ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 6, 16 June 1913, Page 683

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

CORRESPONDENTS are requested, when desiring information through the Journal in regard to disease in animals and plants, to forward, where possible, affected specimens, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis of the trouble, and to ensure the best advice. In stating a question, the most complete descriptive details should be furnished. Beekeeping. Mr. Leonard Lord, Napier:— I have read several of the articles in your Journal on beekeeping, and I wish to make a . start in a small way. Could you advise me where I could get a colony ? I should like leather-coloured Italian. Kindly also advise me if there is a good book to be had on the subject. The Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division replies, Strong healthy colonies of bees are procurable from the Government Experimental Farm at Waerenga, in the Waikato. A price-list containing conditions of sale, &c., has been posted you, also copy of Bee Bulletin No. 18, which contains valuable information, especially for beginners in beekeeping. % -Eradication of Weeds.-. . Mr. D. C. D. Thomas . Could you inform me, through your Journal, how to kill dandelions and other weeds in lawns without taking the lawns up ? I understand that there is some mixture that can be made which will do this, without hurting the grass or clover at all, ■ The Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division replies,— . One of the best means of killing weeds in a lawn is by sulphuric acid. As only a few drops are required for each weed, a good way of applying it is by using a large nail, which is dipped in the. acid and applied to . the centre of each weed. Care should be taken to see that the hands or face, do not come in contact with this acid, as it will inflict severe burns. Sheep-dip undiluted applied with an old brush to the crown of each weed is also a good eradicator. ■ Onions. . . 4 ‘ Grower,” Taihape : ' . As I am contemplating planting a few acres with onions, I should be grateful to you for the following information : " . . . 1. The best and most profitable seed to sow, and average yield per acre from same. 2. Is this district a good one for growing onions (soil, rich brown) ? If so, the time to plant, quantity of seed per acre, and best fertilizer to use. 3. Does frost and snow affect growth ? If so, method of protecting plants from same. The Director of Fields and Experimental Farms'Division replies,— The best onion-seed is Australian. This seed can be obtained from New Zealand seedsmen.. The yield of onions per acre might - be anything between 2| tons and 15 toils ;10 tons is a very good average on moderately good soil. I

have no personal knowledge of the soil and climate of Taihape, but I understand it is very cold, with a late spring. If this be the case it cannot be considered an ideal place for growing onions. I know of no practicable way to protect the crops from snow and frost. It would be useless to sow until snow and hard frost is past, as a few degrees of frost would nip the tops and check growth. In the Manawatu district many people do not sow until middle of September, and succeed in ripening crops. Late sowing is not desirable, as there is additional risk from mildew. Sow Australian Brown Globe or Brown Spanish. These varieties mature well, as a rule. Sow as early as you think safe, having in mind the above remarks re frost and snow. Thin quickly and cultivate well to encourage rapid growth. Soot and wood-ashes are excellent fertilizers; so are superphosphate and bonemeal two of superphosphate to one of bonemeal — cwt. per acre. To hurry growth, give 1 cwt. nitrate of soda immediately after thinning. Apply the other fertilizers two or three weeks before sowing. The soil should be prepared some weeks before sowing. If the land is in grass it should be ploughed in autumn, and well worked to break down the sods. It is necessary to secure a firm and even seed-bed by means of a levelling-drag and roller, or the drag only will answer both purposes if heavy enough. A rough slab of timber that one horse can pull makes a good drag. This' implement will level small hollows and crush lumps. It is usual to sow the fertilizers at the same time as the seed, but I think that in the case of onions it should be broadcasted separately, in advance of the sowing. Three pounds of seed is sufficient for an acre. This Department is this season testing a new variety of onion, which is said to mature quickly. If this characteristic is proven, it will be a boon to growers in such places as Taihape, where the season is short.

