504 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 191 i. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Staff of the Department has been org-anized to a large extent for the purpose of yivinjj information 

 to farmers. Questions in every branch of ayriculture are gladly answered. Write a short letter, giving as 

 full particulars as possible, of your local condit'ons, and state (irecisely what it is that you want to know. 

 AH imiuirles forwarded to the Editor must be accompnni,' I hii tlif nam" and address of the writer. This 

 is very necessary, as sometimes insuliicient information i.s tuniishiMl liy the inquirer. 



M.4NURING f'lG Trees. — J.L. asks what is the best manure to use for fig 

 trees growing in heavy soil. 



Answer: — If tlie trees' are growing and thriving well, they do not need 

 manure. A good water supply is necessary, and an occasional mulching with stable 

 manure, above the feeding roots, is desirable. A lime dressing in autumn, at 

 the rate of 5 lbs. or 6 lbs. per tree, is also useful. If chemical manures are 

 required, give about 4 lbs. per tree of the following mixture : — Superphosphate, 

 r part ; sulphate of potash, 2 parts ; nitrate of soda, 2 parts. 



Top-dressing LtCEUNE. — R.H.L. inquires as to the best time to top-dress 

 lucerne plot with stable manure. 



Answer. — In the autumn after a cutting. Then harrow the surface well to 

 break any crust that may have formed. 



Liming Cultivation Land. — W.F.G. desires information as to best method 

 • of liming cultivation land. 



Afiswer. — Procure good agricultural lime, and appiy in the autumn at the 

 rate ot at least 5 cwt. per acre. Freshly-burnt lime requires about 60 gallons of 

 water to slake a ton. If no spreader is available, place lime in heaps of 5 cwt. 

 at regular distances apart, slake with I5 gallons of water for each heap; and, 

 when the mass is pulverized, spread. If drill with fertilizer attachment is used for 

 spreading, slake lime in one heap, but be careful to screen the slaked lime before 

 using. 



Potato Digging Rates. — H.H.H. wishes to know what is the current price 

 paid to potato diggers. 



Answer. — The ])rice varies from 55d. to 6^d. per standard bag in average 

 crops. 



Pitting Potatoes. — N.N. asks whether the sound tubers will be attacked, if, 

 v.'hen pitting, a few Irish Blight-affected potatoes are inadvertently put in. 



Answer. — When pitting, any potatoes which show the slightest trace of disease 

 should be rejected. If the potatoes are moist the blighted tubers may infect the 

 sound ones, but if thoroughly dried before storing, the risk is minimized. Do not 

 store in bins or large jjits. 



Sowing Wattle Seed. — H.B.S. desires particulars as to sowing of Coota- 

 mundra wattle seed. He also wishes to know how to obtain seed from sugar gum 

 trees. 



Answer. — All Acacia (wattle) seed can be sown, according to the condition of 

 the soil and whether it has sufficient moisture to germinate, from April to Sep- 

 tember. If the Cootamundra wattle is intended for planting out in lines, sow in a 

 -shallow box, about 3 inches deep, prepared with fine soil having a little sand in it. 

 Steep the seed overnight to soften the hard outer shell, and sow in shallow rills. 

 If many of the seeds are still hard, they can be soaked in hot water or in strong 

 ■sulphuric acid for i — 3 hours and then well washed before planting. \Vhen 

 the plants are 6 to 9 inches high they can be lifted and set out in permanent 

 sites. Collect sugar gum capsules in autumn just before the valves of the fruit 

 begin to open. Spread out the capsules on hessian on the ground so that both the 

 morning and afternoon sun may open the seed. Winnow the chaff off with a fine sieve. 



Caponizing Cockerels. — F.R. asks whether, in caponizing cockerels, it is 

 right to ojjerate from both sides or from one side only. Sometimes a windy 

 swelling ajjpears alter the operation. 



Answer. — Operate from both sides. The swelling is caused through making 

 the incision in the side of the bird, which allows the air to come between the skin 

 and flesh. By making a small incision in the skin, the air will disappear, and is 

 not likely to coint agaut. 



Purging. — W.F.G. states that his 7-vear-old pony has a very poor appetite, 

 and is frequently badly jmrged, especially when getting any hard feed. On the best 

 •of grass he does not seem to fill himself nor to fatten, although doing very little work. 



Answer. — Have the mouth carefully examined first of all, and correct any 

 •■dental irregularities that may be present. It would then be advisable to give him 

 Iialf a pint of raw linseed oil and two tablespoonfuls of turpentine well mixed. 

 Subsequentlv, feed him with chaff and crushed oats in which is mixed night and 

 morning a 'cu()ful of equal parts of limewater and raw linseed oil. Begin with 

 rsmall allowance of oats first, and gradually increase it to full amount. 



