HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 4, 6 October 1948, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), lege.) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS "Why are many gardeners unsuccessful in growing lemons? Most people realise the necessity for shelter from cold winds .and heavy frosts, but. few realise that citrus trees are voracious feeders and that, in dry weather, they become verythirsty. Citrus fruits are nutritious and invaluable to the health of a nation, and for this reason are well worth a little trouble. There are few fruit trees which flower, develop young fruits and mature old fruits •all at the one time. This factor provides a sound reason for the plant’s greedy habits. To future growers we recommend the thorough preparation of the soil and the incorpration of lfberal dressings of organic material. This will greatly improve the soil condition and its water-holding capacity. Soil should be preferably a medium to heavy loam but not stiff or waterlogged. Shelter must be provided to protect the plant from both cold and hot drying winds, but the position should never be shady. To be healthy they require plenty of light and ail'. Established plants will from organic manure dug in' and thoroughly mixed with the soil outside the compact root system. It is during the early spring months that there is the greatest drain on the plant’s reserves. A mixture of superphosphate 2 parts, bonedust or bonemeal 1 part, sulphate of potash i part, nitrate of soda 1| parts, is recommended at the rate of 2oz pen square yard over the full root-spread, first in August and again in March. For those who prefer blood and bone, this may be applied at the rate of 3ozs plus £oz of potash per square yard at the above times.

Citrus are ©rnamental, require little pruning (just a light thinning) and fruit when four or five years old. All pruning cuts should be protected with a bitumenous paint, and if scale appears a white oily, spray is essential. Soak the ground thoroughly in dry weather and the mulch will conserve the moisture. Grow the hardier varieties in cooler districts—your nurseryman will be able to help you in this respect. Spring-Flowering Bulbs V Why do we remove the spent flowers and yet retain the untidy foliage of spring-flowering bulbs? Firstly, with anemones and ranunculi the removal of the dead flowers will prevent the development of seed, and the energy thus saved is diverted to the development of more and larger flowers. Most hyacinths set seed very freely, and the removal of spent flowers will redirect plant food to develop and mature the bulb. Similarly, after flowering, the foliage is mainly concerned with developing the bulb and converting plant food, which is stored up in the bulb, to nourish both bulb and the new embryo flowers until the leaves appear next season. This 1 applies to all bulbs, and although the foliage may be untidy it must be retained, undamaged, until it turns yellow, when it may be removed, as it has then ceased to function. Spraying For Aphis ' Why must we spray for aphis (greenfly?) These sucking insects pierce the outer tissues of the plant with a fine proboscis through which they suck the life-blood of the plant •—the sap. They increase at a terrific rate, and by weight of numbers must seriously weaken the constitution of ,the plant. They also deform leaves and shoots and, above all, spread the dreaded virus diseases. . Virus diseases are not immediately fatal, and the disease may be carried by a plant for months before the infection is - obvious. ■ln the meantime sap-sucking insects may have infected many other healthy plants. Aphis is by far the greatest enemy in the spring, though leafhoppers and thrips become epidemic later on in the year. As the young growths begin to develop and the weather becomes drier, aphis hatch out from winter eggs and increase very rapidly indeed. Poison sprays on the leaf surface are useless, as the “beak” or proboscis is so fine that it pierces the tissue unharmed and feeds from under the poisoned leaf-surface. “Black Leaf 40” or other nicotine spray is generally recommended. "