ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXII, Issue 1, 20 January 1921, Page 59

ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

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.

FLOWERING RAPE AND LIVE-STOCK.

J. M., Cheviot:—

I have a paddock of young grass showing a good deal of rape in flower. lam afraid to turn sheep on to it, as I know of sheep having been lost while grazing on flowering rape. Would it be safe to put cattle on it; or either sheep or cattle after the flowers are gone ? There is plenty of young grass 8 in. or 9 in. high all over the paddock.

The Live-stock Division

Flowering rape or rape which has grown to seed is dangerous to both sheep and cattle when consumed in large quantities. Rape in this stage not only causes tympanites, or ho ven, but also the acrid matter in the stems causes diarrhoea or scouring, which ultimately leads to chronic gastro-enteritis. Rape is more dangerous to stock when the seeds have formed, this is. due to the oil, which resembles oil of mustard, which is very dangerous to animals either young or old. Neither cattle nor sheep are fond of eating flowering rape provided there is an abundance of other feed available. It would be extremely risky to turn cattle into a paddock where there is an abundance of flowering rape together with young grass 8 in. or 9 in. high. If it is essential to graze cattle on this paddock, half an hour a day would be the longest period cattle could be grazed, but even this might cause tympanites.

CONTROL OF WILD CONVOLVULUS. Mrs. R. W. Kemp, Tokomaru Bay :-

Can you advise me how to kill wild convolvulus ? Some time ago a small patch appeared in an enclosure always reserved for hay. It is increasing rapidly, and very soon there will be no grass left, as the weed seems to take possession and kill out the grass.

The Fields Instruction Branch :

Wild convolvulus is very difficult to control. We would advise deep ploughing in the autumn and resowing at once with a good grass-mixture. If not convenient to plough and resow, top-dress with a good pasture top-dressing mixture at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre, and graze, refraining from cutting for hay for a couple of seasons.

PICKING AND STORING OF LEMONS. “ Amateur,” New Plymouth :-

Would you kindly advise me as to the best time to gather lemons, and the method of storing them until fit for sale.

The Horticulture Division :

Lemons should be gathered when they show the first sign of turning yellow. The fruit should be cut off with a portion of the strig and be most carefully handled, as the slightest bruise results in a lost lemon. The fruits should be allowed to stand for a few days in the boxes they were gathered in, then packed in paperlined boxes or tins, or on trays in single layer, taking care that none are bruised. The boxes or trays may then be stacked in blocks in such a manner as to permit a free circulation of air round each case. This is most important, as it allows any surplus moisture to escape. The trays should be examined about every month or six weeks and any decaying fruits removed. The object is to reduce the thickness of the skin and increase juiciness.

TRIMMING COWS' TOES.

N. A. H., Westport

I have a cow, now in her second season, which has great difficulty in walking owing to the length of her feet. The toes are crossed and she walks on the back of the foot. Would you please advise me as to how they may be trimmed.

The Live-stock Division :

The overgrowing of claws in cattle is very common where the animals are grazed on soft land. The part of the claw which is overgrown can be removed, there being a special instrument made for the purpose, failing the use of which, a pair of strong pruning-shears may be used. The cow must be fixed in a position so that the foot affected is easily manipulated, the leg fixed by a leg-rope to prevent the cow from kicking. A portion of the horn is severed from the end of the claw with the shears, care being taken that the claw is not severed too far back, or the sensitive tissues will be injured. There is another method, which can be carried out with a piece of board, a broad wood-chisel, and a mallet. ' The board is placed under the claw, and the chisel on the claw where it is intended to cut off some of the horn. With a sharp blow from the mallet the claws can be severed. The only difficulties are the kicking of the cow or the cutting of the claw too far back and severing the sensitive structures.

TAKING NUCLEI FROM HIVES. —ZINC QUEEN-EXCLUDERS. “ Drone,” Hawera :

I would like advice as to the best time to take nuclei from hives of bees, consistent with keeping the latter up to full strength for the honey-flow. The nuclei are to form a reserve for a few extra colonies next season, and for replenishing any queen that may be necessary during the spring. Could you also inform me if zinc queen-excluders are a success ?

The Horticulture Division :

Nuclei may be formed at any time of the season providing the colonies are strong enough to stand the loss of bees. Experience in Taranaki has proved that the best time to get queens mated is in the autumnsay, Marchand the loss of bees at this period would not affect the honey crop, but the nucleus colonies must be provided with winter stores. Zinc queen-excluders are quite a success, the best results being obtained by their use after the swarming-period. Queen-excluders generally have a tendency to induce swarming, and as this feature is not desirable when a honey crop is aimed at their use before the swarming-period is over is not recommended.

