ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 20 March 1919, Page 186

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

IN order to ensure reply to questions, correspondents must give their name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Letters should be addressed to the Editor.

HORSE WITH IRRITATION OF FETLOCKS.

A. H. Cox, Marima :—

We have a horse troubled with irritation around the fetlock. It always seems to be rubbing that part against fences and logs, making the fetlocks bleed, and also causing swelling. It is an aged animal. Can you give me any information in regard to treatment ?

The Live-stock Division :—

We recommend you to give the animal a dose of physic (aloes or linseed-oil), clip the hair off the. affected part, wash thoroughly (removing all scurf, &c.), and then apply a little benzoated oxide-of-zinc ointment. The ointment should be applied once daily. A change of diet with occasional doses of Epsom salts (i oz. to 2 oz.) has a beneficial effect in these cases.

TREATMENT FOR PITTOSPORUM HEDGE.

“ Inquirer,” Springston:—

Matipo in some cases seems to get a kind of blight, making the hedge look half-dead and restricting growth. Could a spray be used to advantage ? Am sending sample.

The Horticulture Division :—-

The plant is Pittosporum. Your hedge would probably be somewhat improved by spraying it with bordeaux. Much more good would, however, follow some improvement to the soil. The soil becomes impoverished, dry, and hard, and unless the roots have free access to good soil near them growth is sure to suffer. The soil close to the hedge should be broken up, if necessary, and a good dressing of superphosphate given. If fresh soil of a good description can be afforded, place a layer at least 6 in. deep over the roots, letting it reach right under the hedge. The Maori name “ matipo ” is wrongly applied to this plant, though often used by settlers. There are several Maori names for this Pittosporum; the one most commonly accepted is “ tawhiri.” The name “ matipo ” as used by the Maoris refers to Myrsine Urvillei.

FOWL-MANURE.

Thomas Laws, Napier —

Is there any method of breaking down fowl-manure so that it could be applied in the same way as guano ? When mixed with soil and dug in it takes a long time for the hard dry lumps to dissolve and incorporate with the soil.

The Chemist :—

The value of fowl-manure is very much enhanced by the addition of about half its weight, of superphosphate. This should be mixed with the manure as it is collected from the roosts from time to time. This prevents the volatilization of any ammonia which would otherwise be liberated continuously from the manure. To

improve the mechanical state of the final product it is advisable to intimately mix it with about one-third its weight of sawdust or peat. Such a mixture when sold as a garden manure should command a good price, and give good results where, used with discrimination by vegetable-growers. For field crops and fruit is should be used with extreme moderation, as, owing to the high availability of the nitrogen; it may unduly stimulate growth and produce a rank, weak plant which will be subj to attacks of disease organisms.

HEDGES FOR COASTAL SITUATION.

“ Beresford,” Makarau :—■

Will you advise as to the most suitable quick-growing hedge for shelter on good flat country facing the sea ?

The Horticulture Division :—

Taupata (Coprosma Baueriana) thrives near the sea better than any other hedge-plant. Plant a double row, the plants 2 ft. apart in each row, and the rows about 10 in. apart; the plants in each row to be opposite the intervals in the opposite row. Elaeagnus japonica and boxthorn also do remarkably well in coastal situations, ■ but both are difficult to trim. The thorns of boxthorn are poisonous, and care. is required in trimming to prevent injuring the hands.

SUSPECTED MAMMITIS IN COWS.

“New Chum,” Kaipara : —-

I should be pleased to know the cause and remedy for my cows coming into milk with a very hard swelling, mostly in one quarter only. In most cases it lasts only one day, and then quite a lot of thick curdled milk can be taken away

The Live-stock Division :—■

From the description given your cows are apparently suffering from mammitis. It would be as well for you to send samples of milk from the affected quarters for examination at the Wallaceville Laboratory. Directions regarding the sending of samples have been sent you, together with a bulletin dealing with this complaint. ’ . .

GRASSING GUM-LAND.

W. Brotherton, Puwera :—

I have several acres of hilly gum-land in fallow, it having been ploughed since last June. I wish to sow it down in paspalum and Lotus angustissimus. Please let me know how many pounds of each to the acre to sow, also what quantities of ground limestone and best manure to use.

