Inquiries and Replies. <- 373 



Pullets going Into Moult. 



Zastron. — I have about thirty Wliite Leg-horns, and in May 

 mouth they were laying well. About the middle of last month (we 

 had a heavy fall of snow at the time) they went off the lay and about 

 twelve of them started moulting' — only the feathers on the head and 

 about the neck coniino- out. I liad g-ot all of them through the moult 

 in March and April. These twelve have got the new feathers coming 

 without any difhculty, but I cannot account for them moulting again. 

 They are well housed. I am feeding as usual, and the same since 

 they started moulting in January. I killed one of the cockerels, and 

 it wns not fat, so they have not been overfed. 



Glen School of Agriculture replies : There is little doubt that the 

 partial niuult was due to the very sudden change in the weather and 

 the snow. Pullets just about on the point of laying, or that have just 

 commenced to lay, are very sensitive and susceptil)le to partial moults 

 if any unnatural or sudden change takes place in such matters as the 

 weather, liousiag, feeding, or even a change of person giving them 

 attention. It is doubtful whether these pullets will commence to lay 

 before the spring. \\'lii]^\ from an egg-producing point of view, this 

 is disappointing, they ])robab]y will develop into bigger, more robust, 

 and stronger birds for breeding' purposes than those which continued 

 to lay. 



Destroying Locust Eggs by Ploughing. 



Bloemfontein. — Kindly inform me whether ploughing is of any 

 value in the destruction of locust eggs that have been deposited in 

 cultivated lands. 



Glen School of Afjricvltvre replies : There is no doul)t that 

 this method will entail the destriu-tion of some eggs by exposing them 

 to the sun, predaceous and parasitic insects, birds, and other enemies; 

 others will be buried dee])]y, and the young will perish when they 

 hatch out. 



American authors recommend deep ploughing as profitable, and 

 state that it is effectual " according as the soil is porous or tenacious, 

 aud according" as the surface is afterwards compressed by harrowing 

 and rolling." If ploughing is delayed till spring it is said to be 

 niost effective if done just ns the young begin to haich. 



Storing of Eggs. 



Clocolan. — Kindly infoiin me how to stoie eggs so as (o keep 

 them fresh for three months or longer. The price ])aid for eggs being 

 vei'y low at present. I ihinlc it better to keep tliem till later. 



Glen School of Agriculture replies : I should advise you to 

 keep the eggs in waterglass, which is obtainable from any of the 

 larger merchants. Directions are usually printed on the tin, and 

 must be followed strictly, as different firms ]ii()(luce waterglass in 

 different strengths. 



