Aug.. 19 1 1.] Answers to Correspondents. 579 



Their docility and handy size will no doubt at once attract the attention 

 of the suburban householder, and they make an ideal family cow ; but, 

 being bred originally from hardy mountain cattle, they are also very good 

 foragers, keeping up condition and milking well under most strenuous 

 conditions. On this account, residents of hilly country who require cows 

 that can make a good showing with little care should give this sturdy 

 milkinc: breed a trial. 



ANSWERS TO OOKRESPONDENTS. 



The Staff of the Department has been organized to a lars^e extent for the purpose of giving information 

 to farmers. V\ie-itioiis in every branch of agriculture are kUuIIv answered. Write a short letter, givinij a-s 

 -full partii-ulurs :i> jiossible, of your local condit-ons, uirl -int. (.i.-ivily what it is that you want to know. 

 All ini/virk'.- /',nriti'l</d to the Kditor inunt be arrnui ji'i iin>l h,/ II,. ,,,i,iie and addrexn of the u'rltcr. Thi^ 

 is very neces.sary. as sometimes insufficient iiifiinii;iTi..ii i- lurnisln.l l)y the inquirer. 



Sore Teats. — F.B.L., who states that he is " New Chum " milker, inquires 

 whether wa.shing the teats prior to milking would cause them to become sore, or 

 would it be the fault of the milker. He is following instructions given by a prac- 

 tical milker, viz., grip the teats in hollow at base of thumbs and squeeze same 

 with points of fingers, care being taken to have nails cut short. 



Aiiswer. — Washing the teats with a clean rag before milking will not make 

 them sore, provided you milk in the proper inanner. The advice given you is right. 

 While the teats are sore, wash before milking with warm solution of Condy's 

 Fluid; and, after milking, dry and smear with carbolized vaseline. 



Feeding Mit.let to Stock. — E.T.P. asks whether millet is injurious to 

 stock. 



Anstver. — There is no danger in feeding millet to stock, imless the growth has 

 been checked during the growing period, and this may be overcome by " wilting. " 

 Excessive amount of almost any green feed will induce tympanitis in horses, which 

 •should be watched for until the animals are accustomed to the fodder. 



Worms. — W.H.W. writes : — " I have a mare that does not seem to be doing 

 quite as well as I think she should. (The foal has been weaned about six 

 weeks.-) She has passed several worms about 6 or 7 inches long. Would the worms 

 be the cause of the trouble? Tf so, what treatment do you recommend?" 



Answer. — (i) If in large numbers, the worms would be responsible. (2) Take 

 of Sulphate of Iron i oz.. Powdered Gentian 2 ozs., mix, and divide into four 

 powders; give one every morning in damp feed. After the last has been given 

 p>iit on bran mashes or green grass for one day. Then give a 6-drachm Aloes ball. 

 You should also have the teeth attended to. 



Xn>:-Pi.:F.r;xA>jrv of Sows. — H.B. slates that two of his sows, served by a 

 i4-months-old boar, are still not in young, although another sow served a fortnight 

 earlier is due to farrow. 



Ansrrer. — Perhaps your sows are in too good condition ; if so, reduce them, 

 and, a few days before next "season" appears, syringe out the vagina with water 

 in which a little baking soda is dissolved. You should also keep the boar well 

 forward with a good grain ration. If nuich further difficulty is experienced, the 

 ^ows should be fattened. 



Swoilen Tendons. — F.W.r. writes regarding his mare, and states that, 

 after a little exercise, the back trnrlons swell, and cause the anim;il to walk on her 

 toes and become very lame. S'evens' ointment and a Ihrec-months' s]>ell have been 

 tried, but the swelling has re-appeared. The mare has always got a cough. 



/l;.'.fr.'rr. — The mare is suffering from chronically spraineil Icnilons, and mav 

 only be fit for slow work. The oniv treatment advisable now is firing, blistering, 

 and rest for three months. The cough referred .0 is also |)robal)ly chronic, and 

 should not cause anv great anxiety. 



CvSTRATlNO AfiEn Rams. — P.P. ^nquirps as to the brst method of castrating 

 aged rams. 



AitsiV'-r. — If flic rams arc in anv (oiidiiion at all, it voiild be advisable to 

 sell them as thev are. There is nothing to be gaine<l from castration at their age. 

 If, for other reasons, castration must be done, slit the purse, tic tiie artery and 

 s|iermatii cord firmly, < ui off the testicle, use an antiseptic (Lysol for preference-, 

 and freely applv Stockholm tat all over ;he opening made. The latter |>recaution is 

 very imiort.-int. 



