Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 3871, 22 May 1928, Page 48

Notes and Queries

Qa«>tious for reply in coming ise-je to be racin'd not Inter than SATURDAY night. Questions win NOT be replied to through ba post. Que«tiona must be accompanied by the name pd address of the writer, but a noxn do plume »ay bo adopted for publication. Inquirer,” Palmerston North.—Next week. Wee Willie,” Milton, would like to know if it is possible to have made in New Zealand a gold ring stamped with the harp, the same as Is on the King Edward half-crown and King George florin. Provided you are prepared to pay for the die required any jeweller would provide the design on the gold ring required. Potato," Southland, sends a specimen of scabby potato, and wishes to know the cause of same. He says : “ I had a good crop, but 90 per cent, were affected. The crop was grown on land which had never grown potatoes before. There w«»e swev.e turnips in Inst year. Could you suggest any remedy? It was an extremely dry season last year. ’See note on potato scab under Rural Topics In this issue.

* Inquirer," Hampden, wishes to learn haircutting, marcel, and water-waving, and asks to be toll where she could receive tuition, and what would be a reasonable amount to pay for Instruction. The cost of tuition would depend upon whether “ Inquirer" desired to learn the art of hairdressing in. say. six weeks, or take lessons over a considerable period. If the former, a leading hairdresser would require about £lOO. If time was no object to “ Inquirer " It might be possible to arrange for a series of lessons from a professor who could teach the art of marcel waving, etc. It is suggested that you write to Mr Hendy, Princes street, Dunedin.

’‘Painter," Kapuka, writes: “ (1) Would you give me a rough estimate of what a painter should charge to paint a sevenroomed house, wash-house, and dairy with three coats of cream paint, with brown facings, and roofs, one coat of Steelite red, the body paint to be English oils and lead, mixed by the painter, and all supplied by the painter? (2) .1 have a Ford car which is quite easy to crank when warm, and does not creep, but when it Is cold It does not matter how I set the fingers or other set screws it seems to bs half in gear and I have to jack up the back wheel to start her, and If I let the back wheel down suddenly it pulls up the engine. All bandS' are quite free, and I cannot find the cause in the Ford book. I would be pleased If you would enlighten me of the cause.” (1) The price will depend upon various factors, euch as size of rooms, condition of timber, etc., and will range from £3O to, say. £5O. (2) The Todd Motor Company, Dunedin, kindly furnish the following information in connection with a creeping Ford : “ Although creeping when starting cold is customary with this make of car it should not be very prominent If clutch fingers and adjusting stud (which is attached to hand brake lever, and operates clutch lever) are set to obtain the maximum amount of clutch throw-out. You cou'd probably Improve matters by using lighter oil. A good tip -is to leave the car In top gear overnight by letting brake lever forward. This squeezes the oil from between the clutch discs while it is warm, and prevents the gummy oil driving the clutch plates when starting up a cold engine. If yours is an old model it is probable that at some t.me during a transmission overhaul an extra clutch disc has been added to replace z-xcessive wear on the old discs. This would have a tendency to cause creeping when cold however well the adjustments were set. The fact, however, of your engine cranking freely when hot suggests too heavy an oil as being the trouble. Try a lighter grade of oil."

•’Arsenite,” Wyndham, writes: “ (1) I have sheep with foot-rot and scald between their toes. What should I do to cure them? (2) Would two lines of 4in drain pipes be equal to one line of 6in pipes for taking water through a culvert? (3) Could you tell me the best material for putting into water for washing milking machines, for the rubber tubing and nickel pipes? (4) What is the price per head for grazing sheep on turnips, also per head on grass? What is the qprice per head tor dairy cows on turnips, also per head on grass for winter feeding? (5) What is the price of hay, per ton, in Dunedin, in bales? What is hay worth per acre—that is a gooi average crop before it is cut for stacking? (6) In your last few issues of the Otago Witness I have read with interest questions about potassium ioline. Where could one buy It? What would be its pr’ce per lb? Do any firms in Dunedin sell salt with potassium iodine ready mixed? (7) In the Sydney Mail of Anril 11 I notice that arsenite of so-’a is good for poisoning green timber. Would that do for suckers on plum trees here? What method would be effective?" “Agricola" replies: “ (1) It is necessary at all seasons to note the state of the sheep’s feet, and see that the horn is not allowed to grow anyhow. If a sheep is lame catch it, and see whether there is not some temporary inflammatory condition of the foot amenable to simple treatment. If there is footrot the feet may, in bad cases, be well pared and dressei with one of the many antiseptics available. The following mixture, if well applied with a brush after paring the hoof, will check the disease:— One tablespoonful bluestone and one tablespoonful of alum. Put In a pint b-'ttle of cold water. In bad cases the following preparation, mixed over a slow fire, is satisfactory :—One part bluestone, one of lard, and two of tar. Fresh, powdery lime placed around a salt lick will be a considerable help, while, of course, the sheep should be given the driest of paddocks in a wet season." (2) Mr H. M. Davey replies : “ No. It may be interesting to know why. If you consider the areas roughly you will find 6 by 6 is equal to 36, while 4 by 4 is equal to 16, and 16 plus 16 is equal to 32. so the two are loss th'-n the one. But this is not all. The frictional surface Is. say, about 181 n round the interior of the one nipe, and twice 12in round the two pipes. Then one b’g body of water or material goes better in one than in two smaller bodies. Under similar conditions the one pipe might deliver 415 gallons and the two pipes about 300 gallons between them. Then would not one line be cheaper to buv and lav than two lines?" (3) Caustic soda, provided the rubber Is of good quality, is recommended: but if the tube is not o? the best quality 't is customary to use Wyandotte. (4) This is a. matter of arrangement. To feed sheep on turnips costs around 5d per head per week, and on- grass 3d. wh’le ft may be assumed that dairy cows on roots In winter would

cost around ss, and on grass, say, 2s 6d to 3s per week. The charges will depend upon the quality of the feed, shelter, etc., and the condition of the cattle, etc. (5) Good quality hay makes about £4 10s to £4 12s 6d, Dunedin, and if made of lucerne about £5 10s, but hay has not yet commenced to move off, and prices will depend upon supply and the demand as influenced by future winter cond.tions. The value of hay befpre it is cut depends upon local factors, and is worth what you can get for it. (6) Any of the stock and station agents would procure the iodine lick for you. or you could write Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., Dunedin. The price ranges from 22s 6d to 25s per lb. (7) Yes. In the dormant season of the year, when the sap is well down, the saplings or suckers may be cut low down, and the solution dabbed on with a swab stick. (See next week’s issue for best method of killing trees, etc., quickly.)