Readers' Problems

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23839, 14 December 1940, Page 11 (Supplement)

Readers' Problems

Identification ol Plants.—(l) C'iin you identify red-flowered plant enclosed, and will it grow from .slips? 1 (•_') Also seed enclosed in packet? <:i) How should the seeds be sown ?—"African," Cambridge. (I) Calli-temon coccinea, Australian bollle brush. Will be difficult to grow from slips in your locality, seeds will be more Mire. Gather the seeds in summer and lay on paper in the full sun until the capsules open. Save the seed and sow in spring in boxes of sandy soil. Tilhouia speciosa, Mexican sunflower. (.'!) How in boxes of soil now and plant out when large enough. Flowers in autumn. Mildewed Onions. —Could you advise the cause of my onions going as the enclosed specimen? Is there any hope of saving them? i have only dusted with wood ash. —A.F., Auckland. The onions are affected with mildew. Dusting with sulphur may save the remainder. Collar Rot in Plants.—Could you inform me why my plants are dying off and is if a disease which spreadsV I have il among sweet peas, stocks, gladioli, neniesia, etc. My plants have not shown the disease before, being usually very healthy.—D.ll.H., Cambridge. The specimens are all affected with various forms of collar and foot rot, which arose from fungus spores present in the soil. The season has been favourable for this type of trouble. The soil really needs disinfecting. This can be done with Cheshunt compound obtainable at most need stores. Nut Grass Pest.—Could you inform me of the name of enclosed weed and the best means of eradicating it? The garden has been neglected and in parts these weeds are like a carpet. Digging them up is a wasle of time as they mostly come up again.—"Puzzled," Takapuria. The weed is Cyperus rotundas, commonly called nut grass from the fact that the growths arise from a nut-like tuber which is usually two feet or more down in the soil. Unless the tuber can be dealt with, growths will continually arise no matter how often they iyc cut off. The best results have been achieved by boring holes in the infested places and pouring in oil, old sump oil will do, or gas liquor from the gas works. This method will poison the seal around the nuts but will not harm the top soil. Oil will spread a long distance through the soil and is fatal to plant life. Lilium Giganteum.—ln a recent Issue you identified a plant as Lilium gignnkuim. Could you Inf. me know where I could obtain a hulb of this species. -A.E.T., Henderson. Could any reader oblige the correspondent? Failing Lemons.—l have a Meyer lemon, Lisbon lemon and a poorman orange planted in .July of'last year. They were all doing quite well. In .Jlily- of this year 1 gave each a dressing of (hree pounds of sulphate of ammonia. About one month later the leaves dried up and fell off, also the fruit and now the wood is dead about half-way down the trunk and new shoots are forming low down. When the leaves began to fall I sprayed with blnestone and soda at one ounce per gallon. What has caused the trees to die? Was the ammonia dressing too strong? Would the spray be responsible or would it bo disease? Would yon advise planting new trees or let these grow from the new shoots?—" Citrus " Fukekohe. The ammonia dressing would not be too strong, it was most probably an incorrect spray which burned the trees, especially as ♦ !£ y _ are £ ow „ brfl *Ung into growth again. If too Tiew shoots are above the point where

tree wan budded tlre.v will make satisfactory growth, but any shoots arising from below the point of union will be from the -stock and should be rubbed off. Poa Annua in Lawn.—Could you inform me of the cause of the prevalence of poa annua which is establishing itself in my lawns, which were laid down three years ago with a mixture of two parts ehewings fescue ami one part brown top? Twice a year the lawns are top-dressed with a fertiliser .comprising four parts sulphate of ammonia, one part superphosphate and one part sulphate of iron, at the rate of one and a-half ounces per square yard. Is the nitrogenous content of the manure too hi«h, thus stimulating the growth of poa annua, which I have been told responds readily to nitrogenous manures? Without relying on any imported manures, what would you suggest as a most suitable mixture?—" Lawns." Onehunga. Poa annua rapidly takes charge of all vacant areas, and the point is that for some reason the original grasses have become thin in places. The best precaution against poa annua is a good sole of the original grass so that the seed cannot get a hold. While

•To Correspondents. Unfortunately, i lack of space necessitates replies to : numerous garden problems being held 5 ooer each Week- These will all ap- : pear in due course, but in any case • of urgency a stamped addressed • encelopci ulill bring an immediate ; reply.—"Kepos."

the nitrogenous content of your mixture is not too high, the continual use of sulphate of ammonia depletes tlio lime supplies in tlie soil, therefore the area becomes Hour and grass fends to die out. On the contrary, pon annua seems to thrive on sour soils. When sulphate of ammonia Rive a (food liming'every autumn and lliis should correct the trouble, Lily Failing.—Cyuld you advise me what, is the matter with my Christmas lily? It, flowered well last season, but this time all the flowers are as the enclosed sample, and dropping oft". The loaves and stem are looking very healthy.—"interested," Point Chevalier. Probably the dry weather. A mulch of old manure or vegetable compost over the roots keeps them cool. The flower spike is dependent on the stem roots which are iiiPiir the surface, and if these get dry the flower fails. Identification of Flowers.—(l) Please name tlio enclosed flowers. (12) What is the best manure to give gerberasf Mine do not soem to be doing well. Also tlio beat mixture to give flowers generally, as the soil seems to bo rather poor?—M.M., Tahuna. (I) Gladiolus Colvillei rosetis and Coreopsis tinctoria. Three parts blood and bone to one part sulphate of potash. If you do not have any well-decayed cow manure, the best mixture of fertilisers for general use is four parts blood and bone, three parts superphosphate and one part Hulphate of i potash. 1