Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 48

Notes and Queries

Qmitwoa lor r«piy in coining issua U t« » *a>v*4 ata later thaa 3ATUHDAY night Qvaatiaaa win NOT ba replied ta through the poet Qiaetiane unit be accompanied by the name Mi addraae of the writer, but a noa da plant nay bo adopted for pablioatioa. “Wanderlust,” Dunedin, writes: “I should be very grateful if you could advise me of the addresses of several of the rubber companies operating in India, Africa, America, and elsewhere, or, failing that, tell me of any directory or similar book from which it would be possible to obtain them.” See Kelly’s “ Directory of Merchants, Manufacturers, and Shippers of the World ” in the PiibHc L’h T'-,-.. din.

“Inquirer,” Poolburn, asks: “(1) Do small drapers have to register? (2) ... . made cake shops and sweet shops have to be registered or pay any license? (3) Where do you address parcels of clothes when sending to the Salvation Army? ” (1) No. (2) Yes. Information is obtainable at the Labour Department, Dunedin, or from the City Corporation. (3) Salvation Army, Dowling street, Dunedin. “ Troubled,” Southland, wishes to know of any remedy for rubbing on the hands to keep them soft and white. Glycerine and rosewater, to which is added a little eau de Cologne, are excellent for the hands, as is also a lotion made of sixpennyworth of red lotion, 2dr of eau do Cologne, and 2oz of glycerine. Both of these are non-sticky. A serviceable cream can be made by clarifying mutton fat, melting it, and beating into it a quantity of lemon juice until a creamy mixture is formed. This rubbed into the hands feeds the skin, and keeps it soft, supple, and white. “Puzzled," Lumsden, writes: “ (1) A man is pointing at a photograph, and says: ' Sisters and brothers have I none, biit that man’s father is my father’s son.’ fie is pointing at his own photograph. Could you tell me if the wording of that is correct? There is a catch in it somewhere but I do not think that is right. (2) How long is a metre? (3) Does April Fool’s Day last only 12 hours, until noon, or does it last the full 24 hours? ” (1) He is not pointing at his own photograph, but at that of his son. (2) A metre is a French measure of length equivalent to 1.09363 English yards. (3) We have no information on this subject. " Aparego,” Tapanui, asks: “(1) Can a high-grade steaming coal be safely used in the ordinary domestic cooking range? (2) Is a high-grade steaming coal gassy when in use? (3) What is the name and address of the principal distributing agent in Australasia for the firm of Lane and Girvan, Bonnybridge, Scotland? ” (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) Perhaps some reader can supply the information, as Lane and Girvan although at one time represented In Auckland by an agent who periodically visited Otago, does not appear now to have representation in New Zealand. As for the Commonwealth of Australia, it is possible the agehcy has b<' n n .ii'owpd to lapse.

“Enthusiast," Lumsden, wishes to know what process ground has to be put through before being suitable for a chip court for tennis. Has the roiled surface to have any special dressing put on to it before tarring, and is only ordinary tar used? ln order to make a chip court suitable for playing tennis it is usual to remove the top soil throughout the length and breadth of the lawn until the clay or hard subsoil is exposed. This, if. a dry area has been selected, is made smooth and level with the spade, and permits of playing upon in dry weather. (2) There Is no need to roll the surface if the soil is removed right down to the hard clay, nor to tar the surface. “ Musica,” Southland, writes: “(1) Could you supply me with any available information as to the career of Rosina Buckman, singer, giving h-w <•••'•» of birth, etc. (2) When was she last in New Zealand? (3) What is her present address? ” Rosina Buckman is an operatic and concert artist. Born In Blenheim. Now Zealand, studied in England, and married in 1919. With Dame Melba’s opera one season. Made her debut at Covent Garden in 1914. Great success in various roles. Principal soprano Covent Garden grand opera season, 1919-20 : world tour in 1922-23. Address: 28 Ayleston avenue, N.W., Galan-ddu, Anglesey. W. H., Geraldine, writes : " I intend planting a breakwtnd of tree lucerne, and would be glad to know how far anart the plants should be placed. Would It be a good idea to plant th->m th’c'-’v --s on. remove every other one? What time shoqld I plant? What age should the plants be. and will I have anv difficulty “in obtaining plants? ” Plants are not obtainable in Otago, and possibly your best plan would be to obtain seed of the tree luoerne, and sow either in position on line of fence, and thinning, say, in the spring, or sow seed in boxes, and transplant on line of fence when ready at a distance of, say, 2ft apart. The former method, however, is preferable, as thinning can be made as required. Tree lucerne grows very quickly, and sowing now would permit of useful shelter next year.

