ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 43, Issue 4, 20 October 1931, Page 306

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.

ANTE-PARTUM PARALYSIS OF EWES. “ Farmer/’ Ohingaiti :

What are the outward symptoms and signs of the sheep trouble called sleeping sickness ? We lost a few ewes from what we thought might be this trouble.

The Live-stock Division :

This trouble, which occurs previous to lambing, is known as ante-partum paralysis, sometimes popularly referred to as sleeping sickness or dopiness. The following are the symptoms of the condition as described in the departmental bulletin on the subject : Premonitory symptoms will only be noted by the careful observer. In a good, well-conditioned flock of ewes, from ten to twenty days before lambing, one or more, evidently heavy in lamb, may be observed to be dull, off feed, and away from the rest of the flock. If approached little or no notice is taken, and when actively disturbed the affected animal will only move off very slowly and in an aimless manner. Later on she will be found standing stupidly, will be with difficulty moved, will not start at the approach of the shepherd, and may not even pay any attention to dogs ; the mouth is clammy, the eyes apparently sightless, and the animal only semi-conscious. Soon after she will be found lying down, and if raised to her feet will only stand listlessly, while if forced to move will stagger a few paces and then probably fall; the eyes are sightless, there is grinding of the teeth, and probably the wool is found to readily come out. Even in this condition the animal may live for from two to three days. From the time the first symptoms are exhibited until death supervenes a period of from, two to eight days may elapse. In the vast majority of cases the disease is only observed when the animal is in the last stages, consequently the course of the malady generally appears much shorter than is really the case.

MILLET AS A FODDER CROP.

“ Settler,” Flaxbourne, Marlborough : I have heard from neighbouring farmers that Japanese millet is a good fodder crop for both sheep and cattle. I would be glad if you would give me some information regarding this crop, such as time to sow and seeding per acre, also the best time to feed it. v . The Fields Division :—■ Millet requires warm conditions and should not be sown before December. The seed should be sown at the rate of about 15 lb. per acre through every coulter of a grain drill, with superphosphate at the rate of 1 cwt. to 2 cwt. per acre. Millet makes rapid growth if conditions are favourable, and is ready for feeding off-with sheep when from 6 in. to 8 in. high. If the crop is to be cattle-grazed a little more growth is permissible. Under Canterbury conditions millet is not considered the equal of good rape for fattening sheep, although it is free from the various diseases that attack rape. It will not : stand frost well, and usually disappears with the first frosts experienced in the late autumn. Sheep take readily to millet, and it made good growth at Ashburton Experimental Farm. The crop, however, is generally regarded as more suitable for North Island conditions.

QUINCE-TREE CASTING ITS FRUIT.

‘ Subscriber,” Dannevirke :

We have a quince-tree that is laden with blossom every year; the fruit forms, reaches about the size of a walnut, then falls off. It is a very old tree, and there

has only been one good crop within the last ten years. Could you let me know what I could do to stop the fruit falling off ?

The Horticulture Division :—■

A very old quince-tree that blossoms every year but casts its fruit when about the size of walnuts is either in a weak condition or affected with disease. The fact that one good crop has been borne within the last ten years indicates that pollination is not the difficulty—that is, unless quince-trees in the vicinity have been removed since the crop was borne. A weak condition may be due to the quality or condition of the land or its management. Or, again, as often happens, the branches are too crowded for the blossom to develop and set well. As there are so many possible causes, the problem is best dealt with by a visit from the district Orchard Instructor, who has been asked to call when he is in your vicinitv. -

COW CHEWING HALF-BURNT STICKS.

S. King, Landsboro’, Timaru :

While we were burning gorse one of our milking - cows in fair condition persisted in chewing half-burnt sticks. The cows have been running on old run-out pasture and fed on swedes only. There is a heavy clay subsoil, which shows no visible response to lime. Could you suggest what the cow was in search of ? What could be given to replace the minerals lacking ?

The Live-stock Division :

The mineral chiefly lacking in these cases are lime and phosphates, and we would advise you to use a lick composed of salt, 28 lb. ; bone-flour (sterilized), 50 lb. ; air-slaked lime, 20 lb. ; sulphate of iron, 2 lb. The apparent lack of response to lime in your soil may be caused through your using an insufficient quantity. At least 1 ton per acre of carbonate of lime is needed on land of your type, followed by an application of superphosphate.

CONTROL OF GRANARY WEEVIL.

“ Inquirer,” Otane :

. Would you oblige me with information regarding a small black weevil that gets into chaff and seeds, &c., and advise how to get it out of a building ? Last winter it turned my chaff quite hot and destroyed the embryo of some barleyseed. I have sprayed everything I could with dip, and although I have not seen any since, a neighbour, ho has kept his stable empty for two years and sprayed it, says the weevil has returned since he put chaff in.

The Entomologist, Plant Research Station

The weevil responsible for the damage is most likely the granary weevil,” Calandra granaria. Fumigation with carbon bisulphide will kill all stages of the insect without injury to the chaff or grain. A convenient method of treating small quantities of infested material is to fumigate it in an ordinary barrel or airtight bin by pouring in-bisulphide at the rate of 3 lb. per 100 cubic ft. of space. Care must be taken to close the receptacle tightly so that little or none of the bisulphide vapour will escape. Allow the fumigation to proceed for forty-eight hours. Carbon bisulphide is extremely inflammable and with air it forms an explosive mixture, so that no naked light or even pipe-smoking should be allowed near it. It is poisonous to inhale in any quantity, and people with heart trouble should not handle this material. If proper precautions are taken, however, there is nothing to fear from its use.

Commercial Fruitgrowing. Districts and Fireblight Control. — the article on fireblight published in the Journal issue for August the Gisborne Commercial Fruitgrowing District was inadvertently omitted from the list of such areas given on page 117.