498 "© QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 June, 1899. 
PREPARING BOTANICAL SPECIMENS FOR TRANSIT. 
Mr. F. M. Batiey, Government Botanist, gives the following directions for col- 
lecting botanical specimens, which haye to be sent by post for naming. It 
often happens that correspondents forward to him a flower or a few leaves, or 
some portion of a plant, which it is next to impossible for him to determine 
owing to the neglect of the sender to observe certain conditions which are here 
set forth:— 
A botanical specimen is such a portion of a plant as may enable a botanist 
to determine its name, &c. Thus, of a tree or shrub, a shoot, say 6 or 9 inches 
long, bearing leaves, flowers, and fruit, if possible, will be sufficient. Of herbs, 
when small, an entire plant should be sent, collected when in flower. Of herbs 
of a large size, a portion of the lower (radical) leaves, and also a portion of the 
top, in flower or seed. All specimens should represent the typical form—not 
an abnormal or irregular growth, except to show such growth. After gathering, 
place the specimen between sheets of paper (old newspaper), and put the whole 
under a slight pressure; these papers should be changed for dry sheets every 
day for 8 or 4 days, when, if the specimens are not of a succulent nature, they 
will be in a fit state to forward by post, the cost of which will be, 1d. for 
every 2 oz. from any part of the colony; or by parcel post, the cost of which is 
6d. for first Ib. and 3d. for each additional Ib. up to 11 Ib. Parcels should be 
marked ‘Botanical Specimens Only,” and addressed to the Colonial Botanist, 
Brisbane. Number specimens and retain duplicates. 
A CURE FOR TICKS IN CATTLE. 
Mr. D. F. Turnsurn, Martintown, Cairns district, writes to say that he has 
discovered a “wrinkle” worth knowing to keep cattle free from ticks. 
As it is important that every light’ should be thrown on the subject of cattle 
ticks, we print Mr. Turnbull’s letter. He says :— 
_ “Of a few cows I have, one in particular seemed such a favourite of the 
ticks that I got tired of trying to keep her clean. She was down to skin and 
bone, when a neighbour, happening to see her, said she could not live above 3 
days. Shortly after this, I thought of saltpetre and its effect on dead beef. I 
decided to try it on the cow. 
“T ocround a bit the size of two peas, with a little salt, and gave her this 
amount daily for 3 days, when half of the ticks disappeared. I then reduced 
the amount to one-half for the next 3 days, when I could count on my fingers 
the remaining ticks. After this, I gave her a bit—and still do so—the size of 
a pea twice a week, which keeps her in a thoroughly clean condition. 
“Of course the cow put on flesh quickly, and was nearly fat in 6 weeks 
after the treatment began ” 
{This remedy, we may sav, is not new. A Frenchman was travelling the 
colonies some time ago, who affirmed that he could cure ticks by the use of salt- 
petre. Mr. P. R. Gordon says that the matter was gone into by Sir-Horace Tozer, 
and quantities of saltpetre were tried on cattle without the slightest effect. 
The presumption is that the cow above mentioned was just about getting clear 
of the ticks when the remedy was tried with such a satisfactory result. Mr. J. 
Irving, M.R.C., V.S., concurs in Mr. Gordon’s opinion.—Ed. Q.4.J.] 
GRAFTING TOMATOES ON TO POTATOES. 
Tue United States Government at the experiment stations has succeeded in 
grafting the tomato top on to the potato root, and strange as it may seem the 
growing of a crop of tomatoes does not seem to interfere with the growth of 
the potato, and we have no doubt that it will become common some time by this 
means to grow the finest tomatoes and potatoes both from the same plant.— 
ELachange. 