Californian Thistle. ■ ' * Mr. D. R. Barron, Arrowtown: — I should be glad if you would kindly answer the following question for me through the columns of your Journal: ,If horses are fed on oaten chaff which contains Californian thistle, is there any likelihood of the seed germinating after it has passed through the animals ? The Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies,— Numerous instances have been recorded of thistle-seeds germinating after being eaten by stock, and there appears to be a likelihood of Californian thistle being spread in this way. Swede-turnip Rot. y ■ Mr. Arthur E. Pearce, Konini, Waituna West— . Can you give any information regarding the cause' of swede-turnip rot ? I have a crop affected with it this season, and should like to know if there are any preventive measures that may be taken. Are any of the varieties of swede'proof against the disease ? Is the trouble more prevalent on land that has produced a succession of root crops ? / ' The Biologist replies,. Swede-turnip rot, which is a bacterial trouble, cannot be controlled in any practical manner. In districts that are liable to the disease great care should be used in selecting land that has not grown a root crop for some years. There are several distinct swede rots, and I would be obliged if some specimens were sent me. . ; , Turnip-disease. “ Darwinian,” Karamea : By this mail lam sending you one swede, also 5 lb. of soil for analysis. Ail my swedes are the same, with dark, hard centres, which renders them unsuitable for table use. The soil lam sending is a sample of the ground in which they were grown. It

has been properly cultivated, with top-dressing of 1 cwt. basic slag and 1 cwt.’ of rock superphosphate, well mixed together, to the acre. The crop is the best I have ever grown, equalling 60 tons to the acre. Kindly advise me at your earliest opportunity, through the columns of your Journal, what is the cause of the dark, hard centres in the swedes, and how it is to be remedied. Would lime do as a fertilizer for mangels in ground from which sample has been taken ? If so, please state what kind and quantity of lime to use. The Biologist replies,— ■' The presence of clear hard spots in the interior of swedes, which is by no means a common 1 complaint, appears to be similar to the diseased appearance • occurring in apples under the name of glassy core.”- There is, however, no evidence that the trouble is due to any specific organism. The analysis of the soil may reveal the cause of the disease, as it is supposed to be a physiological one, and caused by the character of the soil in which the crop has been grown. The soil was sent to the Agricultural Chemist, who..has forwarded you a copy of his Annual Report for 1908, on page 258 of which is an article dealing with this subject. He adds that liming these lands is recommended for internal brown-spot of turnips. ‘ : Silver-beet. Messrs. Jones Bros., Paengaroa, Bay of Plenty :- Having seen an article on silver-beet in the April number of the Journal, we would like to know if the Department can furnish us with more particulars as to. the growing and feeding-off of this plant, or any other information bearing on the’subject. An article on silver-beet, covering the information you desire, appears in this issue of the Journal. Ed. Cabbage-aphis. Mr. H. Humphrey, Sil verhope : .p • ' lam troubled very much with blighty cabbage in summer and autumn. Can you suggest a remedy for this ? . . . The Director of Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division replies, — The cabbages are evidently attacked by cabbage-aphis. Spray with a tobaccowash in the following proportions: I lb. strong tobacco or 3 lb. waste tobacco, 3 lb. soft-soap, 20 gallons water. If cabbages are young use about twice as much water as that given in above formula, if necessary gradually increasing the strength of the wash as the season advances and the growth hardens. Another good spray for the control of aphis is one cake of sunlight soap boiled in 3 gallons of water, and applied with a fine spray, care being taken to see that the under-sides of the leaves are covered with the fluid. ? Sheep Troubles. .F. G., Rangiwea, Ruanui: — I would like your advice about some lambs of mine that are going blind. The most of them are Romney-Lincoln, a few of them being pure Romney. They were weaned and dipped on the 17th March,- and were put into a clean paddock with good fresh feed in it. On the 30th March they were shifted into another good paddock. On the 18th May they were put into a small paddock of soft turnips. This is the first crop of turnips that has been taken off this paddock, as it has never been ploughed before. The other paddocks are all bush country. The day I put the lambs on the turnips I noticed two of them were blind. After they had been on for about three days I noticed a good many of them getting sore eyes. I left them on the turnips for five days, camping them in. a grass-paddock for . three nights. ■ Yesterday I took out ten blind ones, and a good

many of the others seem to be going blind. There are six big sheep running with the lambs, and two of them are blind in one eye and seem to be going blind in the other eye. One is a fat Romney ewe,'and the other a Corriedale. lam now turning the lot out into a grass-paddock again. Do you think it .is likely to spread right through the flock? And what should Ido to get the blind ones right again ? Also, what is the best treatment for sheep with large warts between the toes ? One thing I forgot to mention about my lambs : whilst they were on the turnips we had a light fall of snow, and two very hard frosts following the snowstorm. But my turnip-paddock is well sheltered by , native bush. ■ ' ' '/■ ... - ' The Director of the Live-stock and Meat Division replies, — It is rather unusual to get cases of ophthalmia at this time of the year. My opinion is that some digestive disturbances are the cause; and from the account you give of the management of your flock I should attribute this to the action of the frost and snow on the turnips. Neither the frost nor the snow itself would cause it directly. You did quite right to put them back on to the grass-paddock. I should put them on the barest one you have got for a time, to give them a change. The condition is not contagious; the reason why so many are affected is that they all have been subjected to the same cause. It would be better to separate the blind ones, and put them in a paddock where they cannot fall into the ditches, gullies, &c. The . eyes, as a rule, clear up by themselves when the animals are given a change. You can, however, treat them by dropping into the eyes a small quantity, twice daily, of a solution of sulphate of zinc. Get your chemist to make you up the following : zinc sulphate, 16 gr. ; rose-water, 8 oz. Ido not know what you mean by large “ warts ” between the toes. Are the sheep lame, or have they foot-rot ? I think the best plan would be to have the sheep examined, and I am asking Mr. Huddleston,■ Inspector of Stock, to call and see you. . Potato-growing . Mr. R. Bradbury, New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland : As a new hand at agriculture I am going to ask a little advice, so would you please give me a few hints on potato-growing? * I have a couple of acres, and intend putting potatoes in for early spring. Would you tell me how much and what kind of .manure is best, per acre ; what is the best way to apply it; what. kind of potatoes are. best for early market; and how many hundredweight of seed-potatoes per acre ? If you will kindly answer these questions, with any hints that would be of value, I should be very much obliged. The soil is a light one, and is situated close to the water’s edge, Auckland. The Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies,— Well-rotted farmyard manure is a good fertilizer where humus is deficient. . If heavy amounts are not available, small amounts used in connection with artificial fertilizers will be found very beneficial. The following mixed fertilizer can be recommended per acre : 2. cwt. to 4 cwt. superphosphate, 1 cwt. to 2 cwt. sulphate of potash, and 1 cwt. to If cwt. sulphate of ammonia. This should be applied - before planting the potatoes. The following are good varieties, for light soils : Early Vermont, American Early Rose, Henderson Improved Early Puritan, Robin Adair, and British Queen. 12 cwt. to 15 cwt. of cut sets per acre should be planted. Land should be deeply cultivated. Use clean and even-sized seed. Keep down weeds between drills by scarifying, and earth as high as possible. Experiments in Beef-production. “ Interested,” Pohokura, Taranaki: — , - Would you kindly give me information on the following, through the Journal: I have read with interest the experiments the. Department are carrying out with the different breeds of sheep for fat-lamb raising, and find same very instructive, and should like to, similar experiments carried out with different breeds of beef-cattle, both purebred and crossbred. I think it would be very valuable to the fattener to know which

breed brings in the quickest net returns. Personally, I should like.to see an experiment carried out between the pure Shorthorn and the pure Hereford and both crossed also the Aberdeen-Angus. . - The Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies,— Some experiments in grazing and feeding various breeds of cattle may be undertaken later. It is pointed out that much greater provision will have to be made for this purpose, and that a very much longer period is required to arrive at conclusions with cattle than with sheep. Utuwai, or Bidabid. “ Utuwai,”- Colyton : Will you please let me know if there is any way of destroying utuwai, or bidabid as it is more commonly called ? I find that after the runners have made some growth from the main root they develop a tender yellow shoot, which appears to be another root, and, in my opinion, that is the reason utuwai gains such a quick hold in the ground. The Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies, It is presumed that your inquiry refers to steep country, or to country which on account of the presence of logs, &c., cannot be cultivated. In such country some control can be established by means of fires, followed by grass-sowing and judicious stocking. This weed is not usually of serious importance after grass has been well established. Ring-bone. “Subscriber,” Mangonui :■ — Is it possible to cure ring-bone in horses ? . The animal I wish to cure has been lame about two years, and has a hard swelling extending all round the foot, over the coronet; Only one hind foot is affected. If it is possible to improve the condition of the foot, where could I obtain the remedies required ? - The Live-stock and Meat Division replies,— Once a ring-bone has formed there is no possibility of cure. Horses sometimes have them and go sound ; this is when the joint or tendons are not interfered with. You state, however, that .horse has been lame about two years. The animal ’is evidently unfit for work without cruelty, and your best plan is to destroy it. Fat-hen. “ Williamsburg,” Dunedin I intend sowing an acre of land infested with fat-hen, the soil being rich. It. will be subsoiled before working up. As I understand that where weeds are very prevalent it is sometimes recommended to drill the seed in, can you tell me the best course to pursue with this end in view ? The Director of the Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies,— As the seed of the fat-hen has ripened and fallen this year, I should advise ploughing the land deeply for the purpose of thoroughly covering the seed, and so prevent germination as much as possible. In sowing I would recommend drilling the seed in. This would admit of weeding. -' Horse Ailment ; Pennyroyal. “ Subscriber,” Churchill:— ■ Could you’inform me through the Journal as. to what is the cause of swellings on my horse’s body They are about as large as a man’s hand, and seem very flabby ,

