ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 54, Issue 3, 20 March 1937, Page 190

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. MORTALITY IN. EWES AND LAMBS., , •O. J., Apiti : —■ I lose annually approximately 6 per cent, of my ewes before lambing with what .1 think is sleepy sickness and paralysis. Some also die without showing any symptoms of sickness at all.' About 10 per cent, of the lambs are still-born or die shortly after birth. The balance of the lambs are very healthy, and fatten as well as any in this district. My farm is located in a cold district with very severe frosts, and the grass-growth in winter is very slight. I grow swedes and chou moellier for supplementary feed. ■ • • The Live-stock Division : An adequate feed-supply for your ewe flock during the winter months in your district is the most important factor in preventing the losses in the ewes, at lambing, and also in ensuring the birth of healthy, strong lambs. It may be possible that a certain number of the ewes have not sufficient milk for the lambs at birth, and this may account for the main part of the 10 per cent, of lambs which die shortly after birth. In your locality I would suggest the continuation of your practice of providing swedes and chou moellier for winter feed, and, if possible, supplementing this with silage or hay if this is practicable. ■ 1 ' CALVARY CLOVER. W. F. S., Carterton : ' Which clover is “ Calvary clover ” ? Is it found in New Zealand ? ■ The Fields Division:Plants of white clover occasionally show red and reddish-brown blotches or markings on the leaflets, and sometimes patches of white clover so marked' make their appearance in a pasture. These red markings were attributed to white-clover plants splashed with blood on Calvary it being held that the marks have become ■characteristic of white-clover plants descended from the original ones. . The name “ Calvary clover ” has persisted. White clover with such markings, growing fin patches, is not uncommon in New Zealand. ■ '■"■' THRIPS ATTACKING COCKSFOOT. / G. H. V., Banks Peninsula : What is the nature and the control of the thrips attacking cocksfoot ? The Fields Division : 1 . The life-cycle of thrips- commences in the egg stage. The eggs are laid either on the surface of the host plant or are inserted into the tissue by means of a sharp saw-like ovipositor. Following the egg stage there commonly are two larval stages, both of which bear a strong resemblance to the adult form in general appearance. A prepupal and a pupal stage follow next, during which time the animal moves but little and takes no nourishment. From the pupal stage the adult insect finally emerges. The time taken in completing the life cycle varies considerably for different . species, and is also strongly influenced by temperature conditions. fi ; ■' : y A \ m The food of thrips consists of plant-juices obtained by breaking open the plantcells by means of a chafing and rubbing action on the leaf or fruit surface and sucking the liquid contents with the cone-shaped mouth. . In severe attacks - the foliage becomes brown, dry, and brittle, and soon dies, the plants. experience a severe . set-back, and there is often a considerable reduction in production. Under field ■conditions control methods are largely lacking, but heavy rain is considered the best .natural check. . ■■