Notes and Queries

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 48

Notes and Queries

Questions for reply in the coming Issue of the Otago Witness must be received not later than SATURDAY Night.

Questions will NOT be replied to through the post. Questions must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer, but a nom de plume may be adopted for publication.

‘“Young Mother,” “Reader,” “Grandmother,” and “ Waiting.”—Next week. N. S., Westport, sends fragment of plant for identification. It is a fishbone thistle (Chamcepeuce casalione). “Victory,” Gore, asks: “ (1) In what year did the steamship Victory make her last trip to New Zealand? (2) Did she arrive at Port Chalmers about the close of the year 1883? ” (1) 1884. (2) December, 1883. “Eva,” Owaka, asks where she can obtain a copy of Dr Kirk’s book and how much it costs. Messrs Duncan and Simpson, 126 George street Dunedin, have a copy of the new edition, price 6s. “Wheat,” Cromwell, asks for the address of the secretary or some one in a like position in the Wheat Pool, such an organisation exists. Mr R. Macpherson, New Zealand Wheatgrowers Cooperative Association, Christchurch. “Speedboat,” Taieri, would like to know the address of any boatbuilders in Dunedin or elsewhere who design the hulls of fast racing launches, etc. Mr J. Macpherson, Ravensbourne. Otago, and Messrs Miller and Tunnage. Port Chalmers, among others. “Reciter,” West Coast, asks to be supplied with the words of a recitation based on the poem Wreck of the Hesperus,” where the reciter forgets parts and puts lines of other, pieces into it, the prompter also being involved in the resulting argument. — Can some reader oblige us with this information? * Knitter,” Kelso, wishes to know if there is any firm in Dunedin which •would buy hand or machine knitted articles. There are buyers of articles at times of the nature described, but the demand is intermittent, and de--1 nds, naturally enough, upon the arrangement or bargain made between buyer and seller. * Interested,” Invercargill, asks: “If a person gains University terms in two or more subjects for the degree of B.A. or B.Sc.. but fails to pass the degree examination in them, would they count as subjects passed for part of the teachers’ C certificate? ” Inquire from the Education Department, Wellington.

“Bruce,” Timaru, writes: “(1) If I have a sum of money, say £5OO, at interest ■with the Public Trustee, put there for a term, could I draw about £lOO before the term was quite up—perhaps six months or so? (2) What would it cost to draw it? ” (1) Yes. (2) There is no charge to withdraw the jnoney, but on the sum withdrawn there would be a diminution of interest of possibly 2 per cent, over the period of lodgement.

“Utopia,” West Taieri, wishes to be supplied with a recipe for apple cider ■which will keep for some considerable lime. She would like to make about 10 gallons. Use fully ripe apples, and store on a shelf for a fortnight to grow mellow. Crush to a pulp. Put this into a strong, coarse bag, and with a heavy •weight press out the juice into a large open tub, and keep it in a temperature of 60deg. As soon as the sediment has subsided, rack off the liquid into a clean cask, and stand in a cool place till the following spring, when it may be reracked for use. “Employee,” .Riverton, aSks: “(1) Is there a separate award for country and *town hotels? (2) Has the old award re full day per week been rescinded? (3) If so, when does the new award come into operation? (4) Who was president of- the United States in 1909? ” (I) No; only a Dominion award. (2) and (3) No new award since 1926. An employee is entitled to a full day off per week. (4) President Taft was elected in 1908, and took office on March 4,1909, succeeding President Roosevelt. “An Old Reader,” Oamaru, writes: “I have a horse which took grass founder badly two summers ago. He recovered, but this last summer took ill again. He goes very lame and stiff. Is there anything I could obtain for him? ” The condition appears to be a form of laminitis —founder of the feet. The best treatment would be to turn the horse out for a good snell in a low- .. lying, moist pasture. Of course, remove the shoes. The continued annlication of cold water in some cases will do good in cases of founder. J. C., South Canterbury, writes: “I have macrocarpa and privet hedges around my garden and orchard. What is the best time (or times) of the year to trim them so as to have them looking their best for the greatest period? ” “Agricola” replies: “In order to keep either of a these two hedges in good trim for a lengthy period cutting in the early spring is advisable, in regard to shelter and to some extent appearance. If, however, the latter condition is of more importance than the former the trimming of the hedges may be done now (March) and again lightly in the spring.”

“Cheese Puncher,” Mataura, asks: “(1) Does one wishing to send photographs to a newspaper such as the Otago Witness require to send the negative or the print? (2) Does he receive them back or are they kept by any such

company? (3) Is the Mercedes Benz

motor car on the New Zealand market

yet. If not, is it on the way out? (4) What is its speed, horse-power, and wheel base?” (1) The prints, as long as they are perfectly printed. (2) He may receive them back if he desires so; it is a matter of arrangement. (3) to (5) Information regarding this make of car is not available here. L. S., Invercargill would like to know: (1) What openings, if any there are for (a) shop assistants, (b) dressmakers. in Fiji or any of the other South Sea Island towns? (2) Which would be the best town to work in? (3) To whom and-where would (a) or (b) apply for respective positions? (4) About what wages would an experienced shop assistant or competent dressmaker receive? (5) Would board be easily procured, and about what would it be per week? The information is not available here, and it is suggested that you submit your questions to the Consul-general, Suva, Fiji. “ Subscriber,” Wendonside, wishes to How to make plum wine. (2) Vv here he could obtain a cask. (1) To every gallon of water put 241 b of sugar, boil for three-quarters of an hour, and then skim. To every gallon of this mixture put five jrints of stoned plums. Let the liquor boil till it is a fine colour, then strain through a hair sieve. Work it in an open vessel for three or four days: pour it off from the lees into a cask, and allow it to work as long as it will; then stop it close and leave undisturbed for six or eight months, when it may be bottled. I n ■ a 4 ear and a-half it will be in excellent condition for drinking. (2) Any hardware merchant advertising in the Otago Witness would be pleased to take an order from you. “Looking On,” Pukerau, writes: “A leases a farm to B. B can grow green crops, but no white crops. B cannot z’Jx A tlle _, far, P or any portion of it. * an ® strip or cut brown-top for seed. . (2) To harvest brown-top for seed, is it a white crop or green crop? (3) Can B let C strip or cut browntop, B's payment being 1 in 4? ” 4 Agi icola replies: “Under the term white crops ’ it is usually understood that one refers to wheat, oats, barley, and possibly rye corn, and the term ’ green crops ’ to such stock fodder as autumn-sown vetches or tares, rve, winter barley, -winter oats, crimson clo\ er or trifolium, and the brassica lamily. (1) If there is no clause in the agreement preventing B from harvesting grass seed he could handle browntop as suggested. (2) The position is as explained above. (3) B presumably can make any arrangement if not deterred. as intimated in answer to the first question.” “Anxious,” Owaka, asks: “(1) Please give me a recipe for German biscuits. (2) Is it correct for a girl who has been at a party to thank her hostess for the pleasant time she has had before leaving? (3) At a wedding can a brother give away his sister if his father is present?” (1) Required: Half a pound butter, -Jib sugar, Jib flour, 41b ground rice, one teaspoonful soda, a little grated nutmeg, one tablespoonful spice, one tablespoonful cinnamon, half a teacupful of milk, one egg. Mix all the dry ingredients, beat the butter and sugar to a cream, and add the egg and milk. Mix all into a stiff paste, and divide into three lots. Roll one lot out very thinly and cut with a teacup into rounds. Add scraps to second lot, roll, and repeat, and the same with the third lot. Bake very lightly, and remove from tray at once and fasten together with raspberry jam. Ice while warm with icing made by beating white of egg with knife, and stir in icing sugar till stiff. Spread on evenly with knife, and sprinkle pink sugar over. (2) It is a courteous thing to do. and one appreciated by hostesses. If you do not express your thanks on the night of the party you should write or telephone them next day. (3) He can, but it is not customary. “Constant Reader.” Mosgiel, asks: (1) Is vinegar made from molasses, water, and brewer’s yeast strong enough to make pickles with which will keep a reasonable length of time? (2) Where could an acetometer be purchased? (3) How should the above vinegar be tested to ascertain the acetic acid content? (4) How is malt vinegar made? (1) It is very probable that the liquor would be strong enough to preserve the pickles. (2) Messrs E. W. Wilton and Co., Savoy Buildings, Princes street, Dunedin. (3) Insert the acetometer in the liquid, which should be in a receptacle sufficient to float it,-and read off where the meniscus registers against the scale. (4)Take 61b ground malt, 61b crystallised raisins, 41b treacle, 41b cream of tartar. Pour on these eight gallons of boiling water, and leave all to mash for six or eight hours, stirring well, as usual. Run off the liquid into another tub. and add Hb sulphuric acid and 24 gallons of acetic acid. Colour with caramel (burnt sugar) and rack into a cask. Allow to settle for three days, and then draw off the clear vinegar, and it is ready for use.

“Forty Years’ Subscriber,” writes: “I own a house built about 60 years ago. The wood is chiefly Oregon, but some of the dwangs are heavy white pine into which the borer has gone. As the dwangs are between the walls it is not possible to get at them directly to paint them with a borer wash. I am wondering if any chemical could be put between the walls the fumes of which might penetrate the borer holes and thus destroy the grubs.” “Agricola ” repiles: “The dressing of timber with a poisonous paste or wash is designed to poison the old grubs as they eat their

way out of the wood, or the young ones as they eat their way in, and it is very doubtful if the use of, say, a poisonous gas like hydrocyanic acid gas or carbon bisulphide is practical. Either of these gases will kill, but they are dangerous to use and cannot be recommended. Carbon bisulphide is useful for killing any insects in enclosed spaces, such as cloth moths in cupboards, bees in the walls of houses, etc. Its heaviness. however, sometimes makes it ineffective, since it may not penetrate to all parts of the enclosure. Much more deadly to insects, but equally deadly to man if carelessly used, is hydrocyanic acid gas. The use of a good insecticide seems to be the most practical-treat-ment if the affected timber cannot be removed.”