LICE IN HENS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7387, 13 February 1902, Page 4

LICE IN HENS.

A correspondent in Farm Poultrj' gives an ingenious device for freeing laying hens of lice, after having used many other methods and failed. His plan was — Take an ordinary common sized cotton clothesline ; unbraid it so that it will make one-third or half when flattened out ; cut in pieces about 12 inches long, and wind each once around the roost, letting the two ends pass down into the neck of a bottle about two-thirds full of kerosene, the bottle being suspended from the roof by a string fastened around the neck. The clothesline acts like a wick, drawing the oil up out of tho bottle, and it being saturated with the oil, no louse can help coming into contact with it when he attempts to go to the hens at night, or when he leaves her in the morning. Hens with scaly feet and legs are also soon cured of their trouble when this method is used. Bottles can be suspended three or four feet apart on the roosts.

AN OBSTINATE FARMER.

A Suffolk farmer, Mr W. Meen, of Stradbroke, possesses a wheat nek still unthreshed that was reaped in the harvest of 1873. It is built on an iron stand about 2ft from the ground, and the roof is kept in good repair; the rick altogether is in an excellent state of preservation for its age, being quite free from mice and rats. Some heads of wheat were pulled out of the rick a short time ago, and the grains were found to be quite bright, but of a reddish colour from age. The rick is supposed to contain about 250 bushels, and the reason the wheat reinains unthreshed is, it is said, that the owner, when stacking it, made a vow that he would never thresh it until ifc made 25s a sack — a price that has not yet been offered.

PASTORALISTS' BEVIEW ON NEW ZEALAND.

In a recent editorial article, the Pastoralists' Review says : "We beli&ve that New Zealand has found its point of supreme natural vantage in meat production, and, though it no doubt has a serious rival in Argentina, yet it will ttike a great deal of bad management to oust the British colony from its proud pre-eminence as a producer of first-class meat. For butter and cheese production also we see no other country with greater natural advantages than Now Zealand, which has only just begun to put forth its strength in that direction. The development of its dairy industry should assist to check the reaction which is anticipated in New Zealand during the next few years, and which is immediately promoted by the low price of crossbred wool."

EXPERIMENTS IN LACTATION.

At the lowa Experiment Station tests have recently been made re the effect of the period of lactation upon milk yield and the quality of butter. The first lot of cows, numbering four, averaged 62 days since calving, and the second lot (seven cows) 195 days. The two lots were given, under like conditions, the same rations of sheaf oats, clovoc hay, rnuizp, barley meal, and beets. The total milk yield in 15 days from Lot 1 was 9721b, and from Lot 2 8861b. The milk from each cow was kept separate, the cream was removed b,y a separator, and the butter was made and handled by the same methods. The butter was judged by an expert, and no difference was observed as due to a difference in the period of lactation- The experimenters believe that the trouble experienced with cream from cows in an advanced stage of lactation is due to the fact that the cows are not fed a sufficiently succulent ration. As the period of lactation advances, the fat globules in the milk become smaller and the cream more viscous. Succulent food will cause a more abundant secretion of milk, furnishing less viscous cream. The experimenters also advise the addition of sour milk to start the ripening of the cream. This ensures a rapid development of lactic acid fermentation, and retards the growth of undesirable microorganisms. "When the cream is properly ripened, they believe no difficulty will be experienced in churning it.

IN LESS THAN SIX YEARS Webber's VITADATIO Has Covered Several Continents.

Read what it is cloiiijy.

FIRST AFRICAN STRUGGLE

WITH DISEASE-

DECISIVE VICTORY IN CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, GARDENS.

Mrs James Heaslip, No. 1 Oak Avenue, South Africa, says: — "Three weeks ago I was suffering so severely from asthma and bronchitis that I could scarcely either breathe or walk, my appetite became poor, and my nu-hts were sleepless. Since tben I have used about five bottles of Webber's Vitadatio, and I am pleased to say that I feel much better, I now sleep well and eat well. The bronchitis has completely vanished. So great is the improvement that I think it my duty to testify to the medicinal virtues and healing powers of this great herbal medicine. I hope it will soon find its way into every home in South Africa, and am willing to answer questions relating thereto.

Yours gratefully, October 14, 1899. Mas Hbaslip." For further particulars, S. A. PALMER, WAREHOUSE, WATERLOO QUAY, - WELLINGTON. Correspondence invited. Write for Testimonials.

ALLAYS THE PAIN.'

Charlotte A. Mackay, Queen street, Master ton, says : — " For n?ore than three years I had suffered severely from sharp pains in my arm, shoulder and spine, so that it was almost impossible for me to obtain any sleep. Seeing Chamberlain's Pain Balm advertised, I obtained a bottle at Mr Raton's chemist shop. By following the directions— l had the Pain Balm well rubbed on to the affected parts— and almost immediately I experienced relief. After several applications, the pain was so allayed that I was able to obtain my regular sleep and perform my household duties. I consider it a wonderful medcinej and think so much of it that I will never bB without a bottle in my home." Chamberlain's Pain Balm is on Bale at Hawera General Store.-rAdvt..