ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS-com^.mW 



Blackleg. — J.J.H. writes : — " Several of our voung calves hnve died rather suddenly. 

 Symptoms — in great pain, is prostrated, eyes becom." dull and nose dry, death occurrin ■ in a 

 few hours. I have seen them take their evening meal, apparently quite well, and the follow- 

 ing morning have found them dead. On -po t mortem, the bladder contains urine red like 

 blood, sometimes almost black, and the kidnevs have a dark appearance on the outside." 



Answer. — The symptoms suggest Blackleg, which is incurable, but may be prevented 

 from spreading by inoculation with " Blacklegoids " or " Blacklegine " and attention to sanita 

 tion. See article in the Journal for July, r9o6. 



Swollen Udder. — Inquirer states that he has a heifer with first calf that has had 

 a swollen udder since calving. Although it is very hot, inflamed, and hard the milk comes 

 easily. 



Answer. — Gentle massage with castor oil will reduce the swelling, which, as the milk 

 is not altered in character, is not a serious symptom. 



Pimples on Stallion. — Minyip writes : — " I have a stallion, on whose body there are 

 a lot of pimples or small boils, which appear to be itchy- He has the run of about half 

 an acre, and his feed consists of oaten chaff, oats, and bran, with occasional carrots and 

 molasses and hay." 



Answer. — Give Epsom Salts i oz., Bi-carbonate of Potash 5 oz., Sulphate of Iron 2drs., 

 Gentian 2 drs., twice a day in damp feed. Food should be of cooling variety — not too 

 much oats or barley. Rubbing a mixture of equal parts of methylated spirits and castor 

 oil into the irritable parts will be useful. 



Stiffness in Hind Legs. — A.B. writes : — " I have a 3-year-old filly, which has been 

 broken into farm work. When in the paddock she suffers from stiffness in the hind legs, 

 cannot lift one leg, goes over on the fetlock, and drags the ground. Sometimes both legs are 

 affected and she is unable to walk for half an hour. She is perfectly healthy, works well, 

 and never refuses food." 



Answer. — The symptoms are those of some interference with the action of the hock. 

 An examination is necessary to decide both the exact cause and treatment. She may grow 

 out of it as she becomes older. 



Fluke. — W.Mc. states that he cannot get his sheep to lick the salt or sulphate of iron, 

 and asks whether one can do any good with drenching with a bottle, using salt and sulphate 

 of iron dissolved in water. He also asks whether any other treatment is recommended. 



A7iswer. — Try the following : — Sulphate of iron 2 lbs., phosphate of lime i lb., aniseed 

 I lb. A dessertspoonful twice a day is a dose, and may be given in a little bran. If not 

 taken, drenching may be tried. If these methods are unsuccessful it is suggested that sowing 

 pure coarse salt (as one would sow grain) on the grass for a few chains around the lick should 

 be tried ; it may educate them up to it. 



Death of Horses. — P.B. writes: — "Two of my horses have died. I made a fast 

 viprtem^ and foimd all the lining off the stomach. That was the only part that appeared to- 

 be affected, the heart, liver, kidneys and bladder being normal. The horses were fed on 

 steamed chaff and bran mash for about fourteen days previously, and all the unexpelled 

 manure seemed fermented. They ate well until about twelve hours of their decease." 



Answer. — The mucous membrane of the stomach of the horse in a healthy state has the 

 appearance of being "eaten away" (ulcerated). Half of the membrane is white and raised, 

 the remainder being pink and soft and below the white area, so the condition mentioned does 

 not depart from the normal and some other cause must be ascribed — possibly simple coli( ^rom 

 indigestion. 



Bog Spavin. — S.L.C. writes : — " In the case of Bog Spavin, would there be any danger 

 if a fine needle were inserted in the enlargement so as to reduce it?" 



Answer. — Yes, there would be great danger. In the hands of a sur'^eon the fluid could' 

 be drawn off with a needle, but the result is not satisfactory, the sac filling up again. 



Clearing Land. — Young Farmer (Dandenong) is clearing a paddock of rather poor 

 land, and would like to know whether it would be better to plough it and let it remain fallow 

 until next spring or crop it now. He also inquires what is a good mixture of grasses ta 

 make a permanent pasture as the land will be used for grazing. 



^w^wer.— Fallowing is advised. Let the ground lie idle throughout the summer, and 

 about April next work it up well and sow a /nixture of cocksfoot, rye, and clover. One 

 cwt. of superphosphate per acre would insure a good early growth of the grass. 



DOOKIE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The College offers every facility to students to become competent agriculturists, vignerons,. 

 and dair3'men. The ^vork is carried out on a large commercial scale, the ploughing, drilling, 

 manuring, harvesting, threshing, and shearing beinc'done by students under competent instructors. 

 Over 2,000 sheep and lambs, 150 head cattle, 50 ho'-ses, including stallion, are on the farm. 



Fees — £28 5s. ])er annum. 



LONGERENONG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



One aim of this institution is to fill in the gap between the State School and Dookie, i.e., to- 

 take students between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years. 



The farm contains an area of 2,386 acres, and is admirabl^'^ adapted for demonstrating what 

 can be done in farming with irrigation. There is a large area of the farm under cultivation, and 

 the orchard and vinej'ard cover an area of 30 acres. 



Fees — Resident, £18 5s. per annum ; Non-resident, £5 per annum. 



Applications to attend either of the above Colleges should be forwarded to the Secretary of 

 the Council of Agricultural Education, Public Offices, Melbourne. Copy of Prospectus of either 

 College will be posted on receipt of post-card. 



