Readers' Problems

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23809, 9 November 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

Readers' Problems

Identification of Shrubs—Will you please identify enclosed shrub specimens?—V .E.L., Matamata. (I) Coprosma retusa. r-) Coprosma tenuifolia.

Identification of Crass.—Would you please identify the enclosed specimen of grass found in the Puhi Puhi School playground?—b.M.. Puhi Puhi. . . . . . The specimen is Luzula campestns, which while resembling a grass, belongs to the family of Juncaceae. which includes rushes and sedges.

Luculfa Seed. —Could you inform me if it is usual for Luculia j?ratissima to seed in Auckland? I have lately gathered a large seedpocl full of seed and as this is the first time 1 have seen it seed, I am anxious to know what your experience is.—S.H.M., Auckland. Have not heard of Luculia seeding in Auckland before. Probably it is on account of the mild season.

Identification of Plants. —(1) Could you suggest an evergreen hardy perennial creeper to climb up a pillar? <•_>) Please identify the enclosed specimens of plants.—-H.E.S., Waihi. (1) Ficus minimus would suit your purpose admirably. Obtain plants from a scedman. (2) Agrostemma coronaria, Habrotnamnus elegans, ('2) Kudbcckia Golden Glow. Lilians cymhalaria.

Topping Lawsoniana. —Would you advise on the topping of a lawsoniana hedge? Sonic of the trees are now at the desired height for shelter. Is the present time the correct season to snip off the tops or will they bleed too freely?—" Amateur," Tauranga. The season is getting late for topping evergreens such as lawsoniana. It would he better to allow them to grow until May, then level off to the desired height. Between May and August is the best time lo top conifers. Bladder Plums. —Enclosed are samples of plums taken from an eight-year-old Japanese plum tree and I am anxious to know the cause of the trouble. —W.A.D., Helcnsville. The trouble is known as bladder or pocket plum and is a disease akin to the leaf curl of the peach; and Js controlled in much the' same manner. Pick off the affected fruits and burn them. Any branches showing nil bladder plums should be cut out. Next season spray at bud burst with Bordeaux mixture at winter strength. It is too late to do any good with this disease this season.

Pruning Broom.—'(1) My broom "Praecox" has completed flowering and is now a mass of seed pods. Should I prune it so hard back that no seed pods are left on the plantP (2) Would you advise about the pruning of a double flowering peachf Should it have the cleared like a fruit tree?—E/M., Ngatea. (1) The young growth on the broom should be pruned back sufficently to keep the bush a good shape, but on no account prune hard back into two-year-old wood. The few seed pods that are left will do no harm. (2) The growths should be thinned out on the double peach, but it is not necessary to keep an open centre to the tree. Garden Troubles. —We planted peas, beans, carrots, beet, parsnips, lettuce seed and plants all about a month ago. The leaves of the pens were suddenly badly eaten. Two beans came up, signs of carrots and lettuce seed, but these all vanished in a few days. The lettuce plants have shown no sign of growing although still green. Cabbago plants have started to make headway but the lower leaves have turned a golden brown. Will slugs attack the strawberry fruit as it forms. Flower plants put in, either dwindle down or remain at a standstill. What do you suggest as a quick growing hedgo, not too expensive?— ''Worried Gardener." Rotorua. The trouble is that nitrification docs not proceed rapidly enough in the early part of the season and in newly broken up ground the essential bacteria arc not present in sufficient quantity. Applications of nitrate of soda not more than one ounce per square yard will improve the growth of the crops and frequent cultivation with the hoe; as often as possible. The peas are probably eaten by birds. Stretch black cotton along the rows or spray with a weak solution of tar disinfectant which birds dislike. The slugs are likely lo attack the strawberries unless trapped. Frequent cultivation will gradually bring the soil into good order and results will be bettor next season after a year of working. All hedge plants are much about tho same price. Pittosporum crassifolium would make a good screen hedge which grows nuickl.v and does not take a great deal of trimming. Identification of Trees.—(J) Native, Olea lanceolata. (2) Pooulus tremuloides, the European aspen.

Cotoneaster Failing.—Could yon advise what the trouble is with my coloneaster which each spring is affected in this way? I have spraypd with Bordeaux.—"Gardener." flotorua. There does not appear to be any disease, hnt evidently the root conditions are at fault, and it would be advisable to examine these with a view to rectifying the conditions. Nerine Sarniensls. —Last autumn 1 purchased some nerine (Gucrsncy lilies) and planted about four' inches deep. During the winter the soil was wet and they have made but little growth. At tho present time the foliage is dying off. 0) Wheji they become dormant, should 1 lift them again and plant again with the necks of the bulbs level with the ground? (•_') Do they require a rich soil and plenty of water P (•'?) Do the bulbs bloom freely once the bulbs are established?—C.S., Kaikohe. (1) The bulbs are planted too deeply, keep as much of the bulb above the surface of the soil as possible. Good drainage is required, so place some scoria underneath lo drain away the surplus water. Jt is the natural season for the bulbs to dry off now. The flowers appear in autumn. C-2) A very rich soil is not required. A fair amount of moisture during the growing season which is during winter. After the foliage withers, keep as dry as possible until the flower spikes appear in autumn, then water again. (3) When once established, the bulbs should be left undisturbed as long as possible, then (hey should flower freely each season. Garden Problems. —(l) Would you let me know the (rouble with the apple specimen and tho treatment, if any, to save it? ('J) What quantity of superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia and sulphate of potash per square yard would bo correct for citrus trees? (3) Can you advise the reason for moss forming on some of my beds? (-1) Will humus lake the place of animal manures for dahlias and chrysanthemums? (.*>) 1 have a good sized lilac tree. Would it be safe lo move it without wrenching, when it has finished flowering>— "Bothwell," Waiuku. (1) Tho apple tree is affected with fireblight. Cut off all the affected twigs and burn them. Cut well back to where no furthor brown stain can bo seen in the wood. C-2) Threo parts super, two parts sulphate of ammonia and one part sulphate of potash at (wo ounces per square yard. (3) The soil is sour cither through bad drainage or lack of lime. Improve (he drainage and give a good liming, leaving exposed, roughly dug, (o the air for a lime to sweoten the soil. (-1) Yes. (5) You will not be nble to move the lilac safely until next autumn when the leaf n>"» in cn ccs to fall. About April will bo the earliest time to shift. Pruning Poinsettia.—Would you please advise as to the possible pruning and treatment of a poinsettia? Tho shrub is about three years old and quite healthy. To what extent should the pruning be carried out and when? —"Poinsettia," Torbay. All the growth which was mado last season and carried the flowers, should be pruned back now to within three or four buds of (heir base. The shoots which arise from the buds leff will carry strong growths and flower again the next season. This treatment should be carried out each year. If left mipruned the bush becomes scrubby and carries small flowers.