HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25266, 28 July 1945, Page 4

HOME GARDEN

REPLYING TO READERS SOME COMMON PROBLEMS BY KEPOS Answers to further garden queries are published here for the benefit, of other readers who may have similar problems Question: Sample enclosed of a which affects plants in a small greenE, What is the trouble and how sIS itT treated P • 0 " Answer: The black disease is a soot? fungus which lives on the honeydev excreted by aphis and similar insects Destroy the aphids by fumigation and the sooty fungus will disappear. Question: Plum and apple trees ir. . loo\m Sh ° Uld ,h6y K H Answer: If tlie trees are old and over grown some pruning may invigorate them. Jhe best plan would be to thin out the centres, cutting some fairlv large branches well back. From these new shoots will arise next season The« can be utilised to take the place of some more of the older branches wWI, can be then cut out to make room' for them. In cutting out, remove old u n fruitful or cankered branches, always giving preference to young, clean wood well set with iruit buds. Question: Crop of beetroot grown thi« w season is very unsatisfactory when cooked having hard black lumps within. What V. the reason for this? 1! Answer: Probably due to a deficiency of boron. Dress the soil a few weeks before sowing with borax at two ounces per square rod. The best way to apply would be to dissolve the two ounces of borax in five gallons of water and spray the solution on the area. Question: Can you recommend a good tti tiliser for cacti in which I am interested? Answer: .Most cacti are slow growing plants and require little, if any, fertiliser. A very little old dried' cow manure can be incorporated with the compost when repotting, or coarse bonedust. Question: Is there some fault in the soil or in the plants themselves that causes green vegetables to grow without forming, hearts Savoys are leafy without hearts. bra«els sprouts are open, and during last season "lettuce, although of good size, failed to heart?

Answer: Often caused by the soil not being firm enough, or quick growth following a summer check. Firm the soil well before planting, then keep the top inch or two loose with the hoe. Question: Plum tree grown from a stone saved from a specially good plum. Will this bear in time?

Answer: Yes, the tree will bear, but whether the plum will be identical with the parent is another matter. The fruit of seedlings may be worth while, but in many cases it is inferior to the parent. Your best plan would be to bud or graft over the seedlings with scions from the parent tree if this is possible. In that case the fruit would be identical with the parent.

Question: Feijoa three years old makes no headway, for as soon as new growth ig made the heart of the shoot is eaten. The few flowers disappeared overnight. What can I dof

Answer: The shoots are evidently eaten by the leaf roller caterpillar. Pinching the affected shoots between the finger and- thumb will kill the caterpillars within. Jn addition sprat at intervals with arsenate of lead one ounce to four gallons of water. The blooms were probably eaten by sparrows, which are fond of the sweet petals.

Question: What strength of a solution of arsenate of lead should be~ used to immerse seed potatoes?

Answer: One ounce in four gallons of water to kill grubs of potat-o tuber moth inside the tubers.

Question: Lemon tree sets fruit, hut after a few weeks they turn brown and fall off. What treatment would be necessary?

Answer: The lemon tree is affected by wither-tip disease. Spray with bordeaux powder one ounce to one gallon of water just before the main blossom opens and again just when the fruits na.ve set and are about the size of the thumbnail. Do not spray while the tree is in full bloom.-.

Gittos —Holliday.—The engagement is announced between Staff-Serseant Murray Benjamin Gittos, X.Z.T.S., elder son of Mr and Mrs B. F. Gittos. of "Jii Orakati Avenue, Epsom, and Hazel Constance Faith, daughter of Mrs L. Holliday and the late Mr S. A. Holliday, of _'S Ladies' Mile, Remuera.

Hanna—Campagnolo.—The engagement ii announced between James, only son of Mr and the late Mrs J. Hanna, of Queen Street, Petone. and Grace-Nellie, only daughter of Mr and Mrs F. Campagnolo, of Elizabeth Street, Petone.

Hargraves—Motion.—The engagement is announced between John Carman, second son iff Mr and Mrs J. Hargraves, of Auckland, and Joyce Aubrey, daugnter of Mr and Mrs nan Motion, of Pukekohe.'

Hern—Patterson.—The engagement is announced between Albert-Maxwell, second son of Mrs M. T. Hern. .Vis Mount Eden Road, Mount Kile n, and Jacqueline Antoinette, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Patterson, .'is Oranga Avenue, Elierslie.

Hughes—Sanders.—The engagement is announeed between Able Seaman James Bernard Hughes, K.N.Z.N., youngest son of Mr and Mrs M. Hughes, of Parnell, and Bette Ruby, only daughter of Mr and Mrs L. C. Sanders, of Kangiriri. Jariov—Patterson.—The engagement is announced between Ivan, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A. Jariov, of Rotoiti, and Katharine, youngest daughter of Mrs and the late Mr M. Patterson, of Rotoehu.

Johnston—Alison.—Mrs I. Alison, of 81 Albert Road. Devonport. announces the engagement of her youngest daughter. Patricia May, to Flying OUlcer Lawrence Hugh Johnston, youngest son of Mr and Mrs J. A. B. Johnston. 'of Hikutaia.

McDonald—Stewart.—The engagement ii announced between Douglas Hugh, only son of Mrs and the late Mr H. McDonald, of Marsden Avenue, Mount Eden, and Muriel Joyce, eldest daughter of Mr anil Mrs R. A. Stewart, of Taniwha Street, Hamilton.

McNamara—O'Loan.—The engagement i* announced between Joseph, youngest son of Mrs and the late Mr Michael McXamara. of Tilllu, County Clare, F.ire. and Theresa Bernadette, second daughter of Mrs and the late Mr John O'Loan. of 15A Kendall Place, Eden Terrace, Auckland. Mattson—Cameron.—The engagement is announced between Flying Officer L. H. (Bill) Mattson of the R.A.F., England, youngest son of Mr and Mrs W. Mattson, of Elierslie, Auckland, and Evelyn, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Cameron, of Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

Mausner—Dodd.—Mr and Mrs H. M. Dodd, of Orakei, announce the engagement of their eldest daughter, Xoreen Alicia, to Milton Aaron, third son of the late Mr and Mrs il. L. Mausner of New Jersey. U.S.A.

Mullis-—Wilson.—The engagement is an* nonnced between Robert Bruce Mullis, second son of Mrs K. B. Gonrlay. of Wellington, ana Valerie Joan, elder daughter of Mr_and Mri .Tames Wilson, of Gillies Avenue, Epsom. Parrott—White. —The encasement is announced between Ernest Thomas, eldei S" 3 of Mr and Mrs E. Parrott, of Chnstrhurcn, and Ngaire Marv. only daughter of Mrs ana the late Mr H. White, of Auckland. Richardson—Maude. —-The engagement is announced between Douglas Jack, only son or Mrs A. A. and the late Mr J. D. Richardson, of Epsom, and Cynthia, youngest daughter Mr P. de M. Maude and the late Mrs Maude, of Tauranga. Riddetl—Windleburn.—The engagement is announced between Staff-Sergeant Ar'y'ir 1 i - dell, Second X.Z.E.F., eldest son of Mir CJ*. Hiddell, Hnrdinge Road, Napier, and Helen Frances, eldest twin daughter of a " an Officer and Mrs H Windleburn, S>monds Strict, Auckland. . Robinson- Halliwell.—The engagement I* announced between Diamond ,Tcnne>s Mr and Mrs 11. R. Robinson of Terrace, Wellington, and Ethel Rita. da giliter of Mr and Mrs M. W. Haih«ell. of Whaknangiangi. (lishorne. , Scott Percy.— Mr and Mrs H n Farmers Koad. Matamata. announce the engagement of their eldest «>"»*>]««• June Moire, to Raymond George f( " d S.Mr and Mrs W. J.-Scott of Feria Road. Matamata. n T St ring field — Hawk. —Mr and Mrs H- • Hawk, of Morvern Road, Epsom, the engagement of their elder < Keilhn Mary, to Leading A.rcraftman HugQ Stringfield. R.N.Z.A.F.. and Mrs F. N Stringfield. of Kiwita Morrinsville. _ St. Clair-Maclardy—Munro.--lhe engag ment is announced between "I'iJ H L. St Clair-Maclardy, only son of Mr. »■ . Riott. of I I Herbert Road. n ' F : d y utl ro Norma, youngest daughter oi ._' r - ■„rkworthand the late Mr R. G, Munro. of Y>ark«or