348 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[May 3, 1920. 



The Useful Turnip Crop. 



The turnip crop occupies a uni(|ue position in that for its proper growth it 

 postulates a very high standard of farming. Demanding, as it does, the 

 adoption of a syst^^matic rotation, the thorough cleaning of the soil, and a 

 well thought out scheme of manuring, this crop at the very least implies clean 

 land in high condition. Furthermore, the benefits of the utilisation of the 

 turnip crop as a bulky, succulent and valuable winter food are reflected in 

 many ways. By its use the Scottish farmer has not merely triumphed over 

 the long hard winter of the north, but has won world-wide renown as a 

 breeder and feeder of stock. Economically he can employ his labour to the 

 best advantage, since wherever turnips are grown labour is, in general, 

 equall}^ distributed all the year round. Last, hut not least, the turnip crop 

 provides the farmer with a ready means, of producing a large amount of dung, 

 thus keeping up the fertility of the farm. — J. A. Svmon, in the ScoUish 

 Journal of Agricidture. 



A Swarm of Bees Chooses an Odd Home. 



WiiiLK clipping one of the 

 ornamental hedges at the 

 Farm Home for Boys, 

 Mittagong, Mr. W. P. 

 Wynn discovered a bees' 

 nest of an uncommon t}'pe. 

 In an angle formed by the 

 upright and the top rail of 

 the fence which supports 

 the hedge, he found a 

 swarm of bees busily con- 

 structing the comb. In the 

 accompanying illustration 

 will be observed four sec- 

 tions of comb depending 

 from the top rail. 



The fence had a south- 

 easterly aspect, and was 

 quite exposed to the weather. Evidently the outside comb was designed to 

 act as a protecting wall, as the bees were not then working on it. 



Some Properties of Castor Oil. 



Castor oil seed, the local market for which seems to be focus.sed on a Mel- 

 bourne proprietary company, is worth about £20 per ton landed. The seed 

 and ground meal an; said to be poisonous or haimful to stock, and, thougli 

 it is stated that poultry are innnune from any deleterious eli'ects, the Poultry 

 I'jxpert does not advise feeding castor oil seeds to poultry — certainly not 

 before the oil is extracted. 



The beans contain from 50 to 60 per cent, oil. It has been found to be the 

 only satisfactory lubricant for aeroplane engines, standing extremes of heat 

 and cold as no other oil will. The Railway Department also uses such a 

 j)r('paration to some extent for lubrication. 



