NOTES AND QUERRIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1822, 22 October 1886, Page 20

NOTES AND QUERRIES.

[Correspondents must write ou one side of the paper only, and each question should be written on a separate slip of paper. It is desirable to use either the writer's initiate or a distinctive norn do plume, as the frequent repetition. of the signatures "Subscriber," " Header, &q., causes confusion.] K. T., Gibbston. — The sample you forward us is ira pure red hematite, with a small grain of caloite. A Subscriber.— (l) No other thim keeping the pony apart, else you will spoil the colts. (2) No. (S and 4) Any attempt to drug the animal would prove ineffectual, and might endanger its life. A Constant Subscbiber writes : — I have a horse that keeps constantly frothing or foaming from the mouth while at work. Can you suggest any remedy ?—? — Examine the mouth and tongue. Horses, and cattle also, are subject to an outbreak of small nodules on the tongue, accompanied by the symptoms you describe — viz., frothing and wasting— but in addition eager champing of the food when feeding, and enlargement of the tongue, studded with small nodules. The treatment is ■. Cast the horse, and make an incision into each nodule. Paint the cut surfaces over with a mixture of iodine and carbolic acidv In any case the horse should be cast in order to thoroughly examine the tongue. A. and B.— (1) The duties of class' stewards in the various sheep classes at an agricultural show are alike. In the first place, they should make them* selves thoroughly acquainted with the position and numbers of the pens which the sheep are to occupy in the classes over which they (the stewards) are to have control. This they should do aa soon as possible after the class cards and numbers have been affixed to the pens. In fact, willing stewards generally elect to put up the cards and numbers themselves, and meet for the purpose the day before the show, when the secretary can supply them with the' necessary information as to the number of entries, &c. In this way the stewards are made perfectly familiar with the arrangement ot their department. When an exhibit is admitted to the show ground the person in charge presents the ticket specifying the nunv her in the class and the class in which the animal is to compete, and the stewards bbc that it is.

plaoed in the proper pen ; also they retain the entry ticket. The exhibits are then promptly arranged and without confusion. -The stewards meet the judges at the secretary's office, aud conduct them to the scene of their dutieß. The judges' inspection once commenced, Ifc is the duty of the stewards to keep visitors at a distance— everyone, in fact, except the person in immediate charge of the exhibit under inspection, and even mioh persons in the case of sheep, unless the ind/res require a sheep to be "turned. 'when the man may be called upon to do co. Other duties are • (a) To ascertain from the secretary any information required by the judges ; (6) to make a note of the awards immediately the judges cora« to a decision; (c) to see that the prize cards a»« correctly filled, and attached to the right animal or pen ; (d) to maintain the numbers on the pens during the show, and to prevent the change of animals la pens. The numbers are frequently torn down, by the animals themselves, and if not replaced the catalogues frequently mystify voters. The responsibilities of class stewards do not terminate with the completion of the awardß ; it rests with them to preserve order and arrangement in their several departments during the currency of the show. (2) In the horße aud cattle classes the duties are somewhat similar. The stewards carry out the behests of the judges, or see they are carried out, in regard to the parading of the animals and other details. After the awards cattle should be kept to the places bearing their respective numbers, but with horses, unless stalls are provided, this is not insisted on. Good temper aud forbearance are indispensable qualifications Of show-pary stewards. Priscw PORTRAITS.