To Correspondents.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20274, 7 April 1934, Page 28 (Supplement)

To Correspondents.

ROSET (Avonside):—Apparently your plant has quite a wide range of settlement, as I have been advised of several growing plants, mostly strays. Please see Women's Page, to-night’s issue, for a description and identity of the plant. FRUITGROWER writes: I have a fowl run which I turned over last year and took off a crop of potatoes. It is now sown down in oats. The soil is fairly heavy, clay subsoil. I can obtain plenty of cow manure and a little stable and fowl manure. I wish to grow a few each of raspberries, strawberries, black currants, and would like to know: (1) When to buy the plants or trees (2) What treatment for the soil? (3) Any other' hints regarding planting, pruning, etc., and the best variety to purchase? should be procure*! as early as possible in April if weather renders them available. The currants and raspberries in May. (2) For these fruit deeply worked and well manured soil is required, if ploughed or dug two spits deep. Three weeks before planting apply superphosphate at the rate of ten cwt to acre, or four ounces to the square yard. (3) Bush fruits and strawberries as mentioned above need rich, well worked soil and frequent cultivation after planting. They also make a mass of surface roots, and for this reason no deep digging with spade or fork should be done near them. Mulching during summer is advisable. Use long, strawy stable manure if obtainable. Pruning and general cultivation is dealt with in these columns in due season. SELKIRK (Ashburton) asks: (1) What is the blemish on the enclosed aspidistra leaf, and is there any remedy for it? (2) What is the correct time to repot aspidistras, maidenhair and other ferns? (3) What causes maidenhair fronds to open perfectly, but dry off almost immediately?—(l) Due to thrips. Wash the leaves once a week, using a sponge or soft cloth, with warm soapy water, or spray with a nicotine spray. (2) Spring, say, about August, just before growth commences. (3) Due probably to thrips. Spray with nicotine sulphate, adding • a little soap to the spray mixture.