ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Staff of the Department has been organized to a large extent for the 

 purpose of giving information to farmers. Questions in every branch of agriculture 

 are gladly answered. Write a short letter, giving as full particulars as possible, of 

 your local conditions, and state precisely what it is that you want to know. All 

 inquiries must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer. 



Silage. — W.F.J, requests information re keeping qualities of silage. 



Answer. — Stack silage depends as to keeping qualities chiefly on the size of the stack, the 

 condition at the time it was put up, and the weight applied. At the end of a year there is 

 often from 30 to 50 per tent, of waste. Chaffed silage well packed in a proper silo, if made 

 from fairly mature crops, will last the season with very little waste. Our aim is to pack it so 

 well that it comes out in the same condition as it went in. Any waste round the sides is due 

 to its not being packed tight enough. 



Shoulder Lameness. — A.J.S. asks what is the best treatment for a horse that is very lame 

 in the near fore leg, the trouble being apparently in the shoulder, on which a lump about i inch 

 111 diameter has formed. 



Answer. — For nature and treatment of shoulder lameness see April issue of the Journal. 



Navel Enlargement. — T.H. writes: "I have a colt foal which has an enlargement of 

 the navel ; it appeared shortly after birth, and is increasing in size. What treatment is recom- 

 mended? The colt is now six months old." 



Answer. — If unassociated with other general symptoms the enlargement is probably a 

 navel rupture. It is usual that these decrease in size with age, and are not noticeable by the 

 time the colt is a year or eighteen months old. In any case it is not advisable to interfere 

 iintil that age. A description of the operation necessary will shortly appear in the Journal. 



Orange Trees. — P. J. P. forwards diseased orange leaves and asks for information as to 

 treatment. 



Answer. — The trouble is caused by the Orange Phytoptus. Spray several times with a 

 I in 15 kerosene emulsion. 



Drainage^ Etc. — Olinda asks: — (i) Is coke as good a material for placing in drains as 

 <jplit slabs or pipes? (2) Is plant forwarded poisonous? (3) What is the best time for trans- 

 planting tree ferns? 



.Answer. — (i) Pipes are the best to use; failing them split slabs arranged so as to leave 

 as large and clear an opening as possible, or fairlj' large stones may be used. Coke is not re- 

 commended. (2) Specimen did not come to hand. (3) In winter, about the end of June. 



Mortar and Cement. — D.J.fl. desires information re mortar and cement. 



.Answer. — For mortar, the proportion of material is lime one part, sharp sand two parts; 

 for cement, cement one part, sharp sand three to five parts, depending on the quality of the 

 cement. 



Molasses. — D.J.H. inquires : — (i) Whether molasses has any real value for keeping 

 springers and horses in condition during the severe winters that are experienced in the Beech 

 forest? (2) Is it any good for cows newly calved? (3) How is it given to them? 



Answer. — (i and 2) Molasses contains 50 j)er cent, sugar, and is consequently a valuable 

 food, but consists only of carbohydrates. The flesh-forming elements of the ration must be 

 supplied from some other source. Sugar can be grown on the farm in the form of various 

 fodders and root cro;)s cheaper than the molasses can be purchased, but one very important 

 point with molasses is that it makes other food, especially coarse ha}- and straw, palatable to 

 the animals. (3) Mix with twice its weight of water, and sprinkle on the chaffed food. 



Destroying Rushes. — t;.H. writes: — "What is the best method of destroying the rushes 

 so commonly seen on the river flats along the Yarra ? Our practice is to burn off at the end of 

 each summer, but by the autu.mn the rushes are growing as strong as ever, and besides we burn 

 the very grass seeds which, if left alone, should augment the pasture. I have roo acres, but, 

 owing to the rushes, the grazing cajiacity is reduced fully one-half. The flats are subject to 

 flooding." 



Anstver. — Rushes and similar plants thrive on land of the character mentioned because 

 they are specially adapted for the conditions existing in it. These are mainly the result of the 

 ](oor aeration of the soil, coupled \\\\\\ its periodic saturation with water, causing a certain 

 souring, especially of the deeper layers of the soil, and also a deficiency of nitrates available 

 for the plants' use. Such land usually becomes extremely fertile when- properly drained and 

 limed. The mere making of comparatively shallow trenches along contour lines across the 

 ground has been found to exercise a remarkable effect upon pasture and agricultural land of a 

 boggy or swampy character in various parts of the United Kingdom. Good pasture plants 

 which like wet ground and will help to keep down rushes are : Lotus corniculatus var. uliginosa, 

 the Swamp Lotus or Trefoil, Panicum Cms Galli, the Barnyard or Cockshin Crass; Panicum 

 Texanum, Green River Grass (annual) ; Triioli'um refcns (White Clover), (the Red Clover can- 

 net stand stagnant moisture) ; Trifohum hvbriditm (Alsike Clover) ; Catahrosa aqualica. Water 

 Whorl Grass ; Glyceria (Poa) aquatica and fiuitans. The last three grasses would grow in the 

 channels, and by the water side, and might prove a nuisance by blocking up the channels, but 

 the other plants would yield good fodder and suppress weeds without any dangers to the pasture 

 land being incurred by their introduction. 



Fodder Plant. — J.S.R. forwards plant for identification. 

 ^ .Answer. — -The plant is Medicago scutellata, Bauh. snail clover. It is an annual from the 

 Mediterranean regions, and stands drought well. The fruits falling on the soil are eaten 

 by pasture animals during the dry season. After rain the remaining seeds germinate, and 

 afford nutritious herbage for stock, so long as the ground is moist. The fruits not being 

 prickly, do not adhere to the wool of sheep. A useful aid to the pastoralist in dry districts. 



