ON THE LAND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 March 1917, Page 3

ON THE LAND

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS (From the Journal of Agriculture). COAL-ASH ROUND TREES " Inquirer," Hedgehope : —Please state whether coal-ash put on top of the ground around apple trees for the purpose of keeping down weeds would have any bad effect on the trees ? , The Horticulture Division : —Coal ashes applied in the way stated would not detrimentally affect the trees unless used to excess. PROPAGATING LOGANBERRIES E.W.H, Waimate:—Will you kindly inform nae whether loganberries can be struck from slipping? from old canes ? If so, wh«u should the slipping^ be taken, and how deep should they be planted ? The Horticulture Division :-r If a few plants only are required they may be obtained by striking cuttings made from th« tips of strong, shoots about 6in long, and planted twothhds of their length in well worked soil kept free of weeds. If "many plants are required, bond the canes down, peg them, and cover with two or three inches of soil. They i"ill then root at every joint. The time for doing this is late autumn.

SOWING PASPALUM—DESTROYING TAUHINU W.A., Masterton : —(1) I desire-to Know whether it is advisable to sow Paspalum dilatatum with grain in the autumn. The land is light soil on a shingle basis, diies up grealy in the smmmer, and is flat- and ploughable. (2) Kindly state if there is any remedy for tauhinu b-^on& cutting and pulling. The Fields Division . —(1) It is not considered wise to sow paspalum on land that is ploughable and that can grow superior grasses aud crops. If yonr land is not suited for these lat.ter you could sow the paspalum, but even under such conditions there is danger of it bfing carried on to good land. If you are intent on sowing, you had hotter sow in the spring, as if sown in the autumn in your district there is danger of it being injured, if not killed, by the frosts of winter. Sown alone, also, it would have a better chance.

(2) Tauhinu could be rolled heavily and finally fired. Failing this, grubbing or cutting and firing is the only means of eradication. RAISING CUPRESSUS MACROCARP A TREES B. and C, Taupaki:—What time of the year should maorocarpa cones be gathered to get seed to plant ; and is it best to plant in boxes or rows in a garden till the plants are one year old, and then transplant ? The Horticulture Division : —The cones of Cupressus macrocarpa may be gathered any time. Avoid those at the extremity of the branches, as they may not be mitured. It is a good plan to cut them acrosfr and see their condition. If fit, the white germ of the seed shows up distinctly. The seed may be sown in boxes or m well-prepare.d garden soil. Keep clear o,f syeedij. A fram,e of boards round th,e b,ed, is h^lpf^l to. control visits o| snaUs^ slu.gs, efo Shading with scrim, iq \h,& early stag? of growth, may h,e n,eces,sary.' Qoyev the seeds h,y ;jus.t sieving en.ou.gii soil q^er th.em. tq put tl\em. gut of sighj;.

GROWING COCKSFOOT FOR SEED F.W.EL, Matakana :—Please let me know whether cocKsfoo^ ao.wn in autumn \vi\\ giva a marketable crop of seed by, say, January next, Or must it not be cut until its second year ? la it advisable not to graze cocksfoot intended for beed ? What quantity of seed per acp. "j^ili be required for p A lqy|ghe r 4 lanii for a seed crop only £ The Fields Division ;— On strong soils cocicsfoot sown *jft autumn should p^roYi^e a, sa,tia factory crop of seed t^ci i'o.Howi^g January, psrtiqu., larly U.the gras« is n,qt graced to any e^teut:. \\qtii the second ye^r a.nd Judiciously grazed tneantin;e, however, ifc would, yield a heavier orop of seed with more vitality. G-atnering seed fron: maiden pasture is not encouraged.. Cocksfoot intended for seed could be grazed fahly freely in the early p,art of the season, hx\\ yip i« "pn^y T.easoa- : a^e to ftieraa^ter give it ample time to develop stem and ample* abundance of seed. On average Jand to seeded with c,qQk.sfQo.l[ a.la^e sow at . leaut tfifa p,or acre-

The spraying of yoting trees for leaf-eating iusocts is v«ry often neglected owing to the trees not bearing fruit, with the result that many hundreds of young ppar, cherry, and plum trees are practioelly ruined through the ravages of the pear-slug alone before, th,ey r@^ch the bearing age. This damage c.ould be easily averted by' spraying once or twice with |oz of arsenate of to a gallon of water. ;; ',