582 Jounial of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Sept., 1912. 



SUGAR ]5EET. 



The phenomenal sugar beet rcx>l represented ujjon the opposite page was- 

 produced by a local syndicate of Maffra growers upon their land in the 

 Sale-road. The beet measured from the crown to the tip 48 inches, and is 

 properly shaped, that is, it is of the type desired in factory operations. 

 This shape of beet can only be secured by deep subsoiling. which is one 

 of the prime essentials in beet root cultivation. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDEiNTS. 



The Staff of the Depivtment has been or<jaiiized to a larsre extent for the purpose of jiiving information 

 to farmers. Question" in every branch of aiifriculture are gladly answered. Write a short letter, sfivinif as 

 full particulars as possible, of your local conditions, and state precisely what it is that you want to know. 

 Ail inquiries forwarded to the Editor imist be accompanied by the name and address of the ivriter. 

 This is very necessary, as sometinies insufficient information is furnished by the inquirer. 



Hand-rearing a Foal. — N.L.S. wishes to know what food to give to hand-rear 

 a foal? 



Anszver. — Give at blood heat g pints new milk (whole) six feeds daily. Sugar 

 may be added at the rate of a teaspoonful to a jMnt. When a month old give 

 3 quarts of milk in three feeds, gradually increase milk and decrease number of 

 feeds as foal gets older. At two months old work skim milk into ration, until at 

 four months old it is all skim milk, to which i lb. of linseed jelly, or boiled 

 oatmeal has been added. After this give i lb. oats for each month of age. 



Chestnut as a Shelter Tree. — F.C.B. asks if chestnut is a good shelter tree 

 suitable for Gippsland Lakes district? 



Answer. — A good shelter tree from the sun, being deciduous, is no shelter in 

 winter from weather. Would grow in district. 



Lucerne^ Proper Time for Sowing. — B. Bros, ask the best time to sow lucerne? 



Answer. — Best time of year to sow lucerne is either in autumn with a light cover 

 crop, such as half a bushel of oats, or in early spring, without any covering. If 

 district subject to heavy frosts, it can do without cover crop in autumn, but young 

 plants are very susceptible at early stages of growth to frosts. As to manures, if 

 soil deficient in lime a dressing of 3 to 5 cwt. per acre of lime a month before 

 seeding will be foimd advantageous. If no lime required, 70 lbs. suljihate of potash 

 and 100 lbs. mixed super and bone dust per acre applied a month before seeding 

 will be sufficient to give the crop a good start. 



Worms in Ykarlings. — P^armer wishes to know how many doses of liquor 

 arsenicalis prescribed for complaint must be given? 



Answer. — The length of time treatment with liquor arsenicalis should be con- 

 tinued is guided largely by the improvement shown by the animal. Generally 

 speaking, treatment may be discontinued when progressive improvement in appetite 

 and general condition are sliown. 



Destroying Ants' Nests. — J.G.V. asks how to destroy ants? 



Answer.- — The best remedy is to make a hole in the centre of the nest with a 

 stick and pour into it a cup of bisulphide of carbon. Soil should be immediately 

 thrown into the hole and stamped firmly down. This will destroy all ants and" 

 their larvae. 



Wood Lice or Slaters. — E.J.S. would like to know how to destroy same? 



Answer. — Boisoned parsnips, carrots, or beetroot. Cook in a solution of arsenic 

 and place in haunts of the wood lice, they will eat the poisoned material greedily 

 and be destroyed. Traps may be made by filling lo-inch flower pots with half-dry 

 horse droppings, and placed where insects are most numerous. Once a week turn 

 droppings into the fire and put fresh into pots. If this is persisted in, a riddance 

 will soon be made. Spraying cabbage, lettuce, or any other vegetable leaves, with 

 arsenate of lead in places frequented by wood lice will soon get rid of the pest. 

 The poisoned leaves must be kept out of the reach of cattle. 



Douglas Mixtiire. — E.W.H. would like the formula of Douglas mixture. 



Answer. — 100 drops sulphuric acid (poison) ; 2^ ozs. sulphate of iron ; 2 gallons- 

 of water. Thoroughly stir and after an hour's time stir again; then give birds to 

 drink without further diluting. Earthenware vessels should be used. Give to birds 

 one day each week. 



