lo Sept., 1909.] Atiszvers to Correspondents. 607 



Lucerne Sowing. — J.F.A. asks Mhich is the best time to sow lucerne seed. 

 Answer. — In most districts lucerne succeeds best if sown in the autumn — ■ 

 about April or May. Eight to twelve pounds of seed are required per acre — the 

 lighter amount if drilled. Sow i cwt. superphosphate per acre with seed. 



Carrying Capacity of Lucerne. — S.P.T. wishes to know the carrying capa- 

 city per acre of lucerne when cut for hay, where 6 or 7 cuttings, each at least 

 2 feet in height, can be obtained per year. He also asks whether lucerne hay 

 by itself is a complete food for dairy cattle. 



Ansiver. — The carrying capacity per acre of lucerne under the conditions 

 stated is 8 or lo cows. Lucerne is an extravagant food by itself, but a ratijii 

 along with natural pasture is excellent. 



Bloat or Hoven. — R.G.P. inquires whether stock are liable to bloat when 

 turned into a paddock of alsike and cow grass. 



Answer. — i. Animals are liable to suffer from bloat or hoven on either cow- 

 grass or alsike, particularly if turned into the crop when hungry or after rain or 

 heavy dew. You will recpiire to take the same precautions as in the case of rape 

 feeding. 



2. Horses may become affected with hoven in the same wav as cattle or 

 sheep, though they are not so subject to it It is not wise, however, to take 

 liberties with them on this account. Thev should not be turned straight into the 

 crop but should be worked on to it gradually, as in the case of other stock. 



Price of Jersey Bull. — S.P.T. asks what would be a fair price to pay for 

 a jiure bred Jersey bull. Also asks what number of cows should be mated with 

 a bul! in one year. 



Answer. — (i) Depends so much upon strain, &c., £2^ to £t,o is an approxi- 

 mate average. (2) 50 to 60 cows. 



Harness Dressing. — R.S.M. asks for fiormala for preparing a home-made 

 dressing for farm harness. 



Answer. — Neatsfoot oil, i lb. ; beef tallow, i lb. ; lamp black, i^ ozs. 



Broody Hens. — D.J.H. inquires whether there is any way to make hens 

 become broody. 



Answer. — -Much depends on the breed. The Mediterranean breeds — Leghorns, 

 Minorcas, Andalusians, Spanish — are non-sitters. If the eggs are allowed to remain 

 in the nest the hen usually goes broody much earlier than when they are gathered 

 daily. Nothing you can give the hen will force broodiness. It is suggested 

 that you go in for an incubator. 



Destroying CtRasshoppers. — S.N. A. aisks how to deal with grasshoppers. He 

 has destroyed a good many by means of shallow pans of water with kerosene 

 floating on same ; he has also laid bran and arsenic, as recommended by the 

 Government Entomologist, but this preparation was not taken freely. 



Answer. — Should there be a plentiful supply of green food the bran and 

 arsenic preparation is not readily taken by the hoppers, but green food being 

 scarce the latter method has never vet failed Mr. French, and the insects are 

 killed in a wholesale manner. Belts of the common castor oil plant (fenced off from 

 stock) are an advantage, and should always be grown in grasshopper country. 

 This plant will grow almost aaywhere, and is one of the quickest growing and 

 hardiest. Droves of turkeys, over 6 weeks old, are effective and highly remunera- 

 tive, but if foxes are about they should be housed at night and tended by day. 

 These chicks will clear large areas of hoppers and crickets in a very short space 

 of time. 



PoTA.ssic Manures. — J.C. asks which is the best manure to use — sulphate of 

 potash or muriate of potash. 



Ansrver. — Su'^phate of potash is better for vegetables, sugar beet, potatoes and 

 tobacco. Muriate of potash may be used for all other crops. Potassic manures 

 may be mixed with other fertilizers at any time without danger, but if mixed 

 with lime or Thomas phosphate the mixing should be done just prior to use. 



Sulphuring Fruit.— R.G. inquires as to best method of sulphuring small 

 quantities of fruit. 



A.nswer. — A simple and inexpensive wa}- of sulphuring small quantities of 

 fruit is to take a draper's case or a large box of anv kind, and place the fruit 

 on a tray or anything on which it can be kept from the ground and above the 

 vessel described below. Dig a shallow hole in the ground and put a vessel — an 

 old frving-pan or billy-can — in the hole with a few live embers in it, then throw 

 a handful of sulphur on the embers and turn the box over so as to confine the 

 fumes as the}- rise. Pears require about 10 minutes, ap[)les a little less, peaches 

 10 minutes, and almonds, in order to brighten the colour, mav be treated for 

 half-an-hour without injury. Flowers of sulphur are preferable as thev are less 

 pungent in their effect. Over-sulphuring is bad. 



