ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Staff of the Department has been organized to a large extent for the 

 purpose of giving information to farmers. Questions in every branch of agriculture 

 are gladly answered. Write a short letter, giving as full particulars as possible, of 

 your local conditions, and state precisely what it is that you want to know. All 

 inquiries must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer. 



Blind Foal. — P.P writes : "I have a foal blind from birth. The eyes look clear and 

 normal but the forehead is rather enlarged as though from an injury. Can anything be 

 done to restore sight?" 



Answer. — There is evidently some structural alteration of the brain which accounts for 

 the blindness. Nothing practical can be done and if no improvement is seen by the time 

 the foal is a month old it had better be destroyed — unless a highly valuable filly in which 

 case it might be safely kept for breeding. 



White-wash for Cow-sheds. — W. B. asks for a recipe of a good white-wash for cow- 

 shed; also asks where a copy of the Milk and Dairy Su-pervision Act can be obtained. 



Answer. — (i) Stir one gallon of milk and add 3 lbs. Portland cement gradually. Keep the 

 mixture agitated whilst using and make a fresh lot each day. (2) At the Government Printing 

 Office, price is., postage id. 



Cripples. — A. R. writes : " I would be pleased to receive your advice concerning a 

 disease among the cattle of this neighbourhood. Deaths have occurred on several farms; I 

 have lost three in three weeks. Mine were milking cows, apparently in the pink of health. 

 In 24 hours they suddenly get sick, go off feei and milk, lose the power of their limbs, 

 get down, breathe heavily as if in great pain, dribble at the mouth, lose control of bowels 

 and die in from 20 to 30 hours after getting down." 



Answer. — The affection from which the cows are suffering and dying is an acute form of 

 " Cripples " which has associated with it paralysis of the gullet and stomach. It is described 

 in detail in the Journal of October 1906. The best treatment is hypodermic injection of 

 Solution of Strychnine in one ounce doses twice a day. The affection may be prevented by 

 giving a daily allowance of from 3 to 5 lbs. of bran and i to 2 lbs. of treacle (dissolved in 

 water) with the feed. The continuous provi3ion of a small proportion of succulent fodder such 

 as maize, sorghum, lucerne, or the like will also prevent it. 



Scar on Horse's Leg. — " Subscriber" states that he has a horse which ran into a wire fence. 

 The wire burnt a mark just above the knee and the hair will not grow at that spot. 



Answer. — Wherever the hair follicles have been destroyed or where a false skin has 

 fojmed, as has evidently happened in this case, there are no known means of inducing the 

 growth of hair. 



Blackleg. — D.W. asks to be informed as to the ailment affecting his calves. He states 

 " that the calves appear to become insane and for a time go galloping around in an un- 

 controllable fashion, colliding with any objects in the way. They then fall to the ground 

 and the body and neck become rigid but the legs remained supple. The eyes assumed a 

 wild expression, and the calves kicked as though in great pain. To all appearance they were in 

 good health until within a few hours of their death." 



Ansiver. — Some of the symptoms detailed are suspicious of Blackleg, which subject was 

 fully dealt with in the July 1906 issue of the Journal. 



Fodder for Ewes and Lambs. — -" Lamb Raiser " asks : " How many acres of rape 

 should be sown for 400 ewes, with the ordinary percentage of lambs?" 



Answer. — The number of acres necessary is governed by the methods used. The best 

 method is to lamb the ewes in the paddocks they run in all the year, and allow good feed 

 for them, especially during the time thev are carrying the lamb. Each day as they lamb, cut 

 off the ewes with lambs (which can easily be done at this stage) and turn them into 

 a convenient paddock in which there is good grass. At three weeks, or even less, mark them 

 carefully (wether lambs especially — not in the old Woolgrowers' style of drawing all the 

 testicle, but cut them proud and seer all tails). While the ewes are bringing the lambs_ on 

 fat, all is well, but as soon as the lambs show signs of falling off the ewes should go into 

 the rape, &c., till the lambs are about 30 to 36 lbs. weight. If it is then found that the 

 others are following too closely for all to go on, the first lot should go to market — the season 

 and available fodder will govern in tliis matter. There is no hard and fast rule as to 

 numbers that can be fattened, or number of acres necessary to fatten certain numbers of 

 lambs. Breed and shape of the sheep used alter the age at which they will mature whilst 

 soil, manner of cultivation, time of sowing, rainfall, &c., alter the quantity and quality of 

 fodder available. Roughly speaking, in fair rainfall, with good tillage and management of 

 lamb-raising flock, and with rape and oats sown in April and not commenced to be fed off 

 until July, 60 acres would bring all off prime at from 30 to 36 lbs. weight and would 

 fatten the worst shaped and fleeced ewes that had to go to make room for the best shaped 

 and fleeced lambs kept for future breeding. In a very favorable season much more may be 

 done, but the above is the average. 



Orchard Ploughing. — "Orchardist" makes the following inquiries : (i) What months are 

 the best for ploughing the soil away from, and on to, fruit trees? (2) Should stable manure 

 be kept dry? (3) In order to keep a track on headland clean and free from grass, would 

 harrowing occasionally be the quickest method? 



Answer. — (i) Young 'trees are aided bv ploughing the soil away from them in autumn or 

 winter, but no furrows should be left over the roots which will promote excessive moisture. 

 Strong trees do not need the soil ploughing away from them. It is better to plough up to 

 the trees in autumn or winter and again in spring and thereby secure a well-raised body 

 of earth at the base of the tree trunks. (2) Stable manure should be kept moist. Dryness 



