NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3109, 15 October 1913, Page 47

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions for reply la coming issue to be nut later than SATUKLAY night.

Constant Deader. —The scab on your potatoes has in all probability been caused by the use of too much stable or artificial manure. This scab not diminish the growing activities of the potato. Formalin could be used before planting, the strength of the solution being about 1 pint of formalin to 30 gallons of water. This mixture is said to be very effective in preventing scab, etc. Inquirer writes; —‘Tf an ol J-age pensioner has a house and a quarter-acre section and is not living in it but receiving rent for it, if he wishes to sell the property is he required to give notice to the pensions authority before selling it, and would it affect his pension if lie sold it?” If you wish to soil your property it is not necessary to give notice to the Pension Department, and if the sale-price is the. same as the Government valuation there will be no change in your position for pen: ion purposes. Casual Reader.—The only method wo know of for getting rid of docks from • gat is to keep on digging them out ami ; .t allow them to seed. If cure i lawn to secure all the small rootlets Hie 'ask shot id not be very difficult. Inquirer.—As there are no rules by a recognised authority for five-handed euchre calling on the ace. the game is played in more ways than one in various places, especially a? regards scoring. It is impossib’e therefore to give an authoritative ruling. The method of scoring, etc., should be settled by the players before starting to play. Fil-Fal.—(l) Birdlime may lie made from tlre inner bark of the holly, and also from linseed oil. Put half a pint of linseed oil into an old pot and in which it will not be more than one-third full; put it on a slow fire, stir it occasionally until it thickens as much as required, which will be known by cooling the stick in water and testing it with the fingers. It is best made hard. Then pour it into cold water. It can be brought back to the consistency required by mixing it with a little' con! tar. (2) See Garden Notes in last week’s issue for the best remedy to remove green flies on roses. Territorial.—Your best plan would be to again write a letter of complaint to the Defence Department. Probably the older has been overlooked by the officials. Timothy.—The amendment of the Old-age Pensions Act has passed both Houses, re ducing the age to GO for women. It is not in operation yet, but may come into force any day, and claims can now be lodged. Barty.—Your best plan would Ire to get a friend in Dunedin or Invercargill to make inquiries on your behalf, or write to Messrs A_ and T. Butt, Cossens and Black, J. M’Gregor and Co., Dunedin Engineering and Steel Company, etc. They may be able to tell you if they are likely to have a vacancy You would have to start at the wages of a boy and serve an apprenticeship of five years. C. G. M. —(1) British oil engines are admitted free of duty. There is a preferential duty of 20 per cent. ad. val. on American oil engines. (2) There is a' duty of 20 per cent. ad. val. on British wooden boat frames in the rough, with an additional 10 per cent, preference duty in tho case of the American article. (3) The rates of freight vary from time to time, and local agents of steamship companies will not quote a fixed rate. As steamers from New Y'ork come to Dunedin, via Australian ports, it would not be necessary to send from New York to London, thence to Dunedin.

Stranger writes; —“I am studying civil engineering at a correspondence school, and would like to know (1) If the diplomas won at such a school would be sufficient without any other examination, or (2) if not, how would I set about learning it? (3) Is it necessary to pass a matriculation examination before able to learn civil engineering at the Technical Clas=es. that are, I am told, held in the University? (4) Where could I get information in regard to matriculation examinations and University courses?” (1) No. ('!} You would require to apprentice yourself to a civil engineer for a certain time. (3) Yes. (4) Apply to Mr H. Chapman, registrar of the Otago University, or consult the New Zealand University or Otago University Calendars.

L. D. —The mistletoe grows in the South Island. It is to be found at Berwick, on the Waipori River, in the bush near Tapanui, and other places. Subscriber. —The last player is entitled to score 2 only for making 31. The cards exposed read 4,8, 4, the last four played covering the 5. •» A. S., Mataura. —U. il. Davey, consulting engineer, Princes street, replies:—“To calculate the cubic contents of a solid body you multiply together the length, width, and depth, and that gives you the cubic contents, so that if your article was 2in long, by lin wide, and Jin thick, it would be 2 multiplied by 1, multiplied by J, equals J cubic inch. In the same manner, your calculation would be, in feet, as follows:—GO multiplied by 40, multiplied by 20, equals 48,000 cubic feet 60 40 2400 20 27)48010,1771, or 17775} cubic yards. 27 210 189 2 0 18) 210 189 21 W. M. Evans Flat.—Mr H. M. Davey, consulting engineer, replies;—“From what you say, you have got probably a steel tank, instead of an iron one. and they rust very much quicker. The best preparation, I believe, would be tar inside, put on hct, with a long-handled or short-handled brush, when the tank was quite dry, and paint on the outside. If the water was used for drinking purposes, the tar would not be harmful,, while I believe it to be the best preservative. If, however, yen prefer to paint the inside, I then think that red lead paint would be the best, and white lead the next best, but still think tar to be the best of all inside. If yon do not want two brushes, you could cut the long-handled one after use. when the short one was wanted, or lash a short one to a stick when the long one was to be used.