HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 4

HOME GARDEN

' " *7 J AMSWEBING- BEADEBS QUESTIONS OF THE MOMENT BY EEPOS . ' Here are a few general interest questions from readers. Other readers may find answers to their problems here also. Question: How long should one contirml using calomel oust on onion? to confix maggot? control Answer: As a rule it is not necessary to continue applying the calomel aft e " r the onions have commenced to make obvious bulbs, but no absolute guarantee can be given. If it is known that attacks of onion fly are still -beW experienced in the district, it would be wise to make another application to your own crop. Question: A new piece. of ground -brok«n up .fairly late in the spring u-as sovjliwith various garden crops, but most of (Jiil. seem to have failed and those which'ton' main grow very slowly. Is it something lacking in the soil or what is the matter? 8 Answer: Tiiis trouble can usually be traced to a looseness of the soil. The soil underneath being left in clods while the top was raked smooth "for the seeds. The clods shrink and crack the finer soil sifting down .from the top making a genera! looseness.' The best advice is to tread as thoroughly as possible between the rows, using "Leei pressure most where resistance is slight, est. Restore the levoi by the use of harrow and rake, working right up' to tho plants where there lias been any displacement. In a few days there will be, a transformation in the laggard plants. ' » Question: My -lettuce are troubled with « disease which causes thern to become a wet' brown mass in the centre. Is there any ri rav which could be used or any other means rif control? Answer: The trouble is ring spot which starts as brown, water-soaked spots on the midribs or t he older leaves The disease progresses until the -whole plant is involved. The disease is con traded from the debris of previous lettuce crops and is a suspicion that it can be carried on the'seed. No spray is effective and control measures consist in disinfection of seed and burning of all lettuce debris. So waste leaves' should be put on the garden or on the compost heap. Change the ground for lettuce as often as possible. Question: Out of a number of shallof* planted, more than halfwithered away prematurely and the bulbs eeem to haTe rotted What is wrong? Answer: The bulbs are affected by one of the onion rots. Probably they were not sound when planted and the trouble has developed. Pull up and burn the failures. Question: How often should lettuce be jo*n to keep up a continuous supply? Answer: Once a fortnight, and at this season of the year sow sparingly in drills, thin out when an inch or two in height and leave the rest undisturbed to mature. Question: What would be the best crop to follow onions when they are haryested?' Answer: Winter broccoli would be suitable. This crop will benefit from the manures left over from the onions and will appreciate the hard ground. There will he no need to dig the ground again, simply clear off the weeds and plant the broccoli plants. Question: Am having difficulty in my garden in that the vegetables do not' seem to mature. Cabbage and lettuce have no hearts; carrots and turnips produce a lot of leaf, but little root. Some kinds make a certain amount of growth and then stop. Have applied vegetable compost and a littl* animal manure. Answer: Obviously the soil is tionr and lacking in body. Prick in blood and bone over the surface at the rate of two ounces per square yard. When the ground is cleared in autumn, manure heavily yith animal manures and compost. Supplement these bulky dressings with chemical fertilisers immediately prior to planting or sowing in the spring. The best plan would be to purchase a proprietary compound fertiliser for use, preferably one showing an analysis of approximately equal percentages of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash.