ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 3, Issue 5, 15 November 1911, Page 434

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

. . ... A Grass Mixture. . “ Inquirer,” Tinui, asks,- . ■ . Would you through your correspondence columns give me a suitable grass mixture for sowing down tawa-bush country on papa formation, and also for manuka and five-finger-scrub country. The .Director of the Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies,— The native vegetation indicates a fertile soil. Rye, cocksfoot, and clover are, of introduced plants, the most prominent on the surface-sown pastures of such .....lands. : A mixture generally availed, of is—rye-grass two - thirds, cocksfoot one- ' ' third, and 2 lb. to 41b. of white clover. If, after burning-off the land, the soil is in good condition, lib. of rape and I lb. of turnip-seed are often added. The other grasses, as meadow. foxtail, timothy, &c., are useful, and are included as -• '-individual inclinations dictate.. The quantity of grasses and clover sown per. acre is estimated at 20 lb. to 25 lb. The present high price of grass-seed precludes lavish sowing. At one time, where large areas were sown, 15 lb. was the quantity ..- estimated to be used. In poorer country a smaller quantity of rye should be used. The mixture would then include crested dogstail, florin, red-top, and even danthonia. The rape and turnip seed would not be included. ' ' ‘

Tutu.

Mr. Geo. Kenah,; Okoke, Urenui. writes,—Would you please inform me what antidote to use and what'treatment, is required in the cure, of a beast that is poisoned by eating tutu. I should be glad if you would also let me. know what poison is contained in tutu. .. ; . . The Director of the Live-stock and Meat Division replies,—' It-is often a very difficult matter to -.apply medicinal treatment to animals suffering from tutu poisoning, seeing that the trouble causes more or less severe brain symptoms, which render the animal intractable and difficult to handle. Very . useful. treatment for this trouble, when it can be applied, is the internal administra- ’ tion of liquid ammonia, or carbonate of ammonia mixed with milk or thin gruel ' if possible ; in. addition a large dose of linseed-oil,'*, not less than 2 pints, should be given. The dose of liquid ammonia in cases such as this should be 1 oz. in a quart of milk or thin gruel. If neither of these be available it should be mixed .. with the 2 pints of linseed-oil which is recommended above. . Liquid ammonia is irri- . tating to the membrane of the mouth and throat, hence the necessity for diluting ■ it with a quantity of some demulcent fluid. It should be borne in mind that there are two liquid preparations of ammoniaone a very strong preparation, known as liquor ammonia fort. ; the other the ordinary liquid ammonia, which is here / "recommended. If carbonate of ammonia be used in cases of tutu poisoning the dose is 1| oz. . ’ ... ■ .. ... If the rumen (first stomach) is greatly distended with gas, relief can be afforded by puncturing it at a spot midway between the haunch-bone and the last rib. This should be done on the left side of the animal. Really the best instrument for so

puncturing’is that known as a trocar, , fitted into a canula, This is a round, sharppointed .instrument with, a metal .tube (the canula) fitting tightly over it. After making the puncture the instrument is withdrawn, and the-tube left in, thus allowing the. continued escape of gas, ■ It is unlikely however, that the farmer will have this -instrument at hand, and. in an emergency a sharp-pointed knife, with a long but thin blade, can be used. In this case) however, it must not be simply plunged in and withdrawn, but must be held in position after making the puncture, the blade being twisted slightly sideways, thus maintaining an opening through which the gas can escape from the rumen. Owing to the usually excited condition of

affected animals, however, it is often very difficult to do this, It is usually travelling stock which become the victims of tutu. poisoning; and feeding on the plant undoubtedly causes much more trouble when taken on a more or less empty stomach. • The poison contained in the .tutu-plant is an alkaloid known as tutin, this being the active. principle of the plant. Full particulars concerning this aspect of the question can be obtained from.the Annual Report for the year 1908, in which a description of tutin is given by Mr. Aston, Agricultural Chemist. • ■ : •

Burning Charcoal.

