ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXIX, Issue 6, 20 December 1924, Page 431

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. GREASY HEEL IN HORSES. C. S. Osborn, Rakaia : —- Will you please state what you consider the best cure for greasy heels in horses’ ? The Live-stock Division :— Except in very slight cases a cure of greasy heel is very difficult to effect. The disease is primarily constitutional, and therefore internal as well as ' external treatment is necessary. For the former a dose of physic given occasionally is necessary. An aloes ball in a dose from 4 to 6 drams, according to the size of the horse, is the most suitable. The external treatment is as follows: Clip all the hair from the heels and fetlocks, and liberally apply the following lotion once daily to the affected - parts : Zinc sulphate, 2 oz. ; Bol Armen, 1J oz. Add this to a quart of water, and shake well before using. The materials can be obtained from a chemist. Keep the horse as much as possible out of wet places, and, if standing in the stable, keep the floor clean from urine and dung. If the horse is badly affected a cure is practically impossible, but by using the above treatment the trouble can be kept in check and the objectionable condition lessened. CONTROL OF DODDER. C. P. Wicksteed, Stratford : — In the spring of 1923 I sowed a paddock in oats and grass, cutting the oats for hay in January. I now find a parasite, which appears to be dodder (specimen enclosed), evenly distributed throughout the paddock, and have concluded it was introduced in the clover-seed when sown. Is it possible to eradicate dodder by cultivation ? Would it die out if left, the pasture being grazed with dairy cows ? Will dodder seed and spread over the whole farm ? The Fields Division :— The specimen is dodder, and, as you suggest, it was probably introduced with the clover. Dodder may be eradicated by cultivation, but to effect this it is necessary to avoid growing ' any crop containing legumes, such as clover or lucerne, for two or three years. Dodder is not likely to die out on a pasture; so long as there is any clover left, where the grazing is done by dairy cows. Close grazing with sheep would probably help to control it. Dodder seeds and is spread by stock, the seeds passing through cattle similarly to clover.

APPLES WITH BITTER-PIT. A. E. Bowler, Matamata :—- . We have a few apple-trees (Northern Spy, Gravenstein, Sturmer), the fruit of which was mostly spoilt by brown spots just under the skin. At first it only affected the Northern Spy now all the fruit, is about .the same. Is there any spray or treatment that will cure the trees of this disease ? The Horticulture Division :— The brown spots just under the skin of your apples are probably due to a trouble known as bitter-pit. The spots are formed, it is supposed, by the sudden flooding and rupture of the pulp-cells, which afterwards become oxidized. The trouble is common on young and over-vigorous trees carrying but a few. fruits, especially in a season when extreme wet and dry conditions are experienced. When trees settle down to moderate growth and carry a full crop, chiefly on the .laterals, the trouble is generally considerably lessened. ■ ’’FLCONTROL OF POTATO-MOTH. A. Cullen, Maungaturoto : — We have had great trouble in the past to keep our potatoes from the moth. What is the best thing to do when storing potatoes through the winter ? The Fields Division :— This insect pest is very troublesome, and requires very careful attention to the methods used for controlling it. If you wish to keep the potatoes through the winter in storage you must begin in the fieldthat is, provided you are growing the potatoes yourself. The following measures are recommended : Seed infected with the pest should not be used for planting. Land where the moth was present in the previous season should not again be used for potatoes. In sowing seed plant deeply, so that the seed is well covered. Practice thorough and clean cultivation so as to cover ah the tubers ; in hilling this is especially necessary. Weeds, such as nightshade and other plants of the potato family, should be destroyed, as these provide breeding-places for the moth. When the moths are seen about the <crop spray with arsenate of lead.- When digging potatoes do not leave them exposed in the field, as this is a . common means of infection ; they should be stored so that the moths cannot get at them to deposit their eggs. When bagging in the field, bags should be sewn’ without delay. Do not put potato-tops over the bags, as the tops may contain moths or caterpillars. All dead plants and small tubers that are not required should be collected and destroyed ; the tops can be' burnt, while the tubers may be -boiled and fed to pigs and poultry. Old sacks which held infected potatoes should be dipped in boiling water. If the potatoes are stacked during the winter in a tight room they can be fumigated. On the top of the sack place a shallow vessel, and into this put some bisulphide of carbon, and close the door tightly. This should be repeated about every ten to fourteen, days. - Four or five such fumigations should be sufficient. About 5 lb. of liquid bisulphide should be used for every 1,000 cubic feet of space. The gas is highly inflammable, therefore - no lights of any kind should be allowed near it. In the absence of a tight room draw the potatoes into a heap, place a saucer containing carbon bisulphide on the top, and cover the whole with canvas or tarpaulin, and fumigate in this way. PARALYTIC TROUBLE IN YOUNG PIGS. “Trouble,” Matamata:- ' I have had a lot of deaths in young pigs from a few days old up to twelve weeks. They stagger about, and in facing the wind throw up their head and paw the air with front feet and cannot make headway. . Some have a discharge from the eyes,.and last year some had their eyes sealed right up. They have had a run on artichokes and pasture, and been fed with skim-milk,.concentrates, &c. -all the food they can take. Can you help me, please ? ; ,

. The Live-stock Division :—- The animals are probably affected with a form of paralysis, or loss of power in the limbs, which is frequently met with in young pigs. This is usually attributed to a dietetic deeding on skim-milk which has been allowed to become too sour before feeding giving rise' to gastritis. - Another ! cause is to be found in cold, damp styes exposed to the prevailing winds. If this applies in your case, removal of the styes to a well-sheltered, warm place, and attention to dryness of the floor, &c., are suggested as preventive measures. The sows’ feed should be looked into. It is possible that you have been overfeeding, and that the milk is proving too rich for the sucking-pigs. , i I ' ■ —; . ' . : ■ —■ . ■ -c.jib SALT FOR DAIRY STOCK. J. H. Mathews, South Norse wood : — • • -Can you tell me when is the best time to put rock salt out for stock, also if any special make of boxes is recommended for salt to be put in ? , The Live-stock Division :— Salt in moderate quantity assists in the formation of flesh. ■ Salt exists in a natural condition in food and water, and normally it should not be necessary to supplement it. In the case of dairy-cows, however, a good deal of the natural chlorine goes in the milking, and it is necessary to add salt to the daily ration. In the late season and in the case of winter cows, when salt is more necessary, it is better added to the feed in the form of ordinary salt. A handful once daily should be sufficient. Rock salt is apt to be wasted if fed in the paddocks, and it is better to place it in a box at the bail-head for the cows to lick during the milking.