276 JouK,\AL or the Defartmext of AuHic;ui/nTRE. — Sept., 1922. 



INQUIRIES AND REPLIES. 



SELECTED LETTERS FROM FARMERS. 



[Hereunder are a number of recent letters replied to by the various Divisions and 

 Schools of Agriculture concerned. They are selected for publication as being of interest to 

 farmers generally in the localities aflfected. In each case the ai'ea only from which the 

 inquiry emanates is given; as the replies must necessarily be curtailed, they will indicate, 

 when required, literature from which further information may be had.] 



Egg Eaters. 



I.vopo. — My ]i(Mis eat their eg'<^.s ; what can 1 (h) to priiveiit \[? 



Cedani School of AjjiicuJiiirc r(>plies : Make nests in a (hiik [)Utc»> 

 and have them 10 inches ofl: the floor with tops, so that liens must enter 

 them from the front. As the hens cannot reach the egg's from the 

 floor and cannot well stand np in the nests they will soon be cured of 

 the vice. Filling egg-s with mustard, etc., is of little use, and filing 

 the beak is as senseless as it is cruel. If not confirmed egg eaters, a 

 change of run and nests will sometimes have the desired effect. 



Pruning Peaches in Bloom. 



iMarifzhiirf/. — My ])eaches are coming into blossom. Is it too late 

 to prune them ? 



Cedara School of Aijriculutre replies : Peach trees may be pruned 

 when in blossom, but would be better if it had been performed before 

 reaching this stage. Eemove those laterals which bore last season and 

 any which show no blossom buds. Thin out the remainder by one 

 half to provide fruiting shoots for next season. 



Cabbage Disease. 



Alcockspriiii, Nohd. — Kindly advise me what to do for my 

 cabbages and cauliflowers, tliey are rotting off, and I think it must be 

 owing to " aphis," as tli(\v are simply covered with it. 



Cedara School of Agriculture replies : vSpray thoroughly with, 

 tobacco extract, one part extract to 80 parts water. Soaj) should be 

 added at the rate of 1 lb. to 20 gallons of solution. The soap should 

 be chopped up and dissolved in a small quantity of hot water. vSince 

 each insect must be actually hit with the spray to be killed, the opera- 

 tion should be thorough. The rotting you refer to is not caused by 

 aphids, but is probably due to "black rot, a disease characterized by 

 discoloration of the veins and dropping of the leaves; eventually the 

 head completely rots. To control it: (I) Treat seed with corrosive 

 sublimate (1 part in 1000 of water); (2) practise crop rotation; (3) 

 \\a(ch seed-bed and destidv diseased se(>dlino-s. 