Mr. H. S. Langridge, Warkworth, writes, — Is it in your province to give instructions through the Journal in burning charcoal ? I would like to know how to go about it. ■ . The Director of Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division replies, The usual method, though simple, requires great care. Wood is cut into billets 2 ft. to 4 ft. , long, and well dried by exposure to the air. When sufficiently dried it is closely stacked in conical mounds from 6 ft. to 12 ft. high and from 10 ft. to 40 ft. in diameter at the base. . Before building the mound the ground is levelled, and a small framework is fixed in the centre of this space to form as it were a chimney or flue ; the billets are compactly stacked round this on their ends until the desired area is covered.. All the billets . slope. The stack is then completed to the desired height by billets arranged horizontally, and the whole covered with a. layer‘of -earth. The heap is kindled through the opening left at the . top, and others made near the base ; after burning for three or four days these are closed, and others opened about half-way up. The . holes must be closed whenever it is seen that combustion is too rapid. When smoke ceases to be given off all the holes should be closely stopped and the heaps allowed to cool . for. three or four days. The earth is then removed, and any charcoal still burning is extinguished by water.

Bottling Green Peas

Mr. F. Firth, Gratia, inquires,— . Could you through your Journal furnish me with a reliable method of bottling green peas for home use.' I understand that Mr, Jaques while in the Government employ bottled fruits and vegetables. We have tried for three years to bottle peas, but, although very successful with everything else we have tried, cannot' manage peas. The Director of Orchards, Gardens,- and Apiaries replies, — (1.) The peas must be young not starting to make growth.' (2.) Scald and partly cook the peas in a sieve, wire basket, or colander. (3.) Wash thoroughly in cold water, two or three changes. (4.) Fill the bottles, and complete the filling with very light brine (just to taste the salt only). (5.) Preserve as fruit, but count the time from when the water reaches 180° Fahr. ; bring up to 200°-205 c Fahr., . and preserve for fifteen minutes or longer if the peas will stand the process, which they should do if correct in variety and condition ; twenty-five minutes and upwards is preferable. (6.) Screw down, and allow to cool as usual.

A Pig and Poultry Trouble,

Mr. A. D. Bauckham; Ashhurst, writes, . / I have had two or three hens, a duck, and a pig affected within the past, month. The vent seems to turn inside out. ■■ The duck’s I put back, it got better. I tried the same with a fowl, but it came, out again, so I killed the fowl. . I also killed the pig, and killed a hen yesterday. Now, to-day (19th October) I notice another hen like it. I also have heard of three or four others lately that have had the same trouble. Could you tell me if there is anything to prevent it, or any cure ? Kindly let we know what you think about it. ’ The Live-stock and Meat Division replies,: Regarding the prolapse of the anus in the pig, this is by no; means an, uncommon : ■ occurrence in young pigs. Usually it is simply an extrusion of the mucous membrane ; of the bowel only ; in other cases the whole of the.bowel itself may be prolapsed. The cause is generally due to some error in dieting,.- Thus,- constipation, or the

opposite condition ——may, by causing straining, bring about the accident. inbreeding, and consequent weakness, and neglect to provide the young animals with a suitable run so that they can get exercise, may also be classed as an exciting cause. Treatment Would be to put the animals under healthy conditions generally, and endeavour to find out what is causing the straining, and remedy it. As a rule local treatment of individual cases is not of much use. The trouble with the fowls is probably what is usually known as the passing of the oviduct. Apparently the poultry are being fed too large a proportion of forcing feed— common cause. If this should be the case the food should be reduced to a plain character, excluding all animal food, even milk where this is given. A weak constitution is also a predisposing cause. The condition is also brought about when a bird has vent-gleet. In the latter case a very offensive smell can be noted.. If this is found to be the cause the best thing to do is to kill off all affected birds. Curing is hardly worth while unless the trouble is taken at an early stage. If passing of the oviduct is the weakness, this can be cured by careful treatment. The affected parts should be well oiled and gently returned, the bird being then placed in a kero-sene-case with the legs tied and fastened loosely to near the top of the box, so that the breast will be resting on the bottom of the box, and the vent be in an elevated position. The bird, of course, should be kept as quiet as possible, and the feeding: greatly reduced, in order to discourage laying.

Poa Brownii.

Mr. Walter H. Dunnage, Te Mania, Bay of Plenty, writes, — Could you please tell me what feeding-value as a grass Poa Brownii has ? Is it as good a grass as Chewing’s fescue for sheep ? ' The Director of Fields and Experimental Farms replies, — Poa Brownii is used more generally in the Auckland Province, where it is known, as “ bay-grass,” than in any other portion of New Zealand. Its feeding-value is. very small, and it is by no means as good as Chewing’s fescue for sheep.

Onions.

Mr. P. Last, Kumeroa, Woodville, asks, — Could you please tell me if it is safe to transplant onions that are only six weeks old. They were sown in August and are a fair size. Would they live if I transplanted, them now, or would it be better to leave them until they are a little bigger, and will they do any good if they are transplanted ? The Director of Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries replies,— If these plants are well grown they may be transplanted at any convenient, time now.

