NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 20

NOTES AND QUERIES.

The Habits of the Sparbow. — "Naturalist," Tapanui, writes: — The hatching season for small birds will soon commence and if the increase from the old birds and their progeny is commensurate with that of last y ear the loss to farmers and fruitgrowers during the coming season will be enormous. Ido not think I exaggerate in saying one sixth of the oat crop was destroyed last year by these pests ; and one farmer of my acquaintance estimates his loss at one third ; but then his place, being hedged in. gives them cover for their depredations. I already notice sparrows carrying straw and feathers to roofs of corrugated iron, every opening of which is a door used as an entrance to the ceilings, which are safe and comfortable nesting places. It one goes into almost any house in town In the season one will hear the noise the young ones make in being fed or o'amoring for food, and though the din is disagreeable yet no steps are taken for their destruction. Thousands are safely reared in this maaner during the summer, and our streets are thick with them till just before harvest, when they clear out so quickly that scarcely any are seen in the towns. Of course the nearest farmeß are the first to suffer, but they gradually spread till every place is filled with them, and those breed in the hedges and houses in the country. I have never known in the Old Country the birds which we call house sparrows (the descendants of which now are a nusiance here) build otherwise than in houses, ruined walls, or such like places. Change of country seems to produce change of habits, as here we find them build everywhere ; and to my knowledge over 20 nests have* been found in one cabbage tree built between the dead drooping leaves and the stem down which they hang. Another favourite place is the forkß of the pinus insignis, where whole colonies reside and flourish. I have seen a tree about six years old one branch of which looked like a straw stack with their nests. These nests are not each for one pair of birds only, buo are the hatching place of many, as I explained in my note of last week, into which, b/ the bye, a slight mistake crept. I should have said " last season I noticed," not " I have just noticed." It Is wonderful the instinct these little pests Show for the protection of their young in the construction of their nests. When built in covered places the nests are simply feathers and straw lying fiat on the resting place, but when built in trees the nest is nicely covered over and so closely woven with straw on top as to be rain proof. On the sheltered side of the nest they leave an opening like the wren, but unlike the wren's nest the entrance is not distinct. Of course the sparrows, numerous as they are, are not the only pest. The linnets, finches, &c, add a big contingent to the army of destruction, until what between them, rates, taxes, rabbits, and bad seasons, the " farmer's lot is not a happy one " by, any means. lam glad to see that in this district steps are being taken to destroy the birds. Messrs Thomas and James Sim, of Crookston.are taking the initiative with poisoned (strychnine) oats. The different farmers' clubs should combine in this matter, say by giving so much a dozen for eggs. If they don't another Government department (small bird inspectors) will possibly be the result. Inquirer, Palmerston.— A sheet of tinfoil is used to make the quicksilver or mercury adhere to the glass. A drop of mercury combines with the tinfoil, and they become one substance, which adheres pretty firmly to the glass. The glass to be silvered is made perfectly clean on both sides. A sheet of tinfoil is cut to the shape of the glass, but an inch larger every way. The tinfoil is spread on a perfectly smooth surface, and the mercury is poured over it till every part is covered. The glaa»if> then slid along the mercury from one side, pushing before it the greater part of the mercury and allowing only a very thin film of that, substance to remain between it and. the tinfoil Much care and

delicacy are required In performing thi» operation. The glass is then subjected to considerable pressure, and allowed to remain thus from a fey hours up to three or four days, according" to the size of the glass. It is then lifted up and allowed to drain and set. Tuapeka.— (l) A man has no right to lay poison on, his own property, much less on the dividing fence between his own property and that of his neighbour. (2) You could, of course, recover damages un>ier such circumstances. Mabrewhenua.— Messrs C. S. Reeves and Co., Bond

