ON THE LAