Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 1909. 



Impaction of the Omasum.— W.G. wishes to know what is the cure for 

 impaction of the omasum. 



Answer. — Impaction of the omasum is a condition which seldom, if ever, is 

 present in the cow. The normal condition of the organ is fairly dry and hard. 

 For the digestive troubles which follow he feeding with dry impactious foodstuffs 

 the administration of Epsom Salts i lb. in water 2 quarts, followed by powdered 

 Nux Vomica 2 dr.. Carbonate of Ammonia ^^ oz.. Ginger i oz., in water as a 

 drench twice a day is useful. 



Excessive Application of BluestOne. — M.W.M. states that about three 

 months ago a draught mare developed a lump on the fleshy part of the cheek. 

 Since breaking, he has daily applied Bluestone and after treatment matter re- 

 sembling clots nf blood comes away. 



Answer. — The continuous application of Bluestone is keeping the wound sore 

 and discharging — the substance is a caustic and so destroys the tissues. Washing 

 the sore daily with a i in 2,000 solution of Perchloride of Mercury and then 

 dusting dry Boracic Acid Powder on will be more useful. 



Injury to Jaw-bone. — J.B.F. writes : — " Three months ago a yearling 

 filly of mine got the side of its lip torn by a liook, which also chafed the bone. 

 The lip was stitched and the wound apparently healed, but a lump remains on 

 the bone, causing the side of lip to protrude. Would you recommend a blister?" 



Answer. — The swelling on the bone has been induced by the injury, and it 

 is doubtful if you will ever get it away completely, though in time it will become 

 greatly reduced. It would not be wise to apply a blister but absorption may be 

 stimulated by painting three times a week with a strong tincture of Iodine. 



Stamping and Biting of Fetlocks by Mare. — J.T.W. states that a mare 

 belonging to him is constantly stamping and biting her fetlocks. 



Answer. — Give i oz. of Epsom salts in her feed night and morning for about 

 2 weeks. Cleanse the parts thoroughly and rub well into the roots of the hair 

 daily a mi.xture of equal parts of Methylated Spirits and Castor Oil. 



Removal of Warts. — R.R. asks what is the best way to remove warts on 

 a cow's teats. 



Answer. — Large warts may be removed by tying a piece of waxed silk around 

 their base. In a few days they will drop off. Smaller ones may be painted with 

 Lunar Caustic, but as any treatment is liable to make the teats sore the cow should 

 not be treated until dry. 



Lump on Horse's Shoulder. — J.McP. asks what blister is recommended for 

 removing lumps on the shoulders of a horse. A lump, about the size of a hen's egg, 

 has formed on each shoulder, and when the horse is spelled the swelling goes down 

 somewhat, but the lumps can always be felt? 



Answer. — Red blister may be used if the horse can have a good spell after 

 applying it. Should the swelling increase, as the result of such blister, it will be 

 necessary to operate, which, in most cases, is the most satisfactory treatment, the 

 swelling being a small shoulder tumour, due to pinching or jarring by the collar. 



Cow Peas. — J.B. asks whether he could sow maize and cow peasi in the same 

 drill? 



Answer. — It is not desirable to sow maize and cow peas in the same drill. The 

 cow pea is a shrub, and not a vine, and hence would not climb up the maize stalk. 



Maize Silage. — J.B. finds thnt maize silage alone does not increase the flow of 

 milk to any extent, although it keeps the stock in good condition. 



Answer. — Maize silage alone does not contain a sufficient proportion of the 

 flesh forming constituents of food to increase the milk flow when fed by itself. The 

 additions necessary to supplement it may be made with lucerne hay, good oaten or 

 w'heaten hay chaff, bran, or crushed oats, or peas. 



Ploughing New Land. — M.S.R. inquires as to best plough to use for breaking 

 up hard ground for the first time. Disc ploughs are not much used in his district? 



Answer. — Disc ploughs are thoroughly suitable for the first ploughing of stiff 

 land. After lying in fallow for some months, the land should be reploughed with 

 an ordinary 2 or 3 furrow plough, and well worked down with roller, disc, and 

 harrows. 



Indentific.\tion of Plants. — V.W. forwards specimen of plant for identifi- 

 cation. 



Answer. — It is Meadow Festue [Festuca elatior, L.), a native of Europe, now 

 naturalized in this State. It is an admirable fodder grass for land that is not too 

 dry, and does well under irrigation. Its yield is good, though not quite so high 

 as for Timothy, Foxtail, or Rye grass. It is better suited for cattle and horses than 

 for sheep, for which the Sheep's Fescue [Festuca ovina, L.), is a better grass. 