There are three distinct swellings, and are situated behind the shoulder, and seem to shift about a bit.' The horse is running with another one. But Ido not think the swellings are due to a kick from the other horse, as one of them runs well under the body. Secondly, could you enlighten me as to whether pennyroyal causes abortion in cows ? The Live-stock and Meat Division replies, — We could not tell without examination what is the cause or nature of the “ swellings.” They are probably of no moment, and will disperse naturally. No, we do not think pennyroyal causes abortion.

Lucerne. Acacia baileyana. “ A. B. H.,” Matahiwi, Masterton : . Is the Department supplying seed, manure, and inoculated soil for lucerne experimental plots ? Where can the seeds of the Acacia baileyana be procured ? The Director of Fields and Experimental Farms Division replies, — No decision has yet-been arrived at as to whether the Department will repeat its offer of last year to supply experimenters with sufficient seed, soil, and lime to cultivate an acre of lucerne. Should it be decided to do so, due notice will be given in the Journal. Any reputable seedsman will supply or procure Acacia baileyana .seed.

Temporary Paralysis of Cow’s Leg.

Mr. James Bishop, Pleasant Point: — 1 have a young cow, calved about three months, milking well, and in good thriving condition ; but one of her hind legs becomes paralyzed or stiffened at times, so that she cannot bend it either at the hock or the hoof, but holds it straight out behind, with the hoof dragging on the ground. This comes on suddenly and lasts a few- minutes, goes off just as.suddenly, and she then walks all right. , Can you tell me the cause, and what treatment, if any, will be beneficial ? ' The Live-stock and Meat Division replies, This appears to be a case of luxation or partial dislocation of the patella. The patella, which corresponds to the knee-cap in man, is a bone placed in front of the stifle-joint. It is kept in its place by ligaments and certain muscles, and works in a groove between two prominences of the end of the femur. The internal prominence is the larger; and owing to accident or weakness of the muscles the patella slips out of the groove to .the outside, causing the symptom statedviz., inability to bring the leg forward. . By manipulating the part the bone can be pushed back into its proper place, when the animal will walk as if nothing had happened, until the bone slips out again. ‘ ' When the bone .goes into its proper place again there is generally a distinct click ” -heard. This, while a serious - accident in a horse, is not of so much consequence in a, cow. Your cow, being young, may grow out-of the trouble as she gets stronger. Keep, her on level pasture, and apply a blister to the stifle, composed of powdered cantharides, 2 drams; lard, 2 oz. Rub this well into the parts for ten minutes. It will be necessary to keep the cow in the bail or, twenty -four hours afterwards, to prevent .... her licking the.part and blistering her mouth. .

