Journal of Agriculture . [n April, 1910. 



Tree Llterne. — S.Y. writes: — "Please inform me as to the proper time to 

 sow Tree Lucerne {Medicago arborea). I wish to plant 2 or 3 acres with it to use 

 for cattle feed when the snow is on the ground. Last year I put in about 1,000 

 plants, but now find I have got Tagasasir, a shelter tree, and not the fodder plant 

 I required." 



AnsTvrr. — The seed, which is best soaked before planting, can be planted 

 at any time the soil is moist and warm, preferably in autumn, but spring planting 

 is also good if not delayed too long. Hoeing to keep down weeds and to keep 

 the soil loose is the only treatment necessary. Seed can be purchased for 3s. 

 per lb. 



_ Plants i-OR Identification.— L.T.R. forwards three specimens of weeds for 

 identification. He states that he has had 300 crossbred ewes in a loo-acre paddock 

 for over two months. During the three weeks previous to writing they have been 

 feeding on a "spring," about 2 acres, where twelve have died. He thinks the plants 

 forwarded are the cause. 



Answer. — Thev are as follow : — (i) Isotoma fltiviatilis, F.v.AL (2) Hyperi- 

 cum jafonicnm^ Thunb. (3) Dichondra re-pens, R. and G. Forster. All are native 

 plants. No. i is the only one known to have poisonous properties. It belongs 

 to the Lobeliacea, and all species of this order contain a sharp burning or even 

 narcotic milky sap, which, taken internally in excess, causes inflammation of the 

 alimentary canal and even death. An allied species, 7. longifora, is deadly to 

 horses in South America, large doses producing death and small ones violent 

 purging, very small doses merely acting as a tonic stimulant. I. iiitviaiilis is less 

 poisonous, but is not a plant to encourage on pasture land. The plant should be 

 hoed up or pulled up after rain, before seeding, and stock should be kept from 

 land where it is abundant, esj)eciallv if other feed is scarce. Drainage and liming 

 appear to aid in suppressing it. 



Sorrel. — C.J. asks how to eradicate sorrel. 



Answer. — The growth of sorrel indicates poor land. Good dressings of lime, 

 or of manures like basic slag containing lime, help to keep it down. The free use 

 of the hoe is advised in ground which cannot be cultivated. 



French Beans. — J.A.F. requests information relative to bean culture. During 

 the past season much of his seed did not germinate. The .soil is a rather still greyish 

 loam and inclined to be clocMy, re(|uiring a good deal of working to get it into a fine 

 condition. He has no water for irrigation, but depends on dry culture, scarifying, 

 &c. 



Answer. — The Canadian Wonder is the best variety of French bean \ou can 

 grow. Have the soil well and deeply dug, and before digging give it a good dressing 

 of lime in the autumn. When preparing it for sowing, dig in deeply some well 

 Totteil stable manure. Make the first sowing of seed in September when all danger 

 from frosts has gone, planting the seed no deeper than two inches. Sow the seed 

 in double rows a few inches ajuirt, and keep the rows at least two feet apart, so that 

 you can cultivate frequently. 



" ViN Ordinaire" Varieties of Grapes. ^ — H.B. (Ruby) asks where he could 

 obtain rooted cuttings of " Vin ordinaire " varieties. 



Answer. — The main varieties grown for " Vin ordinaire " in Southern France 

 are Aramon and Carignane. These vines are only suited to the warmer regions 

 of the State. Ruby is too cool for them. Other sorts would give better results 

 there, especially the Gamay. Unfortunately, this sort is not obtainable in quantity 

 in Victoria as yet. Ruby, being a clean district, cuttings or rooted vines cannot 

 be sent to it from Rutherglen. 



Analysis of Water. — H.B. asks where he coidrl get water from a well 

 analyzed. He desires to know whether it is suitable for stock and for irrigation. 



Answer. — Forward a quart of the water in a clean bottle to the Government 

 Analyst, Public Offices, Melbourne. The fee is los. 6d. per sample. 



Potatoes Attacked by White Ants. — D.P. forwards some specimens of 

 potatoes which he thinks have been attacked by white ants. They were grown 

 near an old stump. 



Ans7ver. — It is a common thing for potatoes to be attacked by while ants 

 when planted in newly cleared forest land. Injury is also done by them in 

 passion fruit gardens where they attack the vines. These insects are generally 

 found in places where trees, stumps, and log fences have been removed. When 

 clearing land, all parts of the stump and its roots should be removed, as they 

 harbour the ants. Remove the timber and the\ will soon disappear. When a 



small area, such as the site of a stiunp, is affected, it could be treated with carbon 

 bi-sul]ihide — 3 oz. jier sfpiare var<l. 