Thirsty,” Otago, asks to be supplied with a recipe for blackberry wine. To make blackberry wine gather the fruit when ripe, on a dry day. Put it into an uncovered vessel having a tap fitted near the bottom. Pour in boiling water—just enough to cover the fruit. Bruise the fruit thoroughly, and let it stand until the pulp rises and forms a crust, which it will do In three or four days. Have the vessel covered. Next draw off the fluid into another vessel, and to every gallon of liquid add lib of sugar. Mix well and let it stand in a cask for eight or ten days to work. Keep the cask well filled in the meantime, especially at the commencement. When the working ceases bung down the wine, and bottle in about six or nine months. A little nort, added in proportion to about a gill to every bottle, will improve the wine greatly, and ~ if kept for about four or five years tt will be found that it drinks very much like genuine port.

Butter-fat,” Central Otago, asks how to pot butter. “ Agricola ” replies : “ Butter intended to be pot’.ed should bo made from well-ripened cream. If the cream is too sweet or too sour the butter will not keep properly. The butter must be thoroughly washed with clean pure water while in a granular condition to rid It of the buttermilk. Then salt at the rate of loz to the pound of butter should be well mixed with it. After this set the butter aside to allow the salt to dissolve properly. Then finish working the butter to get It as dry as possible. Pack firmly

(leaving no spaces around the sides) into a glazed earthenware crock, which has been scalded out and cooled. When the crock is full place a layer of salt about 2in thick on the surface of the butter, and If the vessel has a top make it airtight. If there is no top strotch a piece of airtight material securely over the top. Store in a cool clean place. It is much better to fill the crock at once, but if different lots are required keep the crock covered

in the intervals." “ Interested,’’ Taiert Beach, wishes to be given a short account of the principles and methods of " dry " farming. “ Agricola ” replies: “ In semi-arid regions, where the rainfall is under the normal, the practice of growing crops without the help of Irrigation is known as ‘ dry ’ farming. It consists in the conservation of moisture by improved methods of cultivation, and the employment of seed of special drought-resisting varieties of these crops. The principles underlying the practice of ‘ dry ’ farming are based on the movements of water in the soil. An essential condition in successful ‘ dry ’ farming is that the soil should be deep and retentive and properly tilled. Deep ploughing in the autumn, before the rains, having previously well disced the land, is adopted in order to ensure close contact of soil particles throughout the depth of turned-up furrow. Usually one operation follows another closely in order to conserve moisture, while the maintenance of a surface mulch is essential to deter evaporation, especially after rain. Seeding is done in the fall or spring, the time depending upon the time of the dry season and the distribution of the rainfall.” “ Potato," Canterbury, suggests a note dealing with seed potatoes. " Agricola " writes: "In saving seed potatoes you should carefully- select the seed-bearing plants at the time of digging the crop. Only those plants of special merit, true to type, and which produce at least five marketable tubers, should be selected. It is better to select the whole of the produce of such plants for seed than to pick out smaller tubers indiscriminately after the digging has been completed, although the smaller tubers weighing from 2oz to 3oz, it from good plants, are suitable for seed. Allow the tubers to dry upon the ground for a few hours and then store in shallow trays, placing each tuber so that the rose end will be pointing upwards. The trays may be made of any convenient size, and about 2Jin to Sin in depth, but the ends should project from lin to IJin, so that when stacked a free circulation of air and distribution of light will be allowed. If placed in an open shed or under a tree where they will be protected from sun and rain the potatoes will keep much better than they would in a confined space or even in cold storage. Under the influence of light the tubers will become greened, and a short, sturdy sprout will appear from the rose end of the tuber. If kept until the following spring it may be necessary to look over the trays at regular intervals and remove any decaying tubers, but if sound stock be selected there should be no loss from this source. Tubers sprouted in this way grow rapidly when planted, produce more sturdy plants, and give a better yield.” H. J. 8., Southbrook, writes: “What is wrong with my turkeys? This is my first attempt at rearing poults, and some now over three months old have taken sick. They mope about with little appetite, and the droppings are mostly of a deep orange colour. At the time of their taking sick they had a small morning feed of bran and pollard mash, free range on abundant vegetation, and a little wheat at night. They had also been helping themselves to windfall apples. Do you think overfeeding would cause this complaint? I have other poultry, but the turkeys are housed by themselves in an open-fronted house. If you tell me a'remedy I should be grateful. Also what are the symptoms of the disease called blackhead ”? In the opinion of " Terror,” editor of our Poultry Notes, overfeeding is not the cause of the sickening of your turkey poults. The probability is that they are from inbred stock, and consequently constitutionally weak. Turkeys are very prone to become verminous unless their housing is thoroughly sanitary. You should examine your birds for parasitic insects, which attack them about the head, under the wings, and about the vent and roots of the tail. Insect powders, such as are used for fowls, are effective in ridding turkeys of these pests. As regards the dreaded blackhead disease, it is very fatal. Some allege that it is incurable. The affected birds become thin and weedy, and eventually die. Physicking does no good. Birds badly affected are supposed to appear very dark about the heads—Whence the name. This is not, however, a very sign with youngsters. In purchasing turkeys to breed from it is advisable to ascertain whether the breeder is periodically introducing fresh blood into his stock, for experienced turkey breeders insist that constitution cannot be maintained otherwise.