TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

BETH (Mprningside) sends a leaf of a palm and wishes*) know what is wrong with it—The leaf sent is covered with scale <Wee theleaves with some warm soapy watef Just warm 'enough to bear the hand ••ft. A little Clay's fertiliser would also loin tho-Dlfnt You can buy. a small ;SS?aSl«f ft. according to the. directions on the container. ~ . .; . HB (Turangarere) writes: I have a bed of 'tulips which have been undisturbed for twn vpars They flowered well last year, . but this year they, have divided into four tߣS| S^SwSl^ea^S showing well-with..,buds.—This is the i natm-al -method of increase, .with- the 4 tuliD iou can lift ..the bulbs, and grade !> them into sizes,' planting ; them accordinelv The first siie'wiU flower and then sofit UD • the second size will flower two o? perhaps three years, and then, becom- ' ing flm size i bulbs, will produce a fine I large bloom and then split up. The smfll-size will need to grow on for two or perhaps three years before flowering lon can Pither lift or leave them undisturbed: Tulips are usually lifted every year, because they are ;not so hardy as many other bulbs, and if left in the ground suffer from extremes of drought and -wet. There are soils where tulips will grow without disturbance, but, as a general rule, if you wish, to grow tulips well you must lift the bulbs yearly, and grade them into about three sizes, re- ; planting each, size separately. ;„■

PELICAN (Auckland) writes: I Wish, to send some arum lilies by train. Would they do packed in benzine cases? How should they be cut and packed, and would they need spraying with water, before packing?— You can pack the lilies in, benzine cases. Cut them when about half open. Line the boxes with paper; ordinary news paper will do; Pack the . blooms in layers with news paper between. Pack so that the flowers will not move, at the same time they must not' be crushed, so as not to bruise. The blooms should be cut and stood in w.ater for at least 12 hours before packing.' 'Pack the blooms dry and do not 'wet them once they. are packed. . Success will depend upon your method of handling; otherwise firmly packed, they 'should arrive all' right. :. ' ■ ■ ;DUD GARDENER asks for particulars: (1) ; 'delating to chokos. (2) If any flower or vegetable will grow in a light dusty soil . of poor quality. (3) If soil for potatoes : has to be specially prepared:—-(1) Chokos need • cultivation somewhat similar to ! pumpkins, except, of course, they are perennial.' The choko should be kept till ' the shoot is an inch .or so long. ' Plant in a dry, sunny position,in a • rich soil. They need plenty of manure; and, being a climbing plant, some support over which to climb. : A shed, tree, trellis, or fence does for the plant to; climb over. (2) It depends on how poor the soil is, but with addition of manure the poorest soil can be made to grow vegetables and flowers, not of the very best, but sufficiently good for ordinary purposes/ Dig in manure, weeds, old leaves, any vegetable that will decay readily. Ad"d some superphosphate, bonedust, or blood and bone, and you will grow something'.if you only plant it. (3) Soil for potatoes needs to be well dug and-sbroken ; .'up- fine. The abovementioned - dusty, soil if manured would grow potatoes, and .also tomatoes.