WHARANGI BLOSSOMS.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 3, 25 April 1911, Page 4

WHARANGI BLOSSOMS.

The wharangi, or pukapuka, is one of the two plants native to New Zealand that bears nectar of a deleterious nature when first gathered, and if eaten at that time will cause serious trouble. The poisonous property, however, is of a very volatile nature, and it is a well-known fact among the older Maoris that after a while (they say six weeks) the poisonous matter evaporates, and the honey becomes inocuous, when it may be eaten with impunity. There is absolutely no risk of this honey ever coming on to the market in commercial form, for the wharangi blossoms very early in spring, long before the ordinary honey season sets in, and the little gathered is used by the bees, The clanger of poisoning is in robbing bush bee-nests in September and early October, and eating the honey at that time. The shrub-like plant,

which grows to o height of about eight or nine feet, is plentiful in the north of Auckland. Its leaves are large, of a light dull green colour on top and papery-white underneath. It bears large whorls of whitish flowers, which have a very pleasant scent. Horses and cattle frequently suffer through eating the leaves.

The last number of the Journal of Agriculture again serves to emphasise what those farmers who fail to subscribe to it are missing. It is only half a crown a year post free, and the cost is saved over and over again by the valuable hints given and advice and information furnished. Take the experiment in ploughing for turnips. A farmer sows two plots and ploughs one in Seprember and the other in December. The tormer gave nearly a hundred per cent better crop than the latter. Another farmer manured his crop when sowing, and found that one fertiliser gave lo4lbs of roots per crop, while the other gave only 22lbs. Half a crown a year for such information as this is not an unprofitable outlay, surely ?

A consignment of feathers of fowls and ducks was recently sent Home by the Agricultural Department, and realised from 2 l Ad to is 76. per lb. The latter price was obtained for white duck feathers. Since the sale, enquiries have been made by buyers as to whether there is a prospect of larger and regular supplies of feathers —especially duck —being obtained from New Zealand. If shipments were regularly made, there is every prospect that the demand for them would be good.

A potato grower down south maintains that the potato grub pest is best controlled by cultural methods, the same methods also checkihg Irish blight. If the potatoes are well moulded up to a fine point, so that there are no hollows near the stalks, the grub will be kept away. He also stated that the potatoes, when dug, should not be allowed to lie on the ground over night, for the moths come out during the evening and lay their eggs on the potatoes, principally on the eyes, and then the infection takes place. But if the dug potatoes are bagged in daylight, and those in the soil protected by moulded up earth, then the pest can be controlled.

Formalin in milk has been a source of annoyance to dairy factories, and it is officially described as '' a very potent and dangerous poison." The New Zealand Act forbids its use, and medical officers of health are as one in testifying to its injurious effects upon the health—especially young children. It is used to keep milk fresh. A warning is given by the Government chemist, Mr B. C. Aston. in the "Agricultural Journal," together with a simple test for finding formalin in milk. On slightly warming the milk it will give off the pungent odour of formaldehyde if the formalin has been used as a preservative. It is said that in this manner one part of formalin in 25.000 of milk may be detected.