1 Mar., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 221 
Answers to Correspondents. 
SOFT-SHELLED EGGS. 
Hen-wire, Nambour— 
Question.—Several of my hens—the common barn-door fowls—have 
lately taken to laying eggs with soft shells. Can you tell me the 
cause ? 
Answer. —You are probably feeding them too liberally. Give less food 
and make them work for it, as recommended in this issue. Feed 
them on wheat instead of corn. Corn is too fattening. If you 
don’t mind a little trouble, give them half-a-teaspoonful of Epsom 
salts, dissolved in hot water, twice or three times in ten days. Let 
them have access to grit of some kind. Pounded glass is good if 
you have nothing else. 
LIME PRESERVATIVE FOR EGGS, 
C.A.F.L., Calvert— 
Question.—How much lime per gallon of water must be used in making 
a lime solution for preserving eggs ? 
Answer.—Four pounds of unslacked lime to 8 gallons of boiling water. 
Stir the mixture well. Let it stand for two days, then pour the 
clear lime water into the egg vessel. Keep it weil covered from the 
air in acool place. Examine the eggs before you put them away, 
and reject any cracked or stale ones. You may add 1 Ib. of salt to 
the solution, but this is not necessary. If the fresh eggs float, 
reduce the strength of the mixture by adding cold water to it. 
H. C., Clifton— 
Question 1.—What is the best depth to plough to get rid of couch grass P 
Answer 1.—It all depends upon the nature of the soil On sandy loam 
where it has got a good hold, the remedy is to plough, harrow, and 
fork-off again and again in dry weather. On black or brown soil 
choose dry weather and plough to a depth of 3 inches or deeper if 
the roots have got down in well-worked land. Leave the upturned 
roots to wilt in the sun. A good plan is to sow a crop of oats, and 
when the stubble is ploughed the couch will easily come away before 
the harrow. 
Question 2.—How many pounds of Paspalum dilatatwm seeds are required 
to sow an acre ? 
Answer 2.—We would not advise sowing the seed either broadcast or in 
drills, as so much Paspalum seed is unreliable. Get 1 lb. or so, 
and raise the plants. Plant these out in damp weather. You can 
soon divide them again, and put out the divided plants. In this way 
you are sure of soon getting a large area. ’ 
Question 3.—What are the best wheats to grow for hay on light-brown 
soil ? 
Answer 3.—Any good wheat with plenty of flag. Belatourka has been 
grown over 7 feet in height at Lord John Swamp, near Warwick. 
Some of Farrar’s hybrids have a dense flag. Hither sow a beardless 
variety such as Budd’s Early or Steinwedel, or, if sowing a long- 
bearded sort, cut it just before it is in the ear, the beard being 
harmful to stock. It is, however, a matter difficult to advise on; so 
much depends on soil, climate, &c. An old experienced farmer 
says: ‘Sow any flaggy wheat for hay.” 
