ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XV, Issue 3, 20 September 1917, Page 174

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

IN every instance a question to which an answer is desired in the Journal must be accompanied by the full name and the postal address of the inquirer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. The question should be written on one side of the paper only.

CATERPILLARS IN OATS.

G. H. Bradley, Arapohue:—

Kindly advise me whether there is any preventive of caterpillars in oats. Last year most of us farmers on the Northern Wairoa were heavy losers in the oat crops owing to these insects.

The Biologist :—■

" The commonest species of moth that in the larval or caterpillar stage damages oats and other cereal crops is the native -worm (Melanchra composed). This insect was extremely destructive last season in many parts of New Zealand. Late-maturing crops are almost always more seriously damaged than early-ripening ones. In districts where caterpillar is bad an effort should be made to have the oat crops ready for harvesting as near.to Christmas or the New Year as possible. In certain cases an extensive brood of caterpillars may .be on the move even before Christmas, and under such circumstances the crops should be protected if possible. The only satisfactory method is to sacrifice a headland of about 15, yards right round the crop, spraying it with arsenate of lead, 2 lb. to 40 gallonswater, as soon as there is any sign of caterpillars. If heavy rain occurs after spraying and before harvesting the ' sprayed portion may be safe to chaff, and if when spraying takes place the crop is not in full, ear the sprayed'portion can be used for grain, but care might have to be taken in the using of the straw. The throwing-up of a furrow or the digging of a trench round the crop, smearing the steep edge with tar, is often suggested, and at times will turn the caterpillars from a crop, but this method is pot always satisfactory. If a crop is attacked just on harvesting-time it should be cut instantly, as a cut crop never suffers to the same extent as a standing one. Direct methods of control are, however, often quite impossible to carry out, as the attacks are generally extremely sudden and no warning is given. It would certainly be best. to ■ try and-have your oats maturing as early as possible, and also not allow any rank growth during the previous summer in the paddocks near those that are to be devoted to cereal-growing. This is most important, as the moth for preference lays its eggs on areas which are not well fed down. ;

FOOT-ROT IN COWS.

“Dairyman,” Little River: —■

During, the past season I had several. cases of foot-rot in my dairy herd. In appearance it was the same as foot-rot in; sheep, and smelled the same. The first ; signs were'severe lameness, • then swelling and heat, then discharge, from between the toes. I tried treatment with bluestone solution, and also used butter of antimony; but without much success. I would be glad of any information as to prevention and treatment. . .

The Live-stock Division :—■

Ointments of any sort are not so efficient in cases of foot trouble as solutions, as ointments do not penetrate to the root of the disease. We would recommend that you have a wooden foot-bath made and fixed to the floor of; a bail. Into this put sheep-dip of the ordinary strength, and then bail up the . affected . animal,, and allow her to stand there at least ten minutes every other day.

GROWTH ON HORSE’S FETLOCK. P. Rushton, Tatuanui: —

I have a six-year-old draught gelding with a growth on the inside of the hind fetlock. The growth resembles a wart, and is a little larger than a pigeon’s egg. The animal brushes it badly when working. The growth has been forming for six months or more. Will you kindly advise as to treatment ?

The Live-stock Division :• —-

The animal should be put out of work for a few months. The growth you refer to had much better be cut off before any . treatment is adopted. This will save considerable time ; to reduce the growth by caustics would entail a considerable amount of work and time. After removal a dressing with corrosive sublimate, chloride of zinc, or bluestone should be applied. These can be procured from any chemist. ' Care must be exercised, however, to protect the surrounding healthy parts by using soap or other material to rub all round the part where the caustic is to be applied. . ■ . .

FERMENTING OF HONEY.

“E. H.,” Hamilton

Please inform me as to the cause of extracted honey fermenting, and how to treat this class of honey to prevent it fermenting. - *

The Horticulture Division

The cause of extracted honey fermenting may be attributed to the honey being extracted before the cells are all capped over, thus mixing the green honey, which contains a large percentage of water, with the ripe, honey, which is always capped over. This would raise the water-content to a high percentage, the eventual result being that the honey would ferment. Supposing the honey was ripe when extracted it would rapidly deteriorate and eventually ferment if left exposed to a damp atmosphere, as honey will absorb moisture. All honey should be kept sealed and stored in a dry atmosphere. .

PREPARING BONE AND CHARCOAL FOR POULTRY.

“ Subscriber,” Waitaki South :■

Kindly let me know the best method of drying green bone for cracking for fowls ; also the best way to make charcoal. Would gorse wood make good charcoal ?

The Live-stock Division :

To dry green bone it would have to first pass through a retort, which would be impracticable on the ordinary poultry plant. We would recommend you to secure a green-bone cutter. Gorse wood could be used for making charcoal, but willow wood would be preferable for this purpose.

FORAGE CROPS FOR WET SEASON. W. H. C„ Onerahi

Owing to the excessive rain in this district cropping has been at a standstill. I intended putting in Algerian oats, but thought perhaps rye - corn or barley might be quicker and stand the wet better. My plots are small and of very good —foothill and creek formation—most of which has been worked for two years. I should be glad of advice as to forage crops. . ■ Tj

The Fields Division :

For rapid growth brown, and black skinless barley are best., but all the barleys are the most susceptible of the cereals to wet, unfavourable conditions; Rye-corn is hardy, but takes some time to get over the stooling-stage. Algerian oats frequently redden off under wet conditions. A mixture of rye-corn and

wheat (John Brown or Solid-straw Tuscan), 1 bushel of each, would perhaps be the most suitable of the cereals. In your position we should be inclined to favour 1J bushels of Italian rye-grass, with the addition of 6 Ib. of red clover, if seeding conditions are good.

FORAGE CROPS FOR COWS.

A. T. H., Meth ven:—

I drilled swedes on an acre and a half last year, and the growth was smothered by yarr. What would you advise me to put in this year for green feed for cows, to be ready about the end of December ; also, what would be best to follow for winter feed ? This is fairly good ground, but has a shingly patch’at one end.

The Fields Division :

. The Canterbury climate is -not favourable for the production of heavy green forage in December. The best thing we"can suggest is tares (preferably Golden), sown at the rate of i| bushels per acre, with 1 bushel of oats, at the end of September or beginning of October. As . winter feed for cows in your district nothing is as certain as a crop of mangels well cultivated. These, of course, are out of the question if you must use the piece of land, you intend for summer feed. In these circumstances we would suggest i| bushels per acre of Italian rye-grass. Sown as early as possible in March, this would provide good grazing during July and onwards.

REARING A BULL. CALF.

Mayman Bros., Albany: —

. We are rearing a two-months-old bull calf with the linseed porridge recommended in Bulletin 60 : “Calf-rearing ” (7 parts ground linseed to 1 maize-meal). We are giving it 3 quarts of fresh milk and about Jib. of the mixture boiled into porridge daily. Will this be sufficient to make a good bull but of him, or should we give any extra food ? Is it any advantage to boil the ground linseed ?

The Live-stock Division :

At the bull’s age the food is quite all right. This diet, however, would not be good to rear the animal upon right through, and after it is three months old and until, say, seven months, you could add Jib. of linseed-cake (if procurable) and Jib. of crushed oafs daily, both to be given dry. From then on the calf would be better weaned and given 1 lb. of linseed-cake and J lb. of crushed oats daily in addition to its grass or roots and hay. Be always careful that the animal is not pampered, and’ that he is allowed reasonable exercise and kept physically fit. Boiling the ground linseed certainly does not do any harm, but it is quite right when scalded. - -

LUCERNE-MEAL FOR POULTRY AND PIGS. A. Hutchinson, Silverdale:—

Kindly give particulars in regard to the lucerne-meal you refer to on page 38 of the July Journal as suitable for egg-production, and how to prepare it. Also, would this meal be suitable to take the place of pollard for feeding pigs ?

The Live-stock Division: —

The sample of lucerne referred to was prepared by finely chaffing the hay and then grinding it into meal by means of a No. 3 Wilson farm mill. This machine is especially made for grinding grains and grit, and though adjusted for the Department's purpose would not be suitable for making lucerne-meal commercially. The most important factor in making good lucerne-meal is to cut the growing lucerne at the right period—which is just as it commences to flower—and then to cure the hay properly, ensuring that the leaves do not drop off the stalks. Experience has shown lucerne-meal to be a very valuable food for pigs, and-there is no doubt that it could largely take the place of pollard for such purpose. •