street, are the agents for the new explosive bellit. The 75th Foot. — " Army List," writes : I was very much surprised to notice in your issue of 37th ult. that your correspondent I. M. I. not only took exception to the correction of " Hart's Army List, but seemed wroth with me that I should for a moment doubt his definition. He " aud others," the quotation in your issue of the 9th September 1883, and myselt go for nothing, however, as against historical facts ; and no I. M. I. would seem to doubt that "published by authority " work, " Hart'i Army List," X would beg to refer him to the " Queen's Regulations " (pocket coition), page 28, and then perhaps he will be satisfied. The Gordon Highlanders that I. M. I. quotes in the latter part of his communication (with their honours enumerated) are the old 92nd Highlanders, Evidently he has got the thing mixed. 1 still maintain that the Corporal M'Gregor he alludes to could not belong to the 75th Highlanders, nor was H.M. 75th Begiment in the battle of Waterloo. B. X., Dunedin.— The most commonly used remedy for aphis on apple trees is kerosene. It is, as a rule, put on with a paint or other brush, but using it in its undiluted state injures the trees. An emulsion 1b therefore prepared as follows, the trees being syringed with it when necessary : — Kerosene ... 2 gallons— 67 per cent. , Common soap or whalewS c r p ::: tg^} 33^^Heat the solution of soap and add it boiling hot to the kerosene. Churn the mixture by means of a force pump and spray nozzle for 5 or 10 minutes. The emulsion, if perfect,* forms a cream which thickens on cooling, and should adhere without olliness to the surface of glass. Dilute before using one part of the emulsion with nine parts of cold water. The above formula gives 3gal of emulsion, and makes when diluted 30gal of wash. The oldfashioned method of liming the trees is perhaps the most satisfactory method of dealing with the pest however: — A quarter peck of fresh quicklime, 1 pint sulphur, l§lb soft soap. Fut some of the lime in a bucket, sprinkle with hot water; sprinkle some of the sulphur over it, then add more lime, just damp enough to slack, and more sulphur, and repeat till all the sulphur is used. The quantity of lime used is not important so long as there is sufficient to dissolve the sulphur. Soft soap should be dissolved separately and afterwards mixed with the lime and sulphur, and sufficient water added to make 3gal in all. If the mixture is not thick enough to apply with a brush add clay or more lime. Query— Any printing office would undertake to publish your book either in the colony orat Home. There are no special rules to be observed. Any printer will "give 3'ou an estimate of the cost if you state the number of pages of M.S. you will have, the average number of words in tho pnge, the style of bindiug you require, specimen of the type you prefer, and number of copies. The effect of copyright isto protect a work from being reprinted by persons having no right to it. Subscriber. — Any of the chemists in Dunedin will be glad to procure an ear trumpet for you. The prices vary from 10s to 20s. Anxious.— The compound Witch Hazel Oiutment, made by Mr Price, of Dunedin, is recommended in cases such as you describe. You should avoid at the same time all stimulants, and take a mild aperient such as a teaspoonful of compound licquorice powder every night. Thread worms often cause an itching sensation which may be confounded with piles, and they ore best removed by taking a wincglassful of infusion of quassia every morning— fasting. R. N ., Albertown, sends a specimen of a grass which has made its appearance in the Wanaka district, and spread with incredible rapidity. Sheep are very fond of it, and altogether it seems to be a welcome arrival. We have submitted the sample to an expert, who in the absence of either flower or seed has failed to identify it. If our correspondent sends a sample when the conditions are more favourable we shall endeavour to have it named for him. Inquirer. — We are afraid your turkeys have roup, of which there are two descriptions— a mild form, known in America as " Sorehead," and the malignant form. If the former, a cure iB possible, but m the case of the latter it is extremely problematical. The California Cackler recently put a query to its readers askingthem to recommend aremedy for the disease, and the almost universal reply was a sharp hatchet, a wooden block, and a deep grave. Wo have, however, seen castor oil recommended before the disease gets ,to an advanced stage, and it might be worth your while to try it, The method of treatment was as follows :— Shut the fowl or tut key in a warm and dry but well-ventilated coop, having previously cleansed it thoroughly and sprinkled some air-slacked lime about. Administer a teaspoonful of oil. and afterwards place within reach some well-cooked food and some freah clean water, always cleaning the dishes before each meal. Hepeat this operation twe or three times a day until the matter ceases to run from the nose and mouth. J. T. G.— Your question has been mislaid. Will you

please repeat it. H. G. 0. asks : -Supposing a mortgagor fails to pay up his interest, and the land is put up by auction, but doesn't realise the amount of the mortgage, can the mortgagee sell the stock to make up the balance? He can get a judgment against the mortgagor and then sell the stock under it, but not under the mortgage. Constant Header.— One partner cannot compel the other to sell out to him, but he can compel a desolution of a parternshlp at will and cause the whole to be realised. N. R.— There is no fixed amount. If the widow takes possession of the estate as if she had got administration, she can be sued for the debt 3. Justice.— You rhould give him a summons, and when you get judgment you should instruct the bailiff to seize the produce in your possession. Inquirer. — The speediest way is to go overland by coach. Fare -. Dunedin to Cbristchurch by train, £2 78 ; Christchurch to Springston. 3s 7d : Springston to Westport by coach, about £6. The cheapest way is by steamer. One leaves Dunedin regularly 'every week. Fare : Saloon, £b ; steerage, SA. Dbummond.— No.