580 Journal of AgriLiiltKri: . \iciorla. [10 Aug.. 191 i. 



Skin Disease. — W.J.E. in(|uires as to treatment of calf suffering from skin 

 disease. About half the skin is affected. It is in blotches, the hair looks rough 

 at first, and gradually comes off in masses that stick together at the roots — one- 

 piece off the back was about 2 feet long and 4 inches wide, leaving the hide bare^ 

 except for patches of white scurfy kind of scab. 



Answer. — It may be a form of mange or ringworm. The affected parts 

 should be well smeared with soft soap, leaving the soap on for three or four days. 

 .Subsequently wash off with warm water, and mop the skin with a clean soft cloth. 

 When drv, rub well into the skin once daily a little of the following mixture : — Oil 

 of Tar I part. Raw Linseed Oil 10 parts. Wash the skin thoroughly once a week, 

 and begin again with the tar dressing. 



B.\L.ANCED Ration. — S.S.F. states that he is desirous of making up a well 

 balanced grain ration, say oats, peas, barley, and linseeri, for horse smd cow feed. 

 He also asks what would be a good condiment to mix with it as an appetiser. 



Answer. — 5 lbs. oats, 2 lbs. peas, i lb. barlev, and ^ lb. linseed, given with 

 3 lbs. bran and 16 lbs. chaff, would give a well balanced ration (having a nutritive 

 ratio I i/.i) for the horse. For the cow, more bran and linseed should be allowed, 

 as well as a larger amoimt of chaff. If an animal is in health, a condiment such as- 

 suggested is imnecessary. 



Ration of Oats for Draight Horses. — JAY. asks what is a fair ration of 

 oats for a working draught horse doing ploughing or equallv hard work. He has 

 been giving 15 lbs. per day, but finds it too expensive. 



Answer. — 12 lbs. to 14 lbs. of oats is a fair dailv ration for draught horses in 

 liard work, and little other fodder such as hay or chaff is required in addition. 

 For your ptirpose, however, It may be more economical, as well as efficacious, to 

 feed about 8 to 10 lbs. of oats with 14 or 15 lbs. of best quality chaff or oaten 

 hay. In this ration, allowance is made for a fair proportion of grain already in the 

 chaff or hay. 



Co\V Peas. — J.W. asks whether cow jieas are suitable for milking cows'; also, 

 whether they taint the milk. 



Answer. — Cow peas constitute an excellent fodder for milking cov>s. The 

 milk is not tainted. 



Apple Drying. — M.McD. asks how to dry apples. 



Answer. — Apples, either green or ripe, of any kind may be utilized for this; 

 purpose, but if made from cooking varieties the product will be better. The}- are 

 prepared by being pared, cored, and sliced, either by hand or machinery ; then 

 rteeped in a solution of \ lb. of salt to a gallon of water and allowed to remain 

 there for two or three minutes, spread on wooden trays of a convenient size — usually 

 24 X 36 inches — after which they are subjected to the fumes of sulphur for a few 

 minutes, and placed in the sun or kiln' to dry. Paring, coring, and slicing machines- 

 may be obtained from the leading ironmongers at prices varying from 5s. to £'}, or 

 _/'4, the higher priced ones being suitable for factory purposes. Sulphuring is 

 accomplished by obtaining a box, the inside measurements of w-hich are the same 

 length and breadth as the tray, making one side of it a door and nailing cleats 

 a few inches apart on the inside of each end, on which the trays of fruit are 

 placed, the lower tray being a foot or so from the bottom. A little flower of 

 sulphur is then put in a vessel to which a lighted coal is applied and then placed on 

 the bottom of the box; the dooy is closed, and the fruit allowed to remain in the- 

 fumes for five to eight minutes. The object of this is to keeji the fruit from 

 darkening while drying, and to give it a presentable appearance. The fruit should 

 not be allowed to remain in the fumes longer than is sufficient to attain that end, as 

 over-sulphuring is objectionable. If only a small quantity of apples is being treated, 

 it may be suljihured by placing the trays one on top of another with the ends of the 

 lower one resting on two supports a foot or so from the ground. The burning sulphur 

 should be placed underneath, and a sheet or tarpaulin thrown over the whole so as to 

 retain the fumes, and allowed to remain as prevously stated. When so treated, the 

 fruit is placed in the sun or kiln and allowed to remain there till the bulk is suffi- 

 ciently dried, when it is removed, thrown into a bin, and allowed to remain there, 

 turning it over occasionally in the meantime, till the moisture is equalized between 

 the fruit which mav be over-dried, and that which is still on the moist side. When 

 this is accomplished, the product is readv for casing; and, if for sale, is usually put 

 up in 56-lb. boxes. The sulphuring process is only to keep the apples a good 

 colour. If not so treated, they become dark, and do not command a ready sale;, 

 but. if for home use, would be just as pf.latable, if not more so, than the sulphured' 

 article. 



