278 Journal or the Department of Agriculture.— Sept., 1922. 



A Pump for Irrigating Lucerne. 



(Jradock.- — 1 have au opportunity of buying a 3-in. centrifugal 

 pump cheaply. Will this pump throw enough water to irrigate lucerne 

 with ? 



Grootfontein School of Agriculture replies : You should not buy 

 the pump for the purpose stated, as it will throw you sufficient water 

 to irrigate small beds of vegetables in a garden, but not for irrigating 

 lucerne. For irrigating lucerne lands you should get a 5-in. pump, 

 which will throw about 23,000 gallons per hour. Tliis quantity of 

 water constitutes a good leading stream. 



To Prevent Turkeys Flying. 



Addo, (Jape Province. — Is it possible to cut any small muscle in 

 a turkey's wing to prevent the bird flying, yet leaving its appearance 

 normal? I know it is done with seagulls in Europe, and wondered 

 whether it is also possible with turkeys. 



Grootfontein School of Agriculture replies : This procedure would 

 not be suitable, as in all probability it would affect the turkey much 

 more than it does the seagull, as done in Europe. The most 

 satisfactory means is to secure a paddle across the shoulders. The 

 paddle is a light piece of wood about 4 or 6 inches wide, h au inch 

 thick, and 18 in. io 20 in. long. Secure this across the shoulders of 

 the bird by tying the paddle by means of tape to each wing, in this 

 way preventing tlie bird from flying. To prevent the paddle from 

 slipping it would be advisable to bore two small holes over each wing, 

 passing the tapes through. 



Weevil in Beans. 



UitenJuige. — I have some thirty bags of Natal sugar beans which 

 I wish to hold over till about Christmas. I have the necessary 

 facilities to fumigate against weevil. The temperature is seldom above 

 TO degrees now, and I believe that fuinigation is unsatisfactory if the 

 temperature is not high. Will it be safe io wait till the hot weather 

 arrives? Do tlio weevils increase rapidly during tlie winter? The 

 beans are sure to have weevil in a slight degree. 



Grootfontein School of Agriculture replies: Beans thai are io be 

 stored should be fumigated as soon as possible after harvesting, as 

 some bean weevils, although only slightly present at the time of 

 storage, increase rapidly during the time the beans are stored. Jielow 

 60 degrees E. some of the insects may escape destruction. Choose as 

 warm a day as possible for the fumigation. Put the beans in air- 

 tight bins or tanks, and place the carbon-bisulphide in shallow 

 receptacles on top of the beans. The vapour is heavy and sinks to the 

 bottom. Use from 4-8 lb. of carbon-bisulphide for every 1000 cubic 

 feet of space. Be careful not to have a lighted pipe, match, or any 

 other light near-by when using carbon-bisulphide, as this cbemica? 

 in a gaseous form is highly inflnmrnnblc niid e:vplosive. 