-Mr James Caldwell informs us that the number of prisoners who signed the memorial in favour of Price was 104, and not 10 J as stated by Lieutenant-colonel Price in h's article/ in last issue. Mr Oaldwell continues :— I know on j reliable authority that this expression of sympathy with Mrs Price was the result of a purely ■ spontaneous movement on the part of the prl- j donors. OrAWFORDJOHN writes :-Thanks for your reply to my letter in Queries column, but the remedy you surest I think would be a failure for this reason : there is a great deal of unbroken land about which is full of tStu. When this comes into full leaf the bug attacks it, and lives on it till there is nothing left but the stalk. On warm days the air swarms with them. I have heard of the cloth being tried, but next day they were as thick as ever. I am not aware of their having any enemies, aod I have never seen birds touch them. I will send you a specimen on the first opportunity. I think it possible to find some liquid which if applied to the trees will prevent the pest attacking them. I mean to experiment with this object in view, and will let you know result. X X —The flitches being prepared, mix 4lb salt and ilb saltpetre finely powdered for each flitch for plain salting ; for family use a pound of sugar is sometimes Sdded. Rub the inside of each Bitch with the mixture, leaving the skin aid* downwards • Pile the flitches one on the other as they »re done, and change them every fourth day , rubbinatsalfc in afresh, and placing the top flitch at the bottom and bo on, reversing their positious. The siting will take from five to six weeks, accoraine to the thickness of the flitches. When BufficienOy pickled hang them up in a cool place to dry. When smoking is to be done it is cufH ternary to rub the flitches over with bran. Bacon ehould not be allowed to lie in the brine, and drainage from the table should be provided for. A goodrecipe appeared in this column a few weeks ago, re W — ( 1) To every pound of green rhubarb stalks, ftfterbeing well bruised, put one quart of cold spring water; let it stand three days, stirring it three times a day. Strain it, and to every gallon of liquor put 3Jlb loaf sugar. Barrel it, and to everr five or six gallons add one quart of brandy. Hang a piece of isinglass in the vessel, suspended by a string-about T|oz to 12 galloas. The cask must not be more than three-quarters full. Stop it ud dose, and in six or seven months, if the sweetness is sufficiently off, bottle it.. (2) Put 20lb of iuicy currants into an earthen jar. with a • cover Pour over them 12 bottles of triple clarified French vinegar. Let stand covered for three weeks mashing and bruising the fruit every morning with a wooden spoon. Clarify by boiling it in a preserving pan in the following way : For every pound of sugar put quarter of a pint of water, then add the beaten-up whites of six eggs. When boiling add another quarter ot a pint of water for each pound. Boil and skim ior 10 minutes, strain through muslin, and bottle, cork, and seal at once. It will be ready for use m a week, and will keep for years. W D writes :— When a block of land is set apart on the homestead system, can the applicant select a section independently, or is it surveyed intoeections of 50 acres or 75 acres according to quality of the land, the applicants taking the sections m rotation? Is it necessary to send the amount of survey fees with the application ? -No regulations as to the manner in which application is to be made have yet been gazetted, nor have instructions been issued as to whether the land is to be surveyed before or after application. The Act seems to imply that it will be surveyed after application, as applicant has to pay cost. Bconomt writes :— Having noticed several replies to questions anejnt dyeing in your columns, I make bold to ask your advice. I have two pairs of green damask curtains, which are very much faded. Would it be worth my while trying to renew the colour by any means. I don't want to go to much trouble or expense. Can you recommend a, simple recipe, or should I give up the idea?-01ean the curtains with soap and water, , giving two i warm waters and one cold. Thd curtains will then be ready for the dyeing procesj. Dissolve ioz green analyne crystals in a pint «f boiling water, and stir until all are dissolved. Pour the liquor into aa much boiling water as will cover the curtains, stirring it with a stick. Put the curtains into the dye taking care to avoid knots or twists. Lift the 'cloth up and down for 15 minutes, aud take out and let drain ; then pass through one cold water bath made sour or tart with sulphate of iron (green vitriol). Dry in the sbade. The crystals may be had at Messrs Sainsbury, Hllisdon, and Co.'s, wholesale chemists, Rattray Purple Top am> Green Top.