NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 55

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for reply in coming issue to be received not later than MONDAY nigbt. E C., Mabel Bush, in forwarding samples of grass for identification, pay*, two ara grasses, and the other a plant wmch grows luxuriantly in the district round the edges of the bush land. Mr G. M. Thomson, F.D.S., kindly supplies the following report on the grasses and the plant: No. 1 i'3 common bronis grass (Brcm , us mollis); No. 2 is the large brome or goose grass (Brpinus maximus). None of the brom.e grasses are of much value for fodder ourpesea; they are looked upon only as weeds. They are usually found on waste ground, as road sides, edges of fields, etc., and seldom occur to any extent in permanent pastures. No. 3, Erechtites prenanthoides, one of the oommoa fire-weed?. Allied sourswhat to the common groundsel. A plant of no value, but, as far as I am aware, 'harmless to stock and to land. Native Bush. — Mr G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., to whom your specimen was sent, replies: The enclosed specimens are the leaf and flower of the Ivgaio (usually mispronounced (Kaio). Its technical name is Myoporum Ifelum. The first name has reference to the pores or clear oil-glands with which the tissue of the leaf is studded. The free will not stand much frost, conse- * qently it usually grows near the. coast. According to Cheeseman, “the wood is said to be durable, and is sometimes used for cabinet work; and an infusion of the leaves has been used as -a wash to prevent the bites of mosquitoes. J. T. F., tYaihao Downs.—Dr Benham was good enough to inspect the insect forwarded by you. He states that it is a female alder fly (Chauliodes divsrsus). It is by no means an uncommon species. Bay. —A correspondent suggests the following method for catching house flies: —Put an old tooth-brush dish, or a similar receptacle on the window ledge, pour some kerosene into the dish, say to a depth of about three-quarters of an inch. The flies will commit suicide in the kerosene. by the hundred. Another method is to buy a pyramid flycatcher costing about Is. and use vinegar and sugar. To kill the flies when in the cage talcs off the bottom, stand the cage in a basin, and throw boiling water over the flies. Dry the cage and set again. Potted Butter. — The following is a good way of potting butter in the case of those who have not the creamery machinery for pasteurising, cooling, etc.: —(1) See that your raw material is produced without any taint of feeding, and that every utensil used to handle the milk is scalded and aired daily, and that the dairy is dry and well aired. (2) That the milk or cream is well ripened (or soured) within 48 hours or thereby. <3> That the churning temperature is not above 58deg, and the churning stopped when the grains are like sago, because it is here that the mischief begins in salting butter. A fine, round, cold grain retains little or no water, consequently little working is needed, and the grain is left unbroken. If the grain is broken no .after-treatment will make it “keep.” (4) Allow loz of pure dairy salt (93 per cent, soluble) to the lb of butter; press at in very gently; lay it aside, covered up, for a night; press it very gently again next day, and pack into tne ■ars 'also gently, but firm enough to be perfectly close. Oover over on the top with .a linen bag full of salt closely pressed down to prevent 'air passing through, and cover over with parchment paper. (5) The jars must tnen be stored in a dry room, where an even temperature prevails, below 60deg. Butter treated in this wav will taste salty as compared with the weekly supplies from, creameries, but it will be perfectly sound, fit for all house--1 -ffd purposes, and go further than any reign article.

