best sprays to use for the following diseases of peach trees: (I) Brown rot. (•_') Tree bears a very late peach. The fruit is large and has a good colour, but it is very hard and does not soften at all, although it is sweetf—C.M.T., Kailaia.

(I) The first spraying for brown rot should •be given just before the buds burst, Bordeaux mixture 8-(MU. After the fruit has set, spray with lime sulphur i in I'M. Give two repeat sprayings before the end of tho year with lime sulphur and two more in the New Year for the later peaches. Much can be done now by clearing up and destroying all mummified peaches that are on the trees and underneath. Also cut out and burn any cankered twigs which will (rive rise to the disease next season. (•_') There is no spray which would make the peach soft. It is simply the fault of the variety. Peaches of this description are of more use for cooking or preserving purposes.

Quince Spot.—(.l) I have a quince which (lowers sparsely and any fruits formed develop -a "hairy" appearance and drops off in the early stages. The tree has black spot which I have endeavoured to control by spraying. There are also several cankers on the main stem. Would either of these be the cause of lack of production? Do you advise discarding the tree or not? (12) My other' problem is a Bon Chretian pear about VI years of age which has never flowered. Grow;th is vigorous and is free from disease. Is it of any use keeping this tree or should I remove it to make room ror a more profitable treef—"Perplexed," Hamilton. fl) The spot is probably the cause of the lack of production. Spray the tree with Bordeaux powder, two ounces to each gallon of water, just before the buds burst; after the blossoms show but are not open, spray with lime sulphur, I in SO; repeat after the fruit has set. It is essential with this disease to rake up and burn nil fallen leaves as the disease is carried over on the leaves. (2) Pears take a while to come into bearing, but if the growth is viicorous the tree would respond to root pruning. This is best done in April, but it would be better to do the prunine at once rather than leave it another year. Dig a circle round the tree about a yard from the trunk. Work round and underneath, cutting all the large roots. The effect will be to check growth and enable the tree to set fruit buds next season. These should fruit in the following season. Non-Fruiting Lemons.-— Enclosing cutting from one of seven lemon trees, seven feet high and seven years old and all look healthy, but so far have home no fruit. I gave most of them some root pruning round one side. Could you arive mc any idea from the enclosed wliv they do not fruit and if so. advise me what to do to make them fruitful? —H. 8., Auckland. , , „.. , If the cutting is a sample of all the trees, they are citronelle, not lemon. Probably they have arisen from the stock on which the lemons were originally budded. They are not worth growing as fruits, but they could be budded over with other lemons.