ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 43, Issue 2, 20 August 1931, Page 151

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.

PIG WITH PROTRUDING RECTUM. “ Dairyman,” Oxford : I have a pig, a weaner about nine weeks old, with a protruding bowel. I tried to return the bowel, but was not successful. Is there anything to be done ? The Live-stock Division : Protrusion of ■ the rectum ■in young pigs is usually associated with an illbalanced ration. A pig’s diet should contain substances to assist in bone-making, and contain also a reasonable amount of protein. Skim-milk, supplemented with, pollard and grain, is usually fed, but where the supply of skim-milk is limited meat-meal forms a very valuable ration for young pigs. Four ounces of meatmeal should be given when the piglets are eight weeks old, gradually increasing the amount, so that at the age of twelve weeks each pig is receiving 8 oz. of meat-meal. Mangels fed in conjunction with meat-meal have given excellent results. If pigs are fed in this way such trouble as protrusion of the rectum’ should cease. Generally when the protrusion is. pushed back it comes out again, but if the animal is valuable a surgical operation can be performed by a veterinary surgeon.

WALNUT TREES. lnquirer,” Temuka :- I should be pleased if you could advise me the best variety of walnut tree for South Canterbury. Any particulars as to soil requirements would also be appreciated. The Horticulture Division : The different kinds of walnuts usually stocked by nurserymen here are the Japanese, English, and large French. The first-mentioned makes a very ornamental shade tree, and the. French nut is very large; but the English walnuts are best for dessert purposes, and they are those generally seen in commerce. The most suitable soil is a good alluvial loam with an open subsoil.

MAKING A MANUKA DRAIN. E. A. M. Lys, Mangatoro, Dannevirke : I intend making a covered drain, using manuka. Will you be good enough to reply to the following questions (i) Should the trench that receives the manuka be V-shaped, so that the manuka does not go quite to the bottom but allows a free passage for water ? (2) What is the minimum thickness the manuka requires to be ? (3) Would it be better to cut the top or brush of the manuka off, only using the stem ? (4) In what order should the subsoil (clay), soil, and sods be replaced on filling in ? Please state any other points which would be of importance in constructing this drain.

The Fields Division :

Taking your questions seriatim(l) Such a method is not common practice. There is no objection to a slight batter, but it -will be understood that if manuka is placed in a V-shaped drain the pressure from weight of soil above in the settlingdown process has a tendency to compress the manuka unduly into the V-shaped space below and defeat the object in view. . : . (2) This may involve such considerations as the flow of water it is intended to deal with, and the amount. and quality of manuka available, &c. The length of drain or quantity of flow governs the thickness of the manuka layer, just as

in the case of tile-draining a larger tile becomes necessary ; also whether the stems of the manuka are light or heavy and their proportion to brush is large or small. In regulating the thickness of the layer it can be estimated with average material that it will subsequently be compressed to approximately one-third of its original bulk. It will thus be seen that the layer may vary all the way from i ft. to 2 ft., according to circumstances ; but it. is always advisable to err on the safe side, provided the material is available. - , . ■ ' ’

(3) This is not advisable when it is understood how the manuka should be placed in the trench. The manuka should be laid with a slight slant, so that the points of the stems only are on the bottom of the trench and the brush ends are lying in a thatching manner above the previously placed material. Thus the heaviest portions are in the bottom and provide better percolation, while the brush ends on top prevent the covering soil from working downwards. If the thickness of the manuka layer is to be greater the slant at which it is laid will be greater, and the reverse if only a thin layer is required.

(4) In the case of all covered drains fill in the sods immediately on top of the drainage-material, and the remaining loose material last. Such a method assists percolation and the better working of the drains.

MOULD FROM PINE-NEEDLES.

J. H. Kidd, Greytown:—Is leaf-mould from pine-needles of value as garden top-dressing ? There seems to be a rather general opinion to the contrary.

The Horticulture Division :

A deposit of pine-needles over a period is of value in the reclamation of sanddunes and similar waste land by the formation of a mould on which grass can be established ; but the chemical composition of pine-needles is such as to render them of very low quality as a leaf-mould or top-dressing medium as compared with most other decayed vegetable matter. The resin in pine waste appears to make it objectionable to other plants.