NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 51

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Qiiettiont for reply in coming issue to b4 received not later than UOtIDA.Y night. JL S. — No charge is made in connection with the withdrawal of a deposit or any part thereof from the Post Office Savings Bank. L. G. D., Waihola..— You do not state what you want to know about electricity. Those 'who have devoted a lifetime to its study admit that they are mere students, with but a very limited knowledge. In that sense, therefore, electricity is not easily learned. If you procure Sylvanus rhomaon's text book on •' Electricity and Magnatism" you will probably be able to learn from it all -that you require.^ Southland Farmer.— The sample of grass sent 'by you was submitted to" -Mr G. M. Thomson, F.I/.5., who replies: — The sample of grass is Poa nemofalis, one of the finest of English pasture grasses. Tt should be in -every permanent pasture, especially for cattle. I rather think that sheep tend to eat it out. GoLnsaNCH. — The food of the goldfinch should be chiefly confined to hemp and poppy seed, especially the latter. A little green food should- be occasionally given, such as lettuce or cabbage leaves, groundsel, watercress, etc. When taken from the nest-they may ' be reared on poppy seed and bread soaked in milk and water. In general it will conduce to their health if they be allowed now and again to pull the seeds from a thistle head. (J. S. TV., A, 33 Years' Reader.— (l) Walnuts for pickling x must be- gathered while a pin can pierce them easily, for once the . shell can be* "felt, they have ceased to be in a proper state for it. ' Make a suffift cient- brine to cover them well, with 6oz of. salt to the quart of water; take off •the scum which will rise to the surface as the salt dissolves, throw in the walnuts sync! stir i*>o™^ight and morning; change ev&ry tlnjee days, and if they irfknted for immediate eating leave -d-era in- it 'ior 12 days, otherwise dram them from it in nine days, spread them 'on -<fishes, and 1 let them remain exposed to the - air until they become black. This will be in " 12 hours or less. Make a pickle .for them with something more than ialf a gallon of vinegar to the hundred, «, teaspoonful of salt, 2oz of black pepper, -. 3oz bruissed ginger, a draham of mace, and " ' from a quarter to half an ounce of cloves ■ " (of which some may be- stuck into three or four small onions), and' 4oz of mustard seed. Boil the whole of these together for about five minutes. Have the walnuts rei^dy in stone jar or jars, and pour it on them as it is taken from the fire. When the pickle is- quite _ cold cover the jar secure^ and store it in a dry place. Keep the walnuts always well covered with vinegar, and boil that which is added to them. (2) Raspberries are selling at auction in. Dunedin at 4d per 1b (a pint would average about a pound in weight). •Natdbe writes:— A friend is .desirous of keeping a piit of thrushes ot blackbirds in a cage. I understand the young ones often die when taken from the nest. Can you inform me of any means by which the young ones may be lemoved with safety from the nest? How are they taught to whistle? The thrash 'does not.take kindly to the cage. The young birds should be •fed -with raw m«at" cut very small, or bread mixed in millc^with hemp -seed, well bruised. When they are able to feed themselves they should be given lean meat cut -small and mixed ' with bread or German paste. The two ooramon pastes, oatmeal moistened with milk or even water, or even bran moistened with .water have_ been found to answer. The thrush requires agreat .deal of water for bathing and drinking. They should be kept in a warm, dry and sunny situation. See that the cage is not hung near the roof in a living room. In the case of blackbirds the cage should be '» large one. The young should b» reared on bread and milk. The teaching them to whistle is an undertaking which Tequirea » great deal of patience. ITHiRTy Years' Subscriber. — The staff of the School of Mines being away during their holidays your query must stand over until they return. I Mbdico writes":— (l) What is tha prescribed lime for a student to go through the complete medical course at Edinburgh ! Medical School. Edinburgh University ? (2) j Will the N.Z. medical prolimlnart or malri- ] culation examination admit a stiid«nt .to the Edinburgh Medical School and 1 Edinburgh University respectively without sitting for any further entrance examination there? Does this apply to Dublin University also? (3) If * student has kept terms in certain subjects in the New Zealand Medical School, and also passed the New Zealand examinations*' in these subjects, is it neceseary to take these subjects over again on going to Edinbuigh? and what is the case if a, medical student in a similar position fots from here to the Melbourne Medical chool to complete Mb or her course? (4) Is- "there wry thing to be gained by going - "from here to Melbourne in this respect/ 1 tt) Ar« women allowed to" study, law »nd graduate in same at Edinburgh? •w ■ Fi™ y« aM -- w - The * Sbw #*£*£ - medical preliminary examination will accmit to th« Edinburgh University. - We. believe it. will also serve for the Dublin University. (3)No; bnx he must sit for the professional examinations in those subjects in -Edin- ' Wgh. This applies to the Melbourne School „(« No. (5) Women may study *nd gradual^ in medicine at Edinburgh University an* in all proTaatilite »u«r afaidy

all law subjects, but so far they are debarred from practising. X., Wyndham. — We have nothing to add to what has already been published concerning Dr Levinge's altazimuth. If you communicated with the inventor doubtless he would furnish you with all particulars. D. M., Rocky Point. — The address of the medical man referred to is not available at present, but we shall try and secure it from a medical directory. The medicine he refers to does not appear to have yet reached the drug stores in the Dominion. Scotty. — You should write to .the registrar of the Otago University who will probably ba able to supply you with all information. We have no copy of the Edinburgh University calendar. Anxious writes: — Will some kind reader furnish a solution of the following problem: — A.B. is N 12841k5; B.C. N 32deg. 17821k5; CD. N 80deg, E (length omitted); D.E. is S 486W, E 27001k5; E.F. S 18deg, W 28601k5; and F. to A. is 4621.5!k5. Find length of CD. and also bearing of FA. 'Medical Pbeijminary writes:—" I hare been told that there is a short method of passing the medical preliminary examination for one who has already passed the medical examination, that is to say all those subjects which are included- in both the matriculation and medical preliminary examinations need not be taken over again for medical preliminary in this case. How may this bo done?" The note in the University Calendar reads: — "A candidate •who has qualified for matriculation, but failed in one or more subjects compulsory for, medical preliminary, may complete his qualification for the. latter by passing in such subject or subjects on the junior scholarship papers. Should the failure be on the history and geography questions of the English paper, he may complete by passing on the matriculation papers in these subjects. ..Note: Subject to the foregoing exceptions no candidate is allowed to divide the preliminary examination, all the subjects of which must be taken at one time." Enquirer.— Mr H. M. Davey, consulting engineer, replies: — Probably* the best make of pump for your purpose would be_ a. semi-rotary one, and from what you write as ft) quantity it would seem that one of small size, costing about 27s Gd at John Edmond's, Princes st, would be large enough •for you. Hay Fever "'writes: I would b& greatly obliged if you could ascertain for me if hay fever is curable, and, if so, if there is any remedy which one could apply one a ccli. I have been annoyed with this complaint for a few years, and, as I am of the farming persuasion it is very inconvenient. I have tried the salt and water cure, but it was not very successful. Perhaps some of your numerous readers know of a cure.