The Fields Division :—

Paspalum is slow to establish, and when sown pure takes several years before it begins to give large summer yields. For this reason special paspalum paddocks should not be laid down with paspalum alone, but the seed should be sown with an ordinary type of temporary-pasture mixtures. Such a procedure will result in the production of a profitable type of pasture until such time as the paspalum has become thoroughly established. The following standard mixture is suggested : Italian rye-grass, 20 lb. ; cow-grass, 6 lb. ; cocksfoot, 6 lb. ; paspalum, 16 lb., depending on the variety of the seed, together with 2 lb. Lotus angustissimus. The cocksfoot is included to help fill the ground after the rye-grass has disappeared and before the paspalum has formed a continuous sole. A mixture containing paspalum being difficult to sow by machine, broadcasting is necessary. The land should be well cultivated, and the paspalum then sown separately ; after it 'has been tined and brush-harrowed the other seeds can be sown. Use 1 ton of ground limestone and from 3 cwt. to 5 cwt. of manure per acre, the manure to consist of basic super and guano in equal quantities, or 3 cwt. of super and 1 cwt., bone-meal. ’ The lime had better be disked in prior to the sowing of .the paspalum. March is a good time for sowing. , . - - . ; ' '

SEED-MIXTURE FOR LAWN.

“ Novice,” Runciman :—■

: . . Please . name me a. suitable seed-mixture for laying down a lawn, stating also the best time to sow. . ' . .

The Horticulture division

Fiorin (A gross's stolonifera) , Crested dogstail {Cynosuvus cristatus), and Sheep’s fescue (Festuca ovina- tenuifolia) are recommended. Sow an equal weight of each, allowing r oz. per square yard. March or early April is the best time to sow. ,

RAPE AND CATTLE

S. F. S., Takapau :

Would you kindly inform me whether rape is a suitable food for dairy, cows, alone or with* hay. ’

The Live-stock Division

Rape is not a suitable food for dairy cows, either alone or with hay, it being essentially a sheep-feed. In the event of cattle being put on rape great care must be taken, otherwise losses will occur through tympanitis. They should only be allowed to remain on it for short periods at a time. . . . . .

SHEEP BOT-FLY.

“ Bot-fly,” Waimarie

My sheep are very subject to bot-fly. Would daubing every sheep’s nose with strong sheep-dip act as a preventive ? It could be done quite easily by putting the sheep through a race.

The Live-stock Division :—

We do not think that daubing every sheep’s nose with strong sheep-dip would act as a preventive to any extent. Better results would be obtained by spraying the sheep with the dip as they pass through the race ; but frequent dipping during the season is the best preventive for the trouble.--

SPLITTING OF PEACH-STONES ON TREE.

J. G., Christchurch : —•

I have a peach-tree eight or nine years old in -full bearing. It has a lot of well-grown fruit, but now just as it is getting ripe the fruit, especially on the lower branches, ' is splitting perpendicularly from the . stalk, exposing the nut, which is split, in the same manner. The' covering of the kernel is black in all split fruits, but in some the kernel is a rptten pulp. Under this tree, during the summer, I have had a- large basin of water for ducks, and the basin for cleaning purposes has been emptied under the tree. No, other tree in the -orchard is so -affected. What is the cause and remedy ? . • .. . . , . .j •

The Horticulture Division :—

The splitting of peach-stones and imperfect formation of the same is usually attributable to want of lime. Cracking of peaches may. be caused by a fungoid disease (Cladosporium carpophilum), which causes fruits to crack, shrivel, and decay. In the case of the tree you mention the constant washing into the soil of the droppings of the ducks, which are highly charged with nitrogen, has doubtless been contributory to the trouble, and should be avoided in future. Had the basin of water been removed from tree to tree it might have done good instead of harm. It must be understood, however, that it is bad to give much water to

a tree and then none, the alternative from wet to dry being only less harmful than a constant state of wet. Spraying is necessary to control disease, this phase being amply dealt with in the Journal.

CLEARING DAM OF RAUPO

A Rangitikei correspondent writes : “I shall be glad if any of your numerous readers can tell me the best way to clear my dam of raupo.”

Note. reply cannot be given to “Subscriber,” Carterton, regarding blackberries, unless name is furnished. .