Rata asks hew to clarify home-maide wines. Home-mta.de wines are usually made clear by adding a small quantity of isinglass. Apiary asks for recipe for lioneymead. Boil 141 b of honey in Ggal of water for half an hour, breaking into four eggs, then add some small bunches cf marjoram, balm, and sweet briar, Joz each of cinnamon, cloves., mace, and bruised ginger, and boil for a quarter of an hour longer; pour it out to oocl, then toa.st a. large slice of brown breed, spread it over With fresh yeast, and put it into the. liquor, let it ferment for a. day, then turn it into the cask, keep it open till the fermentation has ceased, then bung clc.se. It may be bottled in a month, and the corks should be securely tied or wired, as mead thus made is sparkling and effervescent. Curious Metal. —The sample forwarded by you was submitted to Professor Waters, of the School of Mines, who reports that the sample is arsenical pyrites or mispickel. containing iron, sulphur, and arsenic. It is of no value. T. W., Waimate. —“Agricole,” replies that ho is unfortunately unable at present to supply the dates for the coining Bath and West agricultural show, the Royal agricultural show, and the Highland and agricultural show. The agricultural papers to hand contained no dates beyond December, 1993. By next mail probab’y the dates may come to hand in some of the papers or the Year Books, which are published at the close of the year. Constant Reader, Mat aura.. —The matter you refer to has been so ■ misstated, muddled up, and generally distorted the world over as to be quite past following up. Like other prints, the paper you quota has passed it in a finely-mixed condition. Professor Haeckel simply admitted that a small percentage of his embryo diagrams'were “ideal,” and mentioned as such in the works containing them.. Practically all embryologists resort to this usage, which is considered quite unobjectionable by authorities. One man only, not 46, started the charge ctf “forgery.” The exact facts are hard to get at, the Herman papers not being readily accessible.. What the 46 professors did do was to protest against the uniustifiable attacks made upon Professor Haeckel, also protesting to some extent against Dr Haeckel’s hostile attitude towards popular theology. In the judgment o i his fellow scientists, however, Dr Haeckel's position as one of the greatest living biologists stands unassailable. As there is no “Missing Link” in the physical ancestry of man, there is absolutely no need for resort to forgery on that account. Old Identity. —li. M. Davey, consulting engineer, replies:—The price depends on the shape, size, number, etc., o£ me posts. If you would kindly send me a rugh sketch ana particulars oi the posts I could get you better idea of the cheapest or strongest, as you might need. However, 1 have found that Mr Faulkner makes such posts at 23 s each. It might bo cheaper perhaps to iiave strong’ wrought pipes, if they would do, say, 3in. ion might ,say m writing 'the approximate length or lengths oi chain ana the size of same if you want to have it quoted. Do you want the posts sft out of the ground or sft over all ? What sort of ground is yours where the posts are to be placed? Tneso particulars would help in having the proper articles quoted or sent. You say, " Please reply by only." You may mean, perhaps, letter only, but as no address has been sent, you make that course rather difficult. W. CL, Waikr.wa, asks:—(l) For a recipe for making treacle beer.. (2) Whore Halley’s comet has to be looked for? (1) Take a pound and a-half of hops, and boil in 36 gallons of water for an hour; then add 14lb of treacle and a little yeast to work it; ferment and bottle. (2) Halley’s comet is approaching the sun and will be visible in the evening until the early part of March. As it approaches the sun it will rapidly increase in brilliancy till lost in the sun’s rays. Early in May it will bo seen in the morning before sunrise, and will probably be a brilliant object. The comet can now be picked up about half way between Ha-ntal and Algenib, which is the right hand star nearest the zenith of the square cf Pegasus. Hamal is the first bright star to the left of the Pleiades and lies halfway between the Pleiades and the square of Pegasus. We will publish in our next issue a diagram of the position of the heavens showing the path of the comet. Mac asks:— (l) What is the highest speed ever attained in Pitman’s phonography, and by whom, also for what duration the test covered? “A” argues that a lady holds tbs record 'with SO6 words per minute. “B ” argues 266 words per minnts, and further contends that it would bs practically impossible to ether speak or read at anything over 300 words per minute. Is that so? -Mr Rissbccham, of Rossbotham’s Commercial College, replies; The following are the speeds registered under examination for Pitman’s speed certificates. These are the only reliable records of rapid writing that need be taken into account. The time occupied *in dictating is 10 minutes:—Two hundred and ten, March 9,190 S, J. Lifford, Holsworthy; 220, December 24. 1890. E. Wilson, London; 220, June 25, 1897, H. W. Loekyer-Digby, Christchurch, New Zealand; 220, December 7, 1906, S. H. Godfrey, London; 220, October 10, 1907, Miss Dora Brown, London ; 230, A mil 27, 1893, G. W. Banbury, Dublin; 240, April 19, 1893. H. Toothiil, Leeds; 230, January 23, 1894, G. W. Bunbury, Dublin. These are only ia few of the later speeds; there are dozens holding certificates at 200 words per minute. With regard to the second query, it is on ire possible for a trained reader to read aloud at the rate, of 300 words per minute. Oh matter that has been read once or twice the rate can be easily increased to 350.”