ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS— continued. 



throw out new surface roots and continue the suckering. The best means of keeping dowa 

 suckers are during winter or spring, to remove all direct from the roots whence they spring and 

 then plough as much soil as possible over the offending roots. The soil should not be ploughed 

 away from mature trees, for the trees do not call for such treatment and such work always 

 increases the number of suckers. All roots of plums, pears, and other trees which sucker badly 

 and which are brought to the sufrace by ploughing and cultivating should be cut off at a good 

 depth in the soil. Lancing the trunks of weak trees enables them to take more direct supplies 

 from the roots ; hence their sap pressure is relieved and they are less liable to throw suckers. 



Callusing Vine Cuttings.— A.Z. asks what is the process of callusing vine cuttings. 



Answer. — Ordinary vine cuttings are buried in sand to preserve them from the effects of 

 exposure to air, sun, and wind until planting time. Callused cuttings give the better results, 

 because these root as soon as they are planted out. Callusing is necessary with grafted cut- 

 tings in order to maintain an equable temperature and a suitable degree of moisture, so that the 

 knitting of the slock and scion as well as the formation of root callus may take place. 



Fining Vinegar. — Yackandandah asks what is a good fining for white wine vinegar. 



Ansrver. — Vinegar may be fined by the same methods adopted for wines of which a full 

 account has been published in the Journal (see July, September, and October issues, 1905). 

 " Yackandandah " should note that inquiries must be accompanied by the name and address of 

 the writer. 



Pe.^r Slug. — G.O.L. asks what is the best spray for the Pear Slug. 



Anszver. — Hellebore powder mixed with water — i oz. to 2 gallons is an effective remedy. 

 Hellebore can also be dusted on the trees. 



Rotation of Crops, etc.^ — Strezlecki requests answers to the following questions, (i) 

 What is the best rotation of crops for feeding dairy stock and a few horses in Gippsland (Strez- 

 lecki Hills)? Crops usually grown are maize, oats, peas and beans, mangolds and swedes, pota- 

 toes, clover. (2) If legumes are grown for the grain, what is the best way to utilize the stalks? 

 (3) What is a practical subsoil plough? 



Answer. — (i) For the crops you mention the following rotation is suitable, viz.. : — [a) 

 Oats; [h] Peas and beans; {c) Maize, mangolds, potatoes. (2) Nearly the whole of the straw of 

 the legumes (peas and beans) as well as the grain will be eaten by the cows. In the case of 

 peas, it is found that the feeding value of the crop is highest when it is in full flower, so that it 

 makes little difference if it is cut before the peas are ripe, or if there is a gocd growth of 

 haulm a valuable fodder is obtained even if the amount of grain is comparatively small. (3) 

 For the ordinary farmer the best plan is to plough with two teams; the first with the ordinary 

 plough, the second with a plough minus the mould board. This stirs up the ground in the bottom 

 of the furrow turned over by the first. 



Manures' for Vegetables. — ^J.D.F. asks what is the right amount of superphosphate to use 

 per acre for vegetables. 



Ansivcr. — The question is a very vague one. Before giving a definite reply particulars 

 re kind of soil and class of vegetable must be furnished. It would, however, be quite safe to 

 use from 2 to 4 cwt. of superphosphate per acre for most market garden produce. 



Potato Cultivation.^ — J.M. asks (i) Which is the best implement to cultivate potatoes 

 with? (2) What is the cause of "thread eye" in potatoes? 



Answer. — (i) If the ground is hard the ordinary iron horse hoe is best. If loose and friable, 

 the plant hoe is most suitable and should be used after the ordinary hoe to throw the earth up 

 to the plants. (2) "Thread eye" or "spindle" is said to be caused bv a fungoid diseas.", but 

 this is uncertain. No remedy can at present be suggested; the matter is, however, being investi- 

 gated by Mr. McAlpine, Vegetable Pathologist. 



Early Lambs. — J. A. wishes to know how he can secure early lambs from his Lincoln and 

 crossbred ewes. No matter what he does he cannot get lambs early enough for the freezers. 



Answer. — The tendency with Lincoln ewes, or any of the British breeds, is not to come in 

 season until February. If the year is cool and the ewes fat it is towards the end of February 

 before they will commence taking the rams. The nearer merino they are bred the earlier 

 they will come in season. In hot weather ewes of this breeding, when in ordinary store condi- 

 tion, will come on quicker. It is rarely any fault of the rams. Roughly speaking, half-bred 

 ewes will lamb in June, three-quarter-bred in July, pure bred in Aupust, and if good milk- 

 giving pasture is ready for them right away, or better still green fodder crops, there is no 

 reason why these lambs at ten to fourteen weeks old should not be ready, that is, if they are 

 by thick-fleshed rams of an early maturing breed. Lambs off their mothers, fed this way, are now 

 being sold,, averaging twelve shillings, and are from thirty to thirty-five lbs. weight dressed. 

 When off the mother's milk nothing can possess more quality. 



Egg-eating. — A.T.L. wants to know the cause of hens eating their eggs. White Leghorns 

 are the only ones that are addicted. 



Answer.^There are many causes which lead them to do so. In your case it would 

 appear to be through want of lime— oyster shell and burnt bones groand up small, &c. If the 

 shells are thin, the hen in her customary fashion rolls the egg under her wine and in doing 

 so often breaks the shell. When this occurs she always eats the contents and the habit grows. 

 See that all nests are soft and springy, avoid hard floors and remove all boards from bottoms of 

 nest boxes. Change the birds' quarters and darken (he nests somewhat — the darker the nest the 

 less eggs missed. Avoid maize during the summer months; give short white oats and add more 

 green feed to morning ration. 



J.H.W. asks whether hens while sitting are inclined to eat the eggs. He also asks various 

 questions re "show ]ioints." 



Answer. — (i) It often happens that, when eggs are thin shelled, a hen will accidentally 

 break the eggs and will then invariably eat the coDtints. Care should be taken to select onlv 

 egars vyith firm shells; also see that the nests are springry. (2) "Show points" are dealt with 

 fully in the weekly newspapers. 



