Inquhues AN]) Rkpi.iks. 181 



INQUIRIES AND REPLIES. 



SELECTED LETTERS FROM FARMERS. 



[HereLiinkr are a number of recent letters replied to by tbe various Divisions arul 

 .Sl'IiooIs of Agnculture concerned. Tliey are selected for publicntion as being of interest to 

 farmers generally in tbe localities affected. In eacb case tbe area only from wbich the 

 inquiry emanates is given : as the replies must necessarily be curtailed, (hey will indirntc, 

 when required, literalnro from wbich further information may be bad.] 



Globe Artichoke. 



Do/iiie, Cape. — Could you tell nie tlie lengtli of life of the (llobe 

 and Spanish Cardoon artichokes? I have been going" in for the 

 above plants pretty largely as a feed for stock in time of drought, 

 being- under the impression that once planted they would last a 

 number of years ; but a few days ag^o I was surprised to see in a 

 catalogue that the Globe only lasted three years. Which is correct? 



The Horticulturist, Grootfontein, replies : The Globe artichoke 

 is a perennial and will live for a number of years. When groAvn for 

 culinary pui'poses, fresh ])lanting's are generally made every two or 

 three yeiirs from stickers. (Head " Vegetable Garden," by Watts.) 



Gape Gooseberry. 



Addo, Cape. — Will you please inform me on the following- 

 points: (1) Where can I get Cape gooseberry seed? (2) IIow deej) 

 should it be sown? (3) How far apart should plants be in the rows, 

 and the distance apart of the rows? (4) What soil suits it best? 



The Lecturer in Horticulture, Grootfontein, replies : (1) Capo 

 gooseberry seed may be obtained from most nurserymen. (2) Seeds 

 are generally sown in tins, picked out and transplanted when about 

 three inches to four inches high and having about eight leaves. 

 Seeds should be covered with about an eighth of an inch of fine soil. 

 (-S) Allow three feet between the plants in the rows, and allow about 

 four feet between the rows. In districts where they make con 

 siderable growth they are sometimes planted a little further apart, 

 as picking is a difficult process if planted too close together. (4) 

 Xot very particular about soils, but " damp off " badly when young 

 in badlv drained situations. 



South African Swiss Milk Goats. 



Heidelberg, Transvaal. — Kindly advise me on the matter of the 

 lactation period of the South African-bred (grade) Swiss milk goat. 



Tlic Division of Dairying replies : Regarding the duration of the 

 lactation period, a Swiss goat ewe will usually remain in milk, pro- 

 vided she is well fed, until a few weeks of the time at which she is 

 due to kid again, unless, of course, she is purposely dried off earlier, 



