ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26410, 14 March 1947, Page 4

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

“ Wakatipion,” Queenstown. —I cannot detect any bitter flavour in your apricots, but no doubt your tree needs feeding. Give a dressing of superphosphate and bone dust, 2|oz of each to the square yard, in September and again in November. and with a mulch of farmyard manure or compost during the summer and good waterings in November, December, and January should the weather be dry the fruit should improve in size and quality.

“ Interested,” Oamaru.—You should certainly get new potato seed, preferably from the south, and try another variety. Certified seed is the best, though it may cost a little more. There is very little difference between the time of sowing and planting in Oamaru and Dunedin. You could sow down your lawn as soon as we get satisfactory rains after Easter, and. if a small one, it is better to get a lawn grass mixture of fine seeds from a seedsman. If large, make a mixture of two parts chewings fescue, and one of browntop and sow at the rate of IJoz to the square yard. If the soil is very light add half a part of suckling clover. You can sow your sweet peas now in small pots, winter them in a frame or sheltered place, and plant them out in the spring. Meantime, prepare a trench 21ft wide and 2ft deep, mixing in a good dressing of compost and lime or lime rubble. Break up the bottom of the trench.