GRASSING OF DAMP SHADY LIMESTONE COUNTRY. Geo. T. White, Waitomo Caves —■

I have on this section several acres of rich loose land, some fairly steep, upon which the ordinary English grasses, although they germinate well and thrive for a season, seem to subsequently die out. When first burned the land threw abundant feed, but the grass has become very sparse now and is giving place to chickweed, wineberry, and lawyers. The sole reason seems to be that it is very much shaded by limestone cliffs and faces south. The original bush consisted mostly of large ratas, kohekohe, mahoe, konini, mamaku, and supplejack Can you recommend any grass-mixture that will meet the circumstances ?

The Fields Instruction Branch :

The following mixture is recommended for your country: io lb. perennial rye-grass, io lb. cocksfoot, 4 lb. crested dogstail, 2 lb. Poa pratensis, 2 lb. Poa trivialis, 3 lb. timothy, 2 Ib. white clover, Jib. Lotus major, 2 Ib. Lotus hispidus; total, 35 J lb. per acre. The permanent constituents in this mixture are more or less shade-endurers, and when once established should prove permanent. If the expense , were not so great one would add more poa pratensis and lotus major to the . mixture. In the grassing of this , type of country in the past too much

consideration has been given towards producing early and rapid feed from the time of sowing, perennial and Italian rye-grass figuring largely in the mixture. These species have proved themselves time and time again to be only temporary on much of your type of steep hillside country, and their temporary nature manifests itself in two ways : firstly, in a direct loss of feed owing to their going out after the second year; and, secondly, in the depressing effect these rapidly establishing grasses have on the establishment of those permanent species which are slower to establish. On certain country where the natural vegetation is likely to reassert itself rapidly after the burn some consideration, of course, must be given in the mixture to quick-establishing grasses, in order that stock may be maintained on those areas to cope with this reappearing natural vegetation. The aim, however, should not be to produce temporary feed for the feed’s sake, but should be towards the production of a pasture that will be permanent. This will not be attained by making rye-grass the main constituent of the mixture. Cocksfoot and crested dogstail should be permanent on your country, and these two grasses should form the main constituents. Where the land is steep, however, and where soil-creep is a factor, cocksfoot and dogstail will not be permanent unless bound, as it were, in a continuous sole, and for this purpose the addition of Poa pratensis is recommended. The mixture of Poa pratensis, however, on the damp, limestone country should throw quite an appreciable amount of feed, besides acting more or less mechanically in the binding of the turf. On poorer faces Chewings fescue and Danthonia pilosa may be used for the same purpose, English trefoil may do well on your country, and the addition of 2 lb. to at least a portion of your sowing would be quite worthy of a trial.

FOUNDER IN CATTLE.

“ Bush Cocky,” Owaka

A yearling bullock belonging to my neighbour became foundered through eating frosted turnips, and though about half a dozen cattle-drenches were administered these did no good. The beast became thinner and went about on its knees until finally destroyed. Is there any cure for this trouble if taken when the first symptoms are observed ?

The Live-stock Division :

Founder, or inflammation of the sensitive structures within the walls of the hoofs, is not of frequent occurrence in cattle. Treatment consists of giving at first a smart purgative of from |lb. to ijlb. of sulphate of soda or Epsom salts, according to the size and age of the animal. This should be followed by 2-dram to 4-dram doses of salicylate of soda two or three times daily. Cold packs should be applied to the feet, or the animat made to stand in a stream of water having a soft bottom, such as clay. The administration to a yearling bullock of about half a dozen cattle-drenches, which may contain full doses of a drastic purgative, would tend to aggravate rather than relieve the condition.

APPLES IN POULTRY-MASH.

“ Poultry,” Waihi

Can you tell me if windfall apples, boiled and mixed with pollard, would be injurious to ducks or fowls ?

The Live-stock Division :

We do not recommend the inclusion of boiled apples in the morning mash for either fowls or ducks, as they are apt to have an injurious effect. A few raw apples may be thrown to the hens to pick at, but otherwise the birds should not be compelled to eat them in order to secure a meal of other food in the mixture.

Unidentified Subscription.— Two postal notes for 2s. each, Nos. 478938 and 478939, issued at Auckland, 3/12/20, have been received, with address Glenfield, but without name. The sender should communicate with the Publisher.