8i2 Journal of Agriculture . [lo Dec, 1916. 



Dehorning Calves. — R.H.J, asks how to dehorn calves. 



Answer. — The best time to dehorn is before the calf is five days old. Clip the 

 hair from about the base of the horns, slightly moisten the end of a stick of caustic 

 potash, and rub the tip of each horn for about a quarter of a minute. This should 

 be done two to four times, at intervals of five minutes. If a little blood shows 

 at the centre of the horn, very slight further rubbing will be necessary. Care 

 should also be taken to rub the centre of the horn, and not the sides, and not 

 to have it too moist, for if it runs on to the skin a troublesome sore will result. 

 A piece of brown paper should be wrapped round the caustic to protect the fingers. 



Pig Lice. — M.B. states that he has about 100 pigs, mostly stores about four or 

 five months old, and that are all affected with some kind of lice or tick. The insect is 

 about half the size of a sheep tick and flatter in appearance. Some of the pigs 

 have been washed with phenyle, and apparently the treatment has killed the insects. 

 He further states that, as this method is slow and tedious, he has an idea of 

 constructing a small cheap wooden dip, and dipping the pigs similarly to the style 

 adopted for treating sheep. 



Answer. — The parasite affecting your pigs is the ordinary pig louse. Washing 

 with a solution of Washing Soda, and afterwards applying an oil with a brush, is 

 an effective way of destroying them. There is no reason why the dip you suggest 

 should not be tried, if care be exercised in its use. To free the pens thoroughly, 

 wash them with the washing soda solution, followed by a solution of some strong 

 antiseptic. 



Actinomycosis. — F.D.B. writes: — "About three months ago I noticed a slight 

 swelling immediately under the jaws of one of my cows. Within three weeks it 

 had increased to the size of a football. Whilst bathing it one morning it burst and 

 the putrid matter from it half filled a small bucket. I made a good gash with 

 the knife and kept on bathing it until the swelling had disappeared. Lately, 

 it seems to be rising on one side of the opening. The cow is in milk, looks in 

 perfect health, and feeds well. Is there any danger in using the milk or any 

 likelihood of the other cows becoming similarly affected?" 



Answer. — Your cow has evidently suffered from an attack of Actinomycosis. 

 There is no danger in using the milk, but if a second abscess forms and bursts 

 the contained material will be infective to other cows, or may get into the milk 

 and be harmful. 



P.\RTURIENT P.4RALYSIS. — J.R.M. states that one of his heifers calved last week 

 — her first calf, which was larger than usual, and was born dead. Since calving 

 the heifer has lost the use of her hind legs ; otherwise she is in good health. 



Answex. — Your cow is suffering from Parturient Paralysis. Give a drench com- 

 posed of Epsom salts, i lb. ; treacle, i lb. ; ground ginger, 5 oz. Apply a blister 

 to the loins and give daily the following drench : — Carbonate of ammonia, ^ oz- j 

 Tincture of Nux Vomica, i oz. ; in a quart of beer. 



Injured Quarter. — C.P. desires advice respecting treatment of a heifer whose 

 milk became slightly tinged with blood about a fortnight ago. The udder is 

 swollen and hard on the back (juarter. On the day of writing more blood than 

 milk came from the affected cjuarter. About the top of the teat, near the udder, 

 there appears to be something thick, like a clot of blood, in the passage. It 

 cannot, however, be moved. 



Answer. — Your heifer has received some injury to the quarter. Continue milk- 

 ing the quarter; bathe with warm water, dry, and rub well with camphorated oil. 

 The lump felt in the teat is a small muscle. Its function is to retain the milk, and, 

 being involved in the general inflammation, is now larger than it is naturally. 



Subterranean Clover {Trifolium subterraneum^ L). — H.J.S. inquires as to the 

 value of Subterranean Clover as a pasture plant. 



Answer. — Subterranean Clover is an annual, but on account of its heavy seeding 

 habits it can almost be regarded as a perennial. Once it is firmly established there 

 is no occasion for further seeding. It affords good feed, and also helps to 

 suppress annual weeds. Seed should be sown at the rate of 12 lbs. per acre in 

 well prepared land. Under normal conditions, provided a good seed bed is 

 established before sowing, the seed will germinate early in poor or rich soil ; 

 plants are often found growing well on dry sandy and gravelly soils. 



The Index of Vol. VIII. will be supplied with the first numtaep of 

 Vol. IX., viz., 10th January, 1911. 



