ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS— co««i?met/. 



Milk Oozing from Cows' Teats. — If the milk oozes from the teats of a newly-calved 

 cow for a second or two there is nothing wrong. 



Feeding Milch Cows.— The best feed that will increase the flow of milk in any form 

 is one that contains a high proportion of protein, such as bran. Green succulent forage such 

 as maize, sorghum, or millet, when at a sufficiently matured stage, is also good for milk 

 production. 



Feeding Molasses to Cows. — Molasses is a useful adjunct to feed for cows, but it_ is 

 questionable whether it is an economical feed at present prices except for city milk production 

 and esiiecially when maize and such like silage crops can be grown on the farm. 



Silos and Silage. — An equally good sample of silage can be produced froni both under- 

 ground and overground silos. An overground silo saves labour in filling and being emjjtied ; 

 gives equally as good results, and ' is cheaper in construction. 



The best time for cutting is when the grain is well formed and in the milky stage, 

 generally speaking, a few days before cutting for hay. Re wild oats, even if seed has ripened, 

 tlie moist heat generated by fermentation destroys the germinating power of all seeds in the 

 silo. 



To get the best results it is necessary to chaff the green stuff. 



Material for Stable Floor. — Ci. Bros, are referred to Mr. Kenyon's article in the 

 August (1907) number of the Journal. 



Capacity of Barn. — (B.B.McA.) — Assuming that the filling would only extend to the 

 eaves, a barn 25 feet long by 25 feet wide, with a length of 15 feet, would hold about 20 

 tons of oaten hay in sheaves— a little less if it is loose, or if it is wheaten hay. 



Identification of Weeds in Katamatite District. — (D.H.) — The weed with purple flowers 

 is the Henbit Dead Nettle [Lamiiim amflexicani L.), an introduced annual weed, not poison- 

 ous nor actively injurious, but useless for fodder or grazing. Being an annual it can be 

 destroyed by digging it in, but the seeds appear to last some years in the soil. If the 

 "round is kept well grassed, however, the seedlings will be unable to re-establish themselves. 



The weed with small white flowers is the Corn Gromwell (Lithos-pcrmiim arvense L.), a 

 small erect usually greyish annual. It was introduced with impure cereal seeds, and is fairly 

 common in corn-fields as well as in waste places. It is not a serious weed, and is easily 

 kept down by good cultivation coupled with rotation farming. If neglected in corn-fields it 

 will grow up and smother the young corn. 



A Sheep Yoke. — A yoke made of light Chinese bamboo, in the shape of a triangle, will 

 prevent Lincoln rams from getting through fences, but not from getting under. It will have 

 the effect of making the rams look bad for selling. 



Paddocking Rams with Ewes. — The working powers of rams paddocked with " ration " 

 ewes would be materially injured if more than a dozen ewes to each were allowed. 



Lincoln Rams with Merino Fwes. — Avoid coarse rams, and select rams with neat heads, 

 and with frames or bone not too large. 



Rams for Lincoln-Merino Cross. — To obtain fat lambs use good Shropshire rams on 

 ewes of the second cross — nothing can equal them. Neat thick-set Lincolns could be used again 

 on the first cross. 



Disinfectant for Poultry Sheds and Runs. — Use Little's Phenyle, 3 per cent, solution, 

 with soft soap suds added; use with spray pump. 



Yellow-coloured Swelling in Fowl's Eve. — Roup, which is highly contagious, is indi- 

 cated. It may result from neglected catarrh; a draughty house is often responsible for the 

 trouble. When the secretion, instead of remaining in a fluid state, as in catarrh, changes to a 

 thick purulent and cheesy growth, which forces the eye-ball out, there is no cure for a bird so 

 affected as the growth is attached to the eye itself. In the early stage when the eye is slightly 

 inflamed and a waterv discharge appears isolate the bird ; bathe the eyes twice daily in a weak 

 solution of boracic acid, and after wiping them dry, apply vaseline to the jiart. Feed only ca 

 soft milk foods, and give sul])hate of quinine mixefl with a desertsjjoonful of whisky and warm 

 milk. 



Turkey-breeding. — Bronze turkeys are the most profitable. Six to nine hens, which should 

 be at least two years old, to a gobbler should be used. The best months to hatch tlie young are 

 October and November. 



Poultry Ailments. — Most of the common ailments of poultry are dealt with in the Year- 

 Book of Agriculture for 1905. 



Feeding "Bluestoned" Wheat to Fowls. — This would be ver}' injurious to fowls, and 

 would affect the egg-producing organs and add a taint to the eggs. 



Pen for Poultry. — A pen 50 x 20, providing cleanliness is observed, is sufficient for six 

 hens and a rooster. Three feet of the fence from the ground shouhl be sheltered, tlie top 

 to be wire only. 



Fekuing Fowls. — Morning. — Pollard (2 parts) and bran (i part) with plenty of lucerne- 

 chaff, and I oz. of animal food (boiled rabbit, liver, beef scraps, &c.), in all about 2^ ozs. per 

 bird. Evening. — About i^ ozs. of wheat per bird, changing occasionally to equal ])arts of short 

 oats and wheat. During the winter months feed the mash hot and crumbly, and at night give 

 equal ])arts of maize and wheat and [jrovide plenty of sharp grit, broken oyster shell, and 

 charcoal. Water, to be always kept in shady place, must be changed daily. 



