ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS— ton^m«,r^ 



Area of Swamp. — Swamp wishes lo know the area of a swamj) which he has fenced off, 

 and sends sketch with lenjjths only of sides. 



Ans7uer. — With the information given it is impossible to calculate the area. If it be 

 possible to chain across the swamp, the area can be calculated if a line be measured across 

 from any one angle to an opposite angle and the right-angled distances of all the other angles 

 be measured from that line. By this method, none of the side is measured. Another way is to 

 measure across from one angle to all the other angles in turn, dividing the whole area into 

 triangles. In this case, all sides must be measured as well. See the lournal for January, 

 igo6, for further particulars. 



Utilising Drainage Water.— E.H. desires to use drainage water from kitchen on a 

 garden. 



Ans'Mer. — Along the toj) of the garden, lay a flume, timber, iron or concrete, into which 

 the drainage flows. Outlets from this at distances apart of 6 feet will feed furrows or 

 gutters running down the slope. The drainage should be allowed to flow on to dug-up land 

 until it is saturated, and then turned on to another place. The saturated ground should be 

 again turned over and planted. No exact rules can be laid down, the cultivator must use his 

 own observation; but the drainage of a large house can be efficiently and jiroiitably dealt with 

 on a very small area of cultivat.on without creating any nuisance. The addition of fertilizers 

 to the ground should be made when cultivating and not by medium of the drainage. 



Erosion of Banks. — Novice has a boundary creek that is eroding badly and he would 

 like to learn of an inexpensive method of preventing this. 



Ansrver. — The erosion, if occurring in particular places, is probably due to diversicii of 

 the current of the storm waters by obstructions such as stumps, growths, (S:c., in the channel. 

 The remedy is to remove these. Failing such means, willows should be planted at spots where 

 erosion takes place, or sheeting, either round or square, may be put in original line of bank 

 and good filling placed behind it. 



i'HOSPHDKisED POLLARD. — G.W.C. States that he has just purchased a tin of phosphorised 

 pollard. He wishes to know whether it is necessary to use the whole of the contents im- 

 mediatelv after opening. 



Anszuer.- — The phosphorised poll.ird may be used at intervals during say one summer. It 

 ■would not be advisable to keep it for an indefinite period after opening the tin. 



Poisoned R.4BBITs. — G.W.C. asks whether poisoned rabbits can be used for fowls food. 



Ansiuer. — Yes, if intestines are removed and rabbits boiled. 



Brkakwind. — E.H. asks for a list of Australian flowering trees suitable for planting 

 as a breakwind. 



Answer. — Eucalyptus ficifolia, GrevUlca robusta, Stenocarpus, Cuiniinghami, Fagus Cun- 

 ninghami. In addition several species of Myoporum, Eugenia, and Tittos forum might be used 

 and give good effects when properly commingled and groui)ed. 



Eradicating Bracken. — A.C.E. asks (i) how to get rid of bracken fern? (2) Whether 

 stringv bark is alwavs an indication of poor country? 



AnsTver. — (i) We have received several reports of late as to the way in which Pasfalum 

 dilatatum, sown mixed with Rye grass and Clover (white and strawberry), has grown on partly 

 cleared ground, and suppressed fern. Pigs are of some use in rooting out fern. Cutting keeps 

 them down but is costly on a large scale. (2) Over twelve plants are known as stringy bark. 

 If vou will forward a specimen it will enable us to tell you what the plant is and what kind 

 -of soil its presence indicates. 



Identification of Plant. — S.S. forwards specimen of plant for identification. 



Answer. — It is Setaria Italica, L., an annual grass useful for green fodder, withstand- 

 ing drought well. It seeds freely ; the grain is useful for poultry and in some varieties can 

 be used as millet. It is often called " Hungarian Millet." 



Wheat Variety. — D.S. asks (i) What is the best variety of wheat for the Bengworden 

 district? (2) What is the best solution for checking smut? 



Answer. — (i) The Bengworden district is too "rusty' for Purple Straw, Darts' Imperial, 

 or in fact most of the familiar wheats. Bobs is considered the most rust resistant variety, but 

 ncj variet\- is immune from smut. (2) A jiiokle of bluestone at the rate of f-lb. to 5 gallons 

 of water' is recommended for checking smut. Dip the grain for i^ minutes and dry before 

 sowing. 



Pasture for Horses. — Novice desires to turn 2 or 3 acres of his land into a good pasture 

 paddock for horses and asks what would be a good mixture to sow. The land is fairly high 

 and well drained and last vear a light crop was taken off it for the first time. 



.Answer. — The land should be plou-rhed at once and well worked to kill any weeds. 

 Towards end of May sow a mixture of 6 lbs. cow grass and white clover, 20 lbs. rye, 6 lbs. 

 prairie, and i lb. paspalum. T^se i cwt. of mixed superphosphate and bonedust jier acre. 

 Keep stork off the land until the spring, otherwise they will eat the grasses out before they 

 bave a chance to establish themselves. 



Rhodes Grass. — W.G. asks whether Rhodes grass is fattening and whether it is worth 

 ■growing on reallv good soil. 



.4«ra/^r.— Rhodes grass (Cliloris Gavana) is mainly useful for poor soils. It grows 

 rapidly and is useful both for green feed or hay, attaining a height of 3 to 5 feet. _ The fact 

 that it has creeping horizontal stems which grow upwards when buried would make it hard to 

 eradicate when once established. It would 'suppress such weeds as nut grass, but becomes 

 itself a weed on cultivated ground. Its resistance to frost is not known, and is probablv n t 

 great. For good ground it is a far less useful fodder plant than paspalum ot lucerne. 



Sorghum Poisoning.— RC. refers to the article on "Sorghum Poisoning" in the March 

 Journal and asks whether the statements therein contained apply to Japanese millet. 



Answer.— ^o, though they do to the Indian millet which is a member of the Sorghum 

 family. 



