Page 24 Advertisements Column 5

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 24

NOTES AND QUERIES. A. C. writes :— I have been much troubled by a fungus attacking my white celery. It comes on the plant when the latter is about half grown, and after a few weeks the leaves wither up. (I enclose a sample.) 1 have tried lime and sulphur but neither appears to check it. Can you; tell me the specific name and what remedies are used to eradicate it. Celery is very liableboth to canker and a parasitic fungus which grows on the leaves. This is particularly the case in soils which contain much oxide of iron. Try a change of soil if possible, also change the: seed, and on first appearance of the fungua syringe or wash with a solution of sulphide of potassium in the proportion of Joz to Igal of water. FiOßiN.~The specimen sent is, we have no doubt, Agrostis Canina (common bent grass), but the sample is so very poor that it is hard to say. The difference between many of the varieties is so slight that it only rests between a few hairs on the joints or sheaths. The situation in which it is grown has a great deal to do with the advisability or otherwise of cultivating it— whether in a moist, good, peaty soil, or on a dry and poor one, where it is usually' considered a troublesome weed, from the fact of its not being liked by cattle. Notwithstanding its bad qualities, sheep are fond of it, particularly in the winter months. New Chum.— Mr Beverly replies to your query :— The cask will hold three bushels and three pecks. The weight of that quantity of oats will depend on the quality ; at 401b per bushel, the weight would be 1501b, at 441b per busbel it would hold 1651b. Water Wheel.— Mr Beverly replies : — The wheel you describe would give between 4 and 5 horse-power. The proper velocity for the wheel is from 12 to 16 revolutions per minute. Inquirer asks :— Can you inform me the price of boring rods for boring in alluvial ground, say, sufficient to sink 60ft, and where obtainable. Messrs A. and T. Burt make rods, Ac, for prospecting purposes at prices ranging from LlO to L 35 for the depth named. Inquirer" will require to state what kind of tools he wants to use, or the nature of the formation to be bored through. H. M. — Thank you for supplying the lines. Several correspondents did so shortly after the appearance of the query, and they were published in due time. D. M. I.— No provision is made for their supply^either by the board or the committee, so it is of ' course necessary for the parents to provide them. Gold Miner. -^(1) You will require to get a copy of your baptismal certificate from the minister who baptised you, or a copy of the registration of your birth. We do not know what the cost of the latter is in Victoria, but it should not exceed half a crown. (2) Next week. Colonial.— Have sent your query to " Agricola,!* who will no doubt deal with it in his next con* tribution. R. N.— Have sent your memo, to ProfessoKParker. Waitahuna.— (l) Yes, next week. (2) Believeyou are quite right in your opinion. Wellwishek, Bald Hill Flat.— Such an inquiry could not possibly be allowed to appear over an anonymous signature. J. S. K.—^l) See second of series of articles.jin page 16 of this issue. (2) Four newspapers are published in Fiji, the principal one being the Fiji Times, issued twice weekly. You cannot obtain a copy in New Zealand, but if you wrote to the publisher he would no doubt send you a specimen. Hugh.— (l) Akaroa was founded on August 10, ,; - 1840, by Governor Hobson, who sent the brig of " war the Britomart, and took possession only a few hours before the arrival of the French corvette L'Aube, convoying the vessel Comte de Paris with 57 settlers. (2) Colonel William Wakefield landed at Port Nicholson from the Tory survey ship in August 1839 for the purpose of selecting a site for the first settlement under the auspices of the New Zealand/Land Company. The first batch of immigrants arrived in the Auroraon January 22, 1840. Within 12months the population of the settlement had increased to upwards of 1200. The Treaty of Waitengi, by whidh the native chief ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Great Britain, was signed on February 6, 11840. British sovereignty had, however, already been {proclaimed by Captain Hobson on January 29, 1840, on the site of the city of Auckland. Dunback.— Liebig's cookery book is not obtainable at any bookseller's. It is, we believe, given away by grocers who sell the extract and other preparations.. No doubt your grocer will be able to get you a copy if he has not any on hand. Ento.— Hudson's " Manual of New Zealand Ento» mology" is not in stock in Dunedin. We should recommend you to write to Mr G. V. Hudson, F.E.S., Wellington, the author, who would no doubt be able to put you.in the way of obtaining a copy. Curious, Orepuke, asks :— (1) If a man has a miner's right and is only 16 years old, is he entitled to vote at School Committee elections ? (2) How long must he have a miner's right ? (3) Are three in one house, father and two sons, entitled to vote for members of School Committee ? (1) Yes. (2). Three months. (3) Yes, if they are holders of miners' rights. Subscriber asks :— lf a person holds an annuity in a life insurance company, and such person became insolvent, can his creditors claim such annuity? No. Kea asks :— (1) Is a miner's right sufficient protection to mine on Crown lands other than a declared gold mining district? (2) Does a miner's right for the time being (issued, say, in Otago) stand good for this island all round, or must I get another miner's right if I mine, say, in Westland? (1) The act is not by any means clear on the point, and on a literal constructure it would appear that the answer should be in the affirmative, but we do not think that is the proper construction. 1(2) It is available anywhere. Parent asks :— (1) Under the compulsory Vaccination Act can an appointed Government vaccinator compel me to pay for having my child vaccinated, seeing that possibly I am not in favour of having it done at all ? (2) In event of there not being a Government-appointed vaccinator in a district (which is the case in this i district at present), and the fee charged by the I local doctors is 10s 6d, am I liable to be fined if I refuse to pay what I consider an extortionate charge ? (1) You can be compelled to pay the fee fixed by the regulations. (2) Yes. Peiicts Colias and -Blizzard.— Received too late for this issue. Will appear next week. Fowl Yard.— The yard must surely be in a very shady spot or very small for the number of fowls you keep in it. Coke cinders would, if obtainable, probably serve the purpose, or spent tan. Possibly the sand you have been using is too fine. Good, coarse, gravelly sand should answer even in a shady spot if liberally and regularly applied, and it would certainly be much better than either cinders or tan. The Monument on Calton Hill. — "Auld Reekie,". Otautau, writes in reply to Mabels query :— The following is copied from Black a Guideto Edinburgh" : "Between the Observatory and Nelson's Monument stands the National Monument — a partial reproduction of the Parthenon of Athens, and erected by public subscription to commemorate the heroes who fell at Waterloo. The extent of the projected building was worthy of so patriotic a cause ; but the ambition of the projectors was in advance of their pecuniary resources, and the building remains unfinished. The columns are formed of Craigleith stone, each weighing about 15 tons. According to the original idea of the promoters, part of the building was to be used as a Walhalla. 1 ' VETERINARY QUERIES. fAns-nored by a duly quallfcd Veterinary Surgeon.- ■ Queries must be received' by Moj.day nlglit to ensure reply is the lucceeding issue] Uncle Sam.— The disease you refer to attacking your milch cows appears to be typhoid fever, which has been prevalent amongst dairy cattle in this district for the last two or three seasons rendering the milk very thin, poor, and infested with microbes. This shows the urgent necessity for a thorough inspection of dairy stock by a qualified veterinary surgeon. In the absence of