ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 25

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

'Manure."—Horse mauure gathered from paddocks is not so good as stable manure, as it does not contain the same proportion of ammonia. At tho same time it is quite valuable and worth gathering..

.rolmsonrllle." —(1) Stable manure is the best possible manure for potatoes if you can cat it. A good chemical mixturu. is that mentioned in the reply to "Aster" in tlUs week's notes. (2) It is rather late to put in shallots now —the middle of Juno :is"the.proper time.- -If they are procurable you might try a few. (I!) Gladioli conns may be,planted from June to October.' .If planted at intervals the season of blooming mt'.y bo greatly prolonged. It should he • borne in mind, however, that, some arcl liaturally early and some late bloomers.

'];.. A\'."— Your anemones arc1 affected with 'fist, which Works down from tho folinee into the"coriri.' Anemones should be planted each year, conns rarely giving satisfactory results for more than one season.:. When buying conns choose small ones as they invariably give bettor results. If you prefer they may bo raised from seed which . sould te sown in April or May, the seedlings being allowed to grow on till they die down In the hot weather. Leave ;thom 'until they begin to grow

•Ssain in too- autumn, when they may bo lifted and planted into prepared beds. The "Joung plants should flowor the following spring. Anemones lilts good rich soil— Impossible fcdd- well-rotted tow manure. "JBnrb'aiii.^—Plant tho potatoes in Hie usual way, and when harvesting the crop keep " aside ill thoM lult&ble tor sets. Good- '■ shaped potatoes about the size of duck's eggs mafca tha best sets. Place these in shallow tray»- in a light airy shed to B 'ieen and sprout. (2) The Argentine pea is somewhat chancy and does, not always thrive. You might try thinning out the ,;rroiUhs-*uttlng them well down and give the plant some JTloraphoa or nitrate of soda. (3) Tomatoes should be sprayed with Bordeaux Mixture every three weeks during growth. Chrysanthemums may have the same spray as a preventive to rust. Cabbages should be sprayed with Black Leaf 40 to rid them of fly. (4) If your plum tree la affected with "gumming" 1 ipray after the petals have dropped with lime sulphur solution and lime the ground ] « well. Directions as to quantities to use .ue stated on the containers of all spray

\f. ''pi-eparatlons. ''Aatur."— W A Rood mixture of chemical ■ >! immures :fo>. potatoes is as follows: loz i '■' ;;)jotusli,-Soz-aupßi-,. and loz sulphate of : ; C;immoubi/::to: the sauaro. yard. If stable ',' Js available It Is the heat for- . riliscrjpoaible.^ (2) You could move :: \our eameljfa .how, aUboush a little lato. ■■ rdanser. .'nrovided you keep the ■"'■ .iroot'3: l mblit:'anitlithey,, have roco'voredL The 'i -shrub should b« well staked until properly '•"•' /established. '. <3) For Wiling white clover •on l»vi!iui'ra» milpliate of ammonia. Cut ; '' tije grasg-short;.-then water with a solution ■ i'of %lb;of "gulphate of. ammonia to one :': uallon of water. Dissolve ammonia In a -bucket sad strain Into the watering can. '■' Strstch two Unes on the lawn 9 feet apart, 'hen spread the Ilqnld between the lines ■■•:-'as far as it will go, being careful to cover ' vsvery inch and to mark with a stick where ;■.!:! left off, so that the lawn will not ba

; ' patchy. Done In tills way and using a i ~: moderately coarse rose on the can four gal- , ilons will do about 9 feet square. This ;■:■ treatment—may, mafee 'the grass a little ■: brown for » time, but It will soon recover, 'and grow, luxuriantly, and the clover and , most Other weeds will be exterminated. (4) . Treat th« ground for asters either with 'rfiemhunt compound; or White Island pro- ,; duot No.'l,.the> latUr at the rate of mi

■;, to tha HQUare yard. ! Chesfmnt compound f is made as follows: Soss blucslonc, lloz ; ; Rtanipriiuin > carbonate,' powder finely, and ;« jnlx together, placing them In an air- ' tight container—a screw-top jar Is nest. r: Allow to stand for at least 24 hours before 1 VOSlng. '.Dilute loz of the mlxturo to. the / gallon of water. Apply to the ground by •- taßaaa :,of watering can, before planting, '. sjnd at intervals of 3 or A weeks during ,? growth. The compound does not injure . fee plants, oven if it gets on to the folt- -'; ose. This will destroy the organism ■i Which causes the plants to die off, but ; ; S la not a cure for affected plants, which ■: should JK> pulled nut and burnt at the first ..signs; of the-trouble.

" ; There aiways seems to eowe a period ,of unsettled-weather at this season, when there-is ao much to be done, both in the vegetable and flower garflea. Heavy rain saturates the soil ana 'make it—-^except in favoured positions unworkable. While the growth (if-plants is severely cheeked by unexpected eojd snaps, the weeds grow apace and come to flower and seed at a great fate. Any early sown seeds which have germinated stand a big risk of being- smothered out by seedling weeds or eaten off by slugs which harbour beneath them. Every effort must bq hiade to check the growth of weeds, even.though the work has to be done by 'hand weeding—the hoe being of lit'tle'-ns© until the soil gets drier on the< surface. Digging the weeds under is 4^better method'where the soil is not too wet and heavy, and where there is sufficient Bpac© between the plants to use tie spade safely. Seedling crops, whether o£ flowers or vegetables, should be, thinned out when quite small to ensure sturdy growth. When allowed to remain overcrowded they become drawn and spindly, and are also liable to contract collar-rot. Most of the hardy annuals do much better if the seedlings are all priflked out into nursery beds when they have got their first pair of true vr ;rongh leaves. They should be jrruwn on in this position until large enough to plant out, when it will be found that they have made quantities <>f fibrous roots. When lifted direct out/of the seed beds and planted out, it will be noticed that most of them hava,,very few roots except a long tap ' HARDY SUBJECTS. This is a good month for sowing, all: Rarely subjects- in the open ground. 9fhe soil has goi warm, «wi<3, given goo<!

conditions, -.germination should tako place with the minimum of delay. TJio half-hardy and tender annuals should bo raised in boxes under glass, as there is too great, a risk of: failure whun they are- sown in tho open ground. The soil' for the seed boxes should be sterilised by heat to kill all insect life and weed seeds. This may be done by placing tho riddled soil in kerosene tins on the kitchen range or .in tho oven till it has been well heated all through. Where only a few boxes are required it is well worth while to go to this trouble, as it obviates the necessity of weeding tho boxes while the seedlings are :tiny, and also because there will be no risk of the seedlings being destroyed by insect pests. DAHLIAS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMS. The old roots may be planted now for early flowering. They require wellworked and manured ground, which should have been prepared in the autumn or winter. Fowl manure is particularly good for dahlias, and may be, mixed while dry with tho soil in which the tubers arc to be planted. Young chrysanthemum plants, raised from cuttings or suckers, should all be in' and making root growth. Keep them free from .weeds, and when rooted encourage growth by giving I liqliid manure or.nitrate of soda occaI'sionally. Don't let them get too tall before stopping them —that is, gripping out. the leading shoot. When, about four inches high is the best time 'for tho first stopping.

GLADIOLI.

Conns of the large autumn-flowering gladioli should be planted in ground

which lias been well dug. Mix a little bonedust; with tho soil;.also wood ashes. Do not use fresh animal manures-; ■ The conns should be planted with the tops four or five inches below the surface. AMONG THE VEGETABLES. Main crop- potatoes should be planted in ground which has been well dug and manured. Crops which are already through the ground should be sprayed with Bordeaux Mixture prior to being earthed up. Earthing up should bo done as soon as the plants are far enough through the soil, as it helps to protect the tender growth from frost and from being blown about and at the same time cultivates the soil. Next to potatoes, peas take pride of place, and are the most necessary vegetable. Sowings should be made every three weeks where space is available. Sow seed fairly thinly and cover to a depth of tyro or three inches. Tall varieties must1 be: staked; to get tho best results even dwarf kinds should alao have support.,,- EaTth up along the rows before-staking. • . Lettuces ma.y be planted out in rich soil. All salad, plants require to be grown quickly, and that can only bo J done by rich soil and keeping the plants, uniformly moist. Sowings of iettudes may be made at intervals. For preference sow in. rows, as it is so much more' easy to weed them. Artichokes may be 'planted now. j They should be planted like potatoes, allowing three or four feet between i the rows. As they grow so tall, they j should not be set in such a position, that they will keep the sun from I dwarfer crops.