Strawberries and Raspberries. • Mr. J. C. Fowler, Peach. Grove, Marton I shall be obliged by replies to the following queries, through the Journal. ,My strawberries have sent out no runners, presumably because they have been in fruit continuously, and still yield a picking. I want to make a commercial bed for next season. What I wish to know is whether divisions of the crowns will answer the same end as runners. I may say the variety is a seedling raised by a friend— superb variety. I also want to know the most suitable manure for a raspberry plantation on very rich reclaimed peat land, where this fruit does very well. Which would be the better

Superphosphate or basic slag ? Cousins, in his book “ The Chemistry of the Garden,” advises heavy dressing of superphosphate, but probably on account of the natural acidity of the peat land another manure might be better. The Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division replies,— - Dividing the crowns for planting out is not recommended, as the plants, having been allowed to fruit continuously, will have become somewhat exhausted. In order to obtain runners the best plan will be not to allow the plants to fruit next season. This will enable them to produce good strong runners. For raspberry-growing on your land I would advise a dressing of basic slag, applied at the rate of 4 cwt. or 5 cwt. per acre.

■ ' ' “ Proud-flesh ” on Leg of Mare. Mr. A. M. Feist, Otarere, via Rotorua:— I have tried bluestone for months to remove some large lumps of proud-flesh formed on the hind leg of a fine mare. She was lacerated twice in the same place by barbed wire. After bluestone is applied she keeps the wound raw .by chafing with her hoof. One of the lumps is now as large as a teacup. Can you furnish me with any remedy ? The Director of the Live-stock and Meat Division' replies,— In place of bluestone, I would suggest that you should have used nitrate of silver in order to check the excessive granulations during the healing processes which constitute the so-called “proud-flesh.” I fear that in the case where the granulation tissue has reached the size of a teacup such methods will not succeed 'in entirely removing the .extra growth, and it may be necessary to resort to surgical interference. The operation would be best carried out by a duly qualified veterinary . surgeon. A safe and efficient instrument for removing the superabundant tissue would probably be a firing-iron, heated to a dull red, or the surgical instrument known as an “ ecraseur ” could be used. Such an operation would be attended by ; a considerable amount of pain, necessitating the use of a local or general anaesthetic, and for this reason, if for no other, professional assistance should be sought.

Cracked Hoof of Cow. Mr. R. Snodgrass, Westport : — I have a cow in milk with the outer half of each fore foot split up and grown longer than usual. She walks slightly on her heels, and used to go lame, but now appears to be only tender on her fore foot. She has been bad for about six months. Will you kindly inform me what steps to take in treating her? The Director of Live-stock and Meat Division replies, . Your cow is evidently suffering from cracked hoof. The best remedy, if the crack does not extend up into the region of the hair, is to fire across the top of it with a firing-iron or some such instrument having a blunt edgean old file or blunt ,» axe-edge would do. The iron should be heated to a dull-red heat, and a horizontal line drawn across immediately above the limit of the crack, about Jin. deep. Should the crack extend into the hair, V-shaped lines should be fired on either side of it, the V extending from the top of the hoof to about the middle of the crack. The object of -these lines is to limit the extension of the crack. The overgrown hoof should be trimmed down by means of a farmer’s knife or hoof-cutter, and great care should be taken to keep the crack cleaned out and free from dirt or grit. Neglect of this precaution frequently gives rise to inflammation of the sensitive structures enclosed within the hoof, followed by acute lameness and further compli- ■ cations. .

Pig-feed. Mr. J. A. Cruickshank, East Chatton, Gore: —- ; • I would be very pleased to know, through the Journal of Agriculture, if there is any food at the farmers’ command that would take the place of skim-milk or whey for

feeding young pigs. I do not milk for the factory, and consequently have .very little milk to spare. The Live-stock and Meat Division replies,—If by “ food at the farmers’ command ” you mean grown upon the farm, you / are referred to the Department’s Journal for April last, page 450. There are quite a number of artificial foods on' the market especially suitable for pig-feed.

Fire-branding of Sheep. “Subscriber,” Hokianga: — Being a novice, I would like your advice, through the Journal, how to fire-brand sheep. Is the nose the best place ? Would you advise me to get the Methven brand ? The Live-stock and Meat Division replies,— • ' The centre of the nose is the best place to fire-brand sheep, as in that position the brand is most easily- seen. There are a number of good fire-marking appliances on the market which are well spoken of, including the Methven ; but this is a matter which is best left to the discretion of the user.

In this issue of the Journal the Department of Immigration has an announcement of' interest to those ' desirous of securing the services of domestic workers assisted to New Zealand by the Government. 'The number of visitors registered at the main experimental farms during the past month was as follows : Ruakura, 527 ; Weraroa, 135 ; Moumahaki, 130; Waerenga, 48.