CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1932, Page 19

CORRESPONDENCE

PREESIAS, CARNATIONS, ETC "Puzzled.' '-The : froesias would have been better had they been allowed to mature their foliage before lifting Premature lifting undoubtedly woa | ens tho bulbs to some extent, but they should not bo entirely, ruined in one season. They will probably not be not! iceably affected. . . . Carnations do not require a mulch so much as many other plants, a s they are deeper root! cd. If you wish to feed them the cowmanuro mixture you' mention would be as .well lightly forked in. Rain and watering would wash it down to tho roots. . . . The hollyhocks should start to send up their flower spikes as the weather gets warmer. A dose of nitrate of soda, about 2oz to the gallon of water, should push them along. KUMERAS. "Puzzled" (P.B.).—The plant you sent down was a native—probably one of the Bullinella species—and is nothing like a kumera. The ■ varieties of kumeras, or sweet potatoes, differ greatly in habit, some producing long trailing -vino while others are bushy. The leaves are also very variable, but resemble, to some''extent smooth tomato or potato leaves. I have up drawing of the plant available at present, ; but should Ibe able.to procure one, will be glad to have it reproduced for your information. ANTS ON BROAD BEANS. "Inquirer."—The best thing would be to trace- the .ants to their nests and destroy them there by pouring in some hot water, but if you cannot locate the nest you could keep-them-away from tho.plants by.-soaking',a strip of canvas or sacking in kerosene and'laying it on both sides of the rows. The ants would not cross this. They are hard to get rid' of unless their nests can bo located. I