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. 



Feeding Wheaxen Straw to Horses. — A.R. writes : — " Kindly sujiply information re 

 feeding wheaten straw to horses (i; Quantity oi molasses to i loa of cualf. {2) Are brar. 

 and pollard the best ingredients to mix with it?" 



Answer. — ^(ij Half-nundredweight of diluted molasses to i tun of chaff, but this propor- 

 tion, practically 3 lbs. to the cwt., should not be mixed until just before feeding. (2) bran 

 and oats, in the proportion of 5 bushel of each to i cwt. of chaff, would be better than bran 

 and pollard. 



Scented Vernal Grass. — A.R. asks whether scented vernal grass is of value for fatten- 

 ing sheep. 



Answer. — It has little nutritive value, and it is not prohtable to sow it in this country. 

 In England and other countries where seed grass hay is used, it is always sown with the seed 

 grass mi.xture for the purpose of imparting a desired perfume to the hay. 



Enlarged Fetlock. — B.F.H. writes : — '• Is there any remedy for a defect my foal was 

 bora with? When foaled it had an enlargemeni under the fetlock joint on hind leg. It 

 nearly touches the ground, and feels as if full of liquid." 



Answer. — This is an unusual condition requiring surgical aid. Obtain professional 

 advice at once. 



Fluke. — W.D. states that some of his she^p have died. They swell about the head and 

 ears, and in some cases the ears hang right down. They are also very vellow under the skin. 

 A -post mortem examination was held in two instances and the paunch was found very small 

 and dry. 



Answer. — The sheep are evidently suffering from I'luke or Liver Rot. Temporary relief 

 may be given by providing tonic sheep licks in troughs. Sulphate of iron i part, and common 

 salt 20 parts, forms a suitable mixture. The mjst satisfactory proceeding, however, is to market 

 the sheep as soon as ready and stock up again. Care should be taken to prevent the sheej) from 

 obtaining access to swampy land in October, November, and December. Water holes harbouring 

 a small periwinkle-like shell fish should be treated with lime, i bag to 1,000 cubic yards. 



Slipped Shoulder. — W.P. writes: — " (i) A draught gelding appears to have slipped the 

 muscles oft' his shoulder, a depression, large enough for a man to place his arm in, showing 

 along the shoulder blade. It is not lame, only a little stiff. [2) A brood mare with foal at 

 foot showed signs of weakness in the hind quarters about six weeks ago. She drags her legs 

 for some distance, walks properly for a few yards and then drags again." 



Answer. — The gelding has evidentlv sust lined a severe strain of the shoulder muscles 

 /'■ Slipj)ed Shoulder') and the depression over the blade is due to wasting of the muscle. 

 Apply a smart blister to the shoulder point and turn the horse out for three months. See also 

 article in April, 1907, issue of the Journal. (2) Secure professional advice re mare as soon 

 as possible. 



Lacerated Udder. — J.S. states that ten d lys ago his cow fell and lacerated the udder 

 close to the teat. Two days afterwards inflamiiiaiion set in, but this has been reduced bv 

 fomentation and bran poultices. The c(jv has since calved but the teat next the wound will 

 not milk and that C|uarter has become hard. The udder has been massaged thoroughly and the 

 teat has been injected with a solution of baking soda. The latter, however, came away through 

 the wound. Fomenting and massaging and dusting the wound with boracic acid are still being 

 maintained. 



Answer. — Continue the fomenting and massaging of the udder. Wash the wound 

 thoroughlv with an antise])tic solution and dust it with the boracic acid powder. Rub ihe 

 hardened gland with camphorated oil and administer a dose of laxative medicine. 



Ascertaining Temperature of Cow. — R.McD. asks " (i) What is the proper method of 

 ascertaining the temperature of a cow with a clinical thermometer? (2) How long should the 

 thermometer be inserted ?" 



Ansiuer. — (i) Moisten the thermometer anj introduce it carefully am! gently into the end 

 of the bowel (anus) or, if the cow is not heavy in calf, into the female passage (vulva). 

 Be sure the instrument is reading q8o F. or under before insertion. (2) The best 

 clinical thermometers will give correct readings in 30 seconds, but it is well to allow a full 

 minute to elapse before withdrawing the instrument. Ordinary thermometers are not reliable 

 unless left in three minutes. 



Blackleg. — J.E.B. writes: — '"What is the matter with my calves? They get thin and 

 «n a couple of days die quickly and in 24 hours after death swell immensely. They appear 

 to be quite healthy to within two davs of death; thev then refuse food and froth at the 

 mouth." 



Ans7vcr. — Your calves are probably dying of Blackleg. Read the article on this subject 

 in the July 1906 number of the Journal. 



Feeding Lucerne. — J.E.B. asks whether green lucerne, cut only a few hours, will affect 

 cows if fed to them when it is raining. 



Anszver. — Yes, it is apt to cause indigestion and tympany. 



Cutting Maize for Cows. — W.C.J, inquires what is the safest time to cut maize as 

 green stuff for milking cows. 



Answer. — Unlike sorghum, maize may be cut at any stage of its growth and fed to 

 stock with absolute safety. The only recorded deaths from feeding maize have resulted from 

 the use of damaged fodder in which bacteria and moi:lds have developed. 



