NOTES AND QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3501, 19 April 1921, Page 35

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Questions tor reply * n coming Issue to bs rs•sirs! not Inter than SATURDAY night. Questions will NOT be replied to through the poet.

Inquirer asks for recipe for linseed tea.Put a tablespoonful of linseed in a jug, cover with a cup of boiling water. Allow it to just come to the boil, then strain. If allowed to boil any time it becomes oily. If too oily add more boiling water. Add sugar to taste when taking it. Inquirer.—The last census was taken in October, 1916. Young Dancer. —You have omitted to forward your name. North Otago.—ln England) a billion means a million millions, and is indicated by the figure one followed by 12 ciphers; wnereas in France and America this term is used to indicate a thousand million, so that an English billion is a thousand times bigger than an American billion. A similar difference holds good with that still more swollen conception, the trillion. In Englahd a trillion means a million billions, and is shown by the figure one followed by 18 ciphers—thus, 1,900,000,000,000, I OOd^OUO, In France and America, where it indicates hut a beggarly thousand billions, it has but 12 ciphers to its credit —thus, 1,000,000,000,000. It is, in fact, but the equal of our billion. Thirty-five Years' Subscriber, Southland, writes: Could you inform me of the cause of a kettle becoming thickly coated with a hard substance after being in use for a year or so, so much so that the water will only run in a small trickle out of the spout? I may say that we use “well water.’’ Is there anything that will remove the coating without injury to the kettle? This “furring” of kettles, as it is termed, is not uncommon when other than rain water is used. It is due to a deposit of carbonates, probably lime and magnesia. It is a simple matter to remove. Use a little caustic soda in water (adding the former to the water). Tilt up the kettle, having previously corked the spout. Then clean as one does a breach loading gun. Or use ordinary vinegar, bringing it to the lioil, and tipping the liquid on to erustations when oxide of lime will be given off, etc. Clean as suggested and wash thoroughly before using. Interested wants to know how many fifteens m crib are thero in these cards: ’’ ■ 5,1, 4, 10. Answer.—Four fifteens and a pair. The score is 10. Inquirer, Roxburgh.—(l) Can you inform m« if the same malt is used in the making of porter as in beer, or does it have to go through some other process? (2) Would you pleas© give me a recipe for making 27 gallons of porter? (1 and 2) Yes, the same. Beer or porter is essentially a weak ale coloured and flavoured according to the manufacturer's discretion with malt extract, etc. I„ mnkinf? of porter it was originally termed, “half and h-lf, three threads, etc., it was merely cessaij or the vendor to draw upon two or three different casks as the cmtomer indicated. Latterly this was drain from the one cask, the precise mixtufcc being the manufacturer’s secret Winter, Owaka. wishes to know how to distil me stain from walnut leaves This is a process naturally enough kept =eciet by the manufacturer. Farmer writes: Would you kindly inform mo how long should wheat be in stack before it is threshed, to harden it? The wheat is eolid straw Tuscan, which was lead-in m good order, and which hud been almost three weeks in slack before be in "■ lead-in. I have had' no experience in wheat-growing, having previously always grown oats, winch cereal can lr- threshed as soon as it is stacked, but I have been told that wheat requires to be kept in Stark some time, but do not know how long. Agricola replies: —Opinion may well lie at variance on this matter. You must decide this matter in the paddock a 3 local conditions must determine. You do not ea3' what district; north, cast, south, or west Rub out some grains and judge for yourself.

Horjtus wishes to know the process Of rendering down bones. Agricola replies. Presumably you mean for use on the farm. If bones are placed in roofed, water-tight bins and enveloped well with earth saturated with liquid manure, they will break down in time. The process of crushing and acid treatment is not feasible on the farm. Marah asks: Whether a Queen Elizabeth coin has any value or not. The com is dated 1580, has Queen Elizabeth’s head on it quite plainly, ruff and all, the edges of it are plain as though cut out, not fluted or whatever it may be caJled, like the usual coins. It is in a good state of preservation, not having been in circulation to my knowledge for about 100 years, and in all likelihood' my great-grandmother got it from hers. It has been always called the Queen Elizabeth shilling, but I’m not just sure whether it is a shilling or not, being a little larger than our present shilling.——The coin is a Queen Elizabeth shilling, and is worth, gay in New., Zealand, £3 to a collector. In the Old Country a good deal more perhaps, depending on a collector’s keenness, etc.

"Wager, Lumsden. — £4-£l —£3 Odds .. £2-£l--£3; £3-£l—£4; Invested.. £3 £3 £3 "Winnings 0 £1 £2