A Calving Trouble.

Mr. Sydney Reynish, Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula, writes, Would, you kindly give me advice about a cow that calved three weeks ago. Thecow became uneasy on 21st September, and three days later the calf was taken away from her, being dead, and ever since there are pieces of yellow matter coming from her with continual straining. As soon as the calf was taken away she was drenched with. 1 lb. salts and lb. ginger. A week later I gave her one packet Sykes’s' drench. She got no better, so I syringed her with Jeyes’ fluid. She gives about 1 gallon of milk each milking, which smells very strong. I fail to know what is the next best thing to do. The Live-stock and Meat Division replies,— The persistent discharge indicates one of two conditions : either the “ afterbirth ” was not got rid of at the proper time, and is gradually rotting away, or that there was some injury to the uterus or vagina during the act of parturition. In all probability the retention of the afterbirth is the cause. You appear to be treating her on right lines. A 1 per cent, solution of, lysol is, however, to be preferred to Jeyes’ fluid, and the uterus irrigated every other day, using the indiarubber tubing and funnel. As much of the solution as possible should be used,.

the temperature of which should be about blood heat. With regard to medicine, give her 1 oz. doses of hyposulphite of soda, dissolved in a pint of cold water, once daily. I note that one of the drenches you gave the cow contained J lb. of ginger. This is too much, the dose for a cow being 1 to 2 oz.

Small-birds Pest.

Mr. R. D. Fell, Maori Bay, Pelorus Sound, writes, — Ring-eyes (or silver-eyes) and chaffinches have been doing much damage to the buds of fruit-trees here this year. Nectarine and peach buds have been taken wholesale, some large trees being absolutely stripped of their blossom buds ; and even where the blossom escaped the set peaches have been nipped in half. The same birds have also destroyed the blossoms of apples and pears, and are now busy with the cherries and gooseberries. I have tried various sprays —lime sulphur and salt, Bordeaux, arsenate of lead, quassia and soft-soap, and Paris green—without effect. Can you give me a recipe for making birdlime to smear on the twigs of some of the trees, or suggest any other mode of getting rid of the pests ? Too free a use of the shot-gun damages the trees too much. The Director of the Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division replies,—Spraying, though excellent for controlling insect and fungus pests, is not much use as a deterrent of small-bird attacks. One of the best and cheapest contrivances for frightening birds is the “ Demon Automatic Bird-scarer.” The instrument costs about £1 55., and will last for years. Reports can be regulated at any desired intervals. The crackers and fuse cost about Id. for four reports. It may be bought from most dealers in horticultural supplies.

Small-birds Pest.

Mr. W. Wilkinson, Chertsey, Ashburton, writes,— In reference to what is in this county (Ashburton) ordinarily called the “ smallbirds pest,” and which is of great interest to the writer, and probably to all the readers of your valuable Journal in this locality, would you please inform us in what light this question is looked upon in other and older countries — rural districts in England, France, or Germany. That is, are these “ small birds ” (sparrows, linnets, yellowhammers, &c.) looked upon as a nuisance to be got rid of by poison or any other way, or are they looked upon as a help to agriculturists in destroying insect-life and therefore to be preserved ? The Director of Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies, — In Europe the small bird generally, and very specially the sparrow, is considered a nuisance. At the same time' the Director of Agriculture of France and some authorities on rural subjects agree that the small bird is of very appreciable assistance in the control of insect pests. They deprecate unrestrained destruction. There is, however, a very material difference applying to the bird population in , Europe and in New Zealand. There the winter is one of severity, and is accompanied with enormous mortality to the bird ; in years of exceptional rigour the small bird is almost obliterated. Such seasons are unknown here. This implies greater recognition of the nuisance and the greater importance of control.

A Cow Trouble.

Mr. E. Keig, Staveley, Ashburton, writes, — Can you tell what is wrong with a cow that is attacked with the following symptoms : Shaking all over as with paralysis, throwing her head in the air and trying to raise it very high ? As there is no tutu on the farm where the beast was attacked, the owner was puzzled as to the cause of death, and wished out of curiosity to know. I promised to find out if possible. The Director of the Live-stock and Meat Division replies,— Your brief description of the case does not enable me to accurately diagnose the cause of death. You should advise the owner to at once communicate with the Veterinary Supervisor, Department of Agriculture, Christchurch, in the event of any further similar cases occurring. An investigation can then be made on the spot, and the best advice and assistance given.