— Aberdeen writes :— In Notes and Queries in your issue of tbe Btb inst in answer to a correspondent as to the relative'value of the different kinds of turnips, you fflve the premier place to purple top in preference to creen top. In Aberdeenshire, their nativft county, where turnip-growing and cattle-feeding cannot be easily surpassed in any quarter of the globe, the first place is given to Swedes, second to green tops, third to purple tops, and fourth to graystone globes. These varieties are all very goc& in their season, the globes being used first, purple top second, green top third, and Swedes, to finish; and if AberdeensWre farmers are not judges of what turnips to grow and how to use them, better qualified judges will be hard to find. It is there an undisputed fact that cattle can be fed to advantage later in the season on green tops than on purple tops because of their better ripenine quality, which proves they are the best for feeding purposes, uafess quantity instead of quality be approved of, in which case they would have to fall back on the globes, which give the greatest bulk X. T. Z.— Certainly you can. Report the neglect to the local inspector, and if he does not attend to the matter communicate with the chief inspector at Dunedin. Remedying the grievance really lies in your own hauds. S. H. B. asks how to prepare tan from the bark of trees so as not to injure the fur. Can any of our readers oblige with a reply ? E. J., Roxburgh.— Manganese is mostly used in steel and glass making, also in calico bleaching ; and as it is found in abundance where these trades are carried on, we do not think that it would pay to export it. The demand in the colonies is but small. We cannot say what its value is unless we know what percentage of metal it contains. ■^Wvfla Winton.— We do not think it can legally be •one. Pabmer wrtce»..— My ground is kept continually wet for want of a box culvert across the road to Uke away my drainage. I hnve aßked the county council to put one in, but they do not seem in a hurry to do so. Can I compel them to put a box c»lvertin, as required?— Not unless the construction of the road was the cause of the flooding of your land. kivxcoi.k asks :— (1) From how many meetings must a member of a school committeo bo absent iv order to render bis seat in said committee Vacant? (2) In a country district a schoolmaster

•ccuples the residence belonging to the Board. Can this schoolmaster vote at the annual election of the school committee of which he is master, and if elected hold a seat on said committee ?— (l> Absence from all meetings during three months. (2) We are of opinion that he can vote, and the Act does not disqualify him for membership. Inquirer — (1) ATI would remain her own property. (2) Not under £100. (3) To the friends not relatives. (4) Yps. (5) No. (6) He can dispose of it as he likes. (7) No. Constant Subscriber, Tapauui.— He cannot do so. Athlete.— (1) There were four walking matches at the last Caledonian Society's games at Kensington, but we can only supply you with, the time in which one of them was done— viz., the two-mile handicap walking match, on the second day, in 13min lOsec. The papers did not give the time of the others, one of %vhich was a three-mile handicap, and the judges appear to have taken no Kote of it. (2) Air James Dawson is the secretary of the Caledonian Society. Anxious.— Take 4or, of Epsom salts, loz cream of tartar, and a teaspoonful of ginger. Dissolve in a pint of hot water, and give a small wiheglassful twice a day. Rub sulphur ointment well into the itchy spots night and morning, and give a powder containing tlu-ee grains of calomel three, times a week. Spes.— The planchette is a contrivance employed by spiritualists to assist them in their communications with the supposed denizens of the 'unknown world. It is, as its name indicates, a small piece of wood, shaped in the form of a heart, and runs on three wheels — twoatthelargerendand one at the smaller. Apiece of lead pencil is let into the wood with ifca point just touching the table. The manner In which it Is used is as follows:— A long slip of paper is put on tho table, and theplauchette placed on the left hand upper corner of it. The medium then places one hand on the planchette, and the person who wishes to communicate with the " spirit " follows suit. If the medium is sufficiently powerful the implement soon begirsto move and words are alleged to be written in a running scroll. We have been shown some of the " writing," but must admit, that iv this case at all events considerable faith was needed to make out the alleged words. A home-made jDlanohette may be contrived by boring three shallow holes in the board and putting marbles in them for it to run on. Reporter.— The words being used in a collective sense the singular number is correct. If the "a" were repeated before the second noun" were" would be correct.