ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS— co77«i7^^^e^. 



Feeding Fowls. — The ratio that protein should bear to carbohydrates for promoting the 

 growth of chickens, which it is intended should develop into good laying pullets is i to 6 ; 

 but for ordinary market purposes a much wider ration would be necessary. The ratio for egg 

 production is also i to 6. 



Ratio of Protein and Carbohydrates in Fowl's Food. — This information is given in 

 the Year Book of Agriculture for 1905, page 249. 



Consolidation of Peat Land. — If peat land is thoroughly well drained it will settle 

 down and consolidate, though the process may be a gradual one. Experimental field work con- 

 ducted on similar land on the Koo-wee-rup Swamp points to the advantage of lime to promote 

 decomposition of the peat, and hasten its transformation into soil. Most peat soils are sour, 

 and lime will have the additional advantage of counteracting this. The class of crops most 

 useful on peat soils are those which produce an abundant foliage, such as maize, millet, sorg- 

 hum, rape, &c. Crops for grain grow too rank to be of service. 



Identification of Weed at Rupanyup. — The specimen of weed forwarded is the Hoary 

 Cress [Le-pidium Draba. L.) an introduction from Europe and Asia. It i.i not poisonous, but 

 takes up the place of useful vegetation, and should not be allowed to spread. In 

 small patches it should be dug up before seeding, piled and burnt ; the roots must 

 be removed from the soil, as any part left in the ground will grow again. Clean 

 cultivation and the prevention of seeding aid in suppressing the weed. If the land is 

 badly infested it should be ploughed up, and kept under bare fallow and well stirred 

 for a year. The land may then be seeded down in grass if required for pasture. Care 

 should be taken to procure pure seed of either grass or grain. In orchards, frequent plough- 

 ing and stirring of the soil will keep it down and ultimately exhaust it, but if it has been 

 long established it may take two years to do this. For the permanent clearing of this pest 

 which appears to be spreading in several parts of the State, united action is necessary. It 

 is of little use for one land-holder to undertake its suppression if his neighbours do not do 

 likewise. 



Weight of Milk. — The correct weight, in lbs., of one gallon of new milk is 10.32 lbs. 



Merinoes or Comebacks. — A.H.D. asks the following practical question : — " Are sheep 

 having wool with all the characteristics of the merino, but having absolutely no folds on the 

 neck, merinoes or czmebacks?" Merinoes for all practical purposes, if they descended 

 originally from first cross ewes, and long stapled merino rams have since been used consistently 

 for a few generations, they may appear as you describe. It would be difficult to say without 

 seeing them and looking for such signs (among many other things) as brown or rusty hair about 

 the hoofs, and black strips on the hoofs, &c. If they should be pure merino, then they have 

 been selected, mated, and bred to comeback type, a class of merino many of our breeders in 

 wet winter country find best suited to it. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



DOOKIE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The College offers every facility to students to become competent agriculturists, 

 vignerons, and dairymen. 



Fees. — £28 5s. per annum. 



LONGERENONG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



One aim c,f tliis institution is to fill i 1 the gap lietween the State School and Dookie, 

 i.e., to take students between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years. 



Fees. — Resident, £18 5s. per annum ; Non resident, £5 per annum. 



BURNLEY SCHOOL OF HORTICULTURE AND SMALL 



FARMING. 



The Course includes regular lectures in Agricultural and Horticultural Science, and 

 the Management of Animals ; Dairying, Pig and Poultry Management, and kindred 

 subjects. 



Fees — Permanent Students, £5 per annum ; Wednesday half-day Students, £1 

 per annum. 



On receipt of Post Card a Copy of the Prospectus of either College will be 

 forwarded by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Melbourne. 



