ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS— con<i/i«ec/. 



Grazing in Orchard. — C. J. states that he has a young orchard, and finds it difficult 

 to keep the grass down, the land being too hilly to cultivate. He would like to giaze the 

 orchard, and asks what class of stock is recommended. 



Answer. — It would be distinctly unwise to turn stock of any kind into an orchard. 

 Pigs and sheep will do no serious harm providing the tree trunks are fairly high, and tlie 

 animals are unable to reach the light wood. We see no reason why cross ploughing and cul- 

 tivating may not be done ; in fact, it is always possible. Trees worth growing will bear the 

 expense of hand work within the spread of their branches, and the remamder of the surface 

 should be loosened and cleaned at least once a year. Weeds are not always a robbing and in- 

 jurious factor: but they should not occupy the ground about )oung or weak trees during the 

 summer season. In the winter they are harmful only in so far as they promote excess of 

 water and sourness in the soil. 



Shrinkage of Combs. — Amateur writes — " During tlie last two seasons my male birds- 

 (Leghorns) have lost all the colour out of their combs as soon as the cold weather has arrived,. 

 the comb and wattle appearing to dry up comjiletely. Can you tell me the reason " ? 



Answer. — It is not unusual for the combs of the Mediterranean breeds, especially those 

 two and three years old, to shrink at this time of the year, and it is due to the fact that frost 

 is first felt on the comb by the birds. If you house your Leghorns, their combs will shoot 

 again within ten days, and become erect and bright as in spring. Feed as follows : — One 

 part pollard, ^ part peameal, 5 part bran, and, per bird, 5 oz. lightly-boiled sheep's liver, and 

 5 oz. finely-cut raw onion mixed with the meal ; give each bird 2 ozs. each morning. At 

 night equal parts of stout short oats and crushed maize, at the rate of 1^ oz. per bird should 

 be given. Avoid condiments such as pepper and salt, as they create too great a thirst, and 

 will often bring about severe diarrhoea, sometimes lesidting fatally. Should you wish to- 

 exhibit cockerels, give in pill form ^ grain sulphate of quinine mixed in a little pollard, 

 moistened with milk, to each twice a week. 



ToB.\CCO Spr.aying. — DONCASTER asks whether the tobacco used by orchardists for spraying- 

 is cured or dried. 



Answer. — For spraying purposes the tobacco plant need only be dried, the stalk being 

 as useful as the leaf. Drying is done under cover, as rain will wash out the nicotine. 

 Curing is only necessary for manufacturing purjioses. 



Mange. — H.T. asks how to cure mange on dogs. 



Answer. — If the hair is very long clip completely. Smear the body with soft soap, and' 

 half-an-hour after wash off in warm water; then smear all over with a solution of sulphurated 

 potash, r in 40 of water. The affected parts may \k dressed daily with the latter solut'on. 

 This is efficacious for sim]ile mange, but if the animal is affected with any of the more- 

 serious forms other treatment is necessary. 



RiyER Frontages. — F.j. inciuires whether licensees of river frontages are under any- 

 fencing obligations. 



Answer. — There is nothing in the Unused Roads and Water Frontages Act oblign-ig- 

 licensees to fence. 



Potato Cultivation. — W.K. wishes to know whether he should plough new red soil twice- 

 before planting potatoes. 



Answer. — All land for jtotatoes is better if ploughed twice and well worked up. If 

 not too late, plough first time to 3 inches deep and work to a fine tilth, the second 

 ploughing (when planting) to be 4^ to 5 inches deep. If too late to work up, plant as sooa 

 as danger from frost is past, ploughing 4 to 4^ inches deep. 



Serving Cows. — H.R. writes : " I keep my stud bull on the tether, and lead him to- 

 serve the cows. I allow him to serve the cow twice (two jumps). Please state (i) Is that 

 sufficient? (2) Would the cow be as likely to prove in calf as if allowed free access to tl:e 

 bull ? (3) Is it an advantage if two bulls serve the same cow? (4) How many cows are sufficient 

 for one bull per season? (5) How many cows could a two-year-old bull serve in one season? 



Answer. — (i) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) Not advantageous, as you will not know which bull' 

 is the sire. (4) Not more than 60, and less for preference. (5) 20. 



Onion Pest. — R.T.P. asks how to destroy grubs infesting onion crop. 



Answer. — The specimens forwarded are those of small " wire worms," which are mostly 

 the larvae of small beetles and in no way related to the AnguiUida, or "eel worms." If 

 the affected land is not already too rich in lime, there are few materials better than lime 

 ploughed or dug in at the rate of 2 or 3 cwt. per acre. Applications of gypsum and sulphate- 

 of ammonia are also good. "Rowed out" onions in '■ eel worm" infested di tricts are 

 largely exempt from attacks of the " wire worms." 



Chicken Pox. — W.C. inquires as to remedy for fowls in cases where a swelling occurs- 

 over the eyelid, and from which there is a " cheesy " discharge. 



Answer. — The symptoms described appear to be the result of chicken pox, which, when 

 neglected, leads to roup. In all cases, when the eyes become inflan ed, keep them soft bv 

 gently applying a little vaseline or glycerine to prevent them sealing, otherwise the liquid 

 becomes shut in, and attached to the eye. In such cases, it is often found necessary to- 

 remove the eye, but an operation is not advised unless the bird is valuable, otherwise it should 

 be destroyed and the carcass burnt. Should others show signs, isolate at once, and disinfect 

 houses, using plenty of lime in the runs. Wash eyes, face, and under wing coverts with a 

 weak solution of boracic acid, 5 grains to i oz. of water. Dij) a feather in kerosene and 

 wash out throat. Give only soft food, avoiding grain entirely. 



Actinomycosis. — D.F. states that a young cow, apparently in good health, has de- 

 veloped a large smooth lump, which is jammed between the jaws, about half-way between the 

 root of the tongue and where the jaws join. Skin is loose and free over it, and the lump- 

 does not appear to have become attached to the jaw bones. 



Answer. The swelling is evidently due to actinomycosis, and operative measures in this 



case would be of small avail. Fattening for slaughter is the most satisfactory method of 

 dealing with such cases. 



