NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1981, 11 February 1892, Page 24

NOTES AND QUERIES.

BEEWIFE. — If the bees are in a common box lift it off the bottom board, turn it bottom up, and pack between the combs wads of paper to prevent the combs falling over. Cover the bottom of the box with cheese cloth to keep the bees in, and carry it bottom up. A Floral Emblem rou Maohilaxd.— "A. A." writes :— I have just been reading in Multuin in Parvo that the mignonette is the national flower of Spain. Would you kindly inform me and other readers of the Witness if there is a national flower of New Zealand ?— We have never heard of a selection having been made, but if tho matter received any attention there could be little difficulty in making one. Either tlicnUa, the kakft beak, or the mountain lily would bo both distinctive and appropriate. A. Heathcotb.— (l) No ; only matter for publication in a newspaper. (2) The word " boycott" was not in use in Otago 20 years ago. It origij nated in November 1880 through the persecution of Mr Boycott, Lough Mask farm, near Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland, by the Nationalist party. His farm was besieged, hi 3 labourers threatened, and local tradesmen refused to Mipply him. In the end his crops were gntheral by immigrant labourers, protected by the military. This was the beginning of a new departure in tho Nationalistic tactics, and for want of a word to describe it the name of the first victim was universally adopted. FINLAYand J. O. S. — One or two misprints occurred in the answers. "Toclca" should read 'todca," and "Narrarttiadynarrosa" should read " Narraottia Mjiiarroha." J. AY., Otara. — Aye cannot say what is the best record made with the pole in New Zealand, but so far as we can learn 10ft 7in is the best made at the Otago Caledonian Society's gatherings. A. 11., Wrcy's Bush. — Messrs A. and T. Burt make a portable bath ready for fitting up. The bath is fitted with hot and cold Water taps, waste and overflow, and stands on cast iron feet. It is, of course, taken for granted that you have the means of getting hot watur fitted up at your house. On receipt of an inquiry the firm will be happy to supply you with all particulars and prices. Mitor.— Mr Beverly replies to your query :— The discharge would be nearly I*s cubic feet per [ second, the volocity being about 17ft second. AA'hen pipes of different widths are joined, the friction is inversely as the fifth powers of tho diameters, so that 220ft_ of 4in pipe would be equivalent to l(*soft of 6'in pipe, in reducing the head. G. H. P.— Edwin luolyneux's " Culture of the Chrysanthemum" is obtainable at MrSligo's, George street, for ls 6'd posted. Alpha. — AYe do not know of the address of any good patent agent in London, but the address of the Patent Office is 25 Southampton Buildings, W.C No doubt a letter addressed to the care of the office would result in your being placed in communication with a reliable agent. Nelson Creek writes :— Some years ago I copied out of your paper a prescription for the cure of drunkards, which is as follows :— Sulphate of i yon, sgr ; magnesia, lOgr *, peppermint water, lldr ; spirit of nutmeg, ldr. lakcn twice a day for seven months proved a complete cure of I habitual drunkenness in a man who afterwards published it and had it confirmed by the reformation of many drunkards. I find when about to apply it for the benefit of a friend that tho daily quantities are not given. Could you kindly supply the omission ? The man referred to was John Vine Hall, commander of tho Great Eastern. On reference to the recipe as given by him we find the same omission. Another recipe is as follows :— Put ioz of sulphate of iron and ioz of magnesia into an ordin ary quart bottle, and fill it up with pcppcnuin water. A wineglassf ul to be taken three or four times a day. If you have the first recipe mado up, the chemist would tell you how often to administer, it. Tho patient should avoid the use of salt, spices, pickles, Ac. J. AY. — Training a collie dog. — A puppy should, and may easily be made, tractable at a very early age, and will be all the better of a little experience from seven months upwards with some perfectly trained dogs after flocks, but generally speaking experienced shepherds make but little use in tho field of young dogs under nine months of ace. If you have not a trained dog to help you in the teaching, your better plan will be to place the sapling with a shepherd known to have excellent workers. You must bear in mind, however, that in the details of working flocks, especially if large, dogs are trained for and excel in the separate duties ; as for example a most excellent animal for ordinary use on low coantry or in enclosures might be comparatively useless for hill country work. Select a suitable man as suggested, tell him your wants fora dog, leave yourfa with him, and on payment of a raisonablq fee ho will in c^e time return your dog so trained as not to crocredit the trainer, and thoroughly serviceable for your purposes for years to come. The hosts of half-trained dog.s seen about farm flocks are worse than useless—they are hurtful, for in bceming to work they needlessly harass sheep, and so it is with cattle dogs as well. P. M. — He ciin recover a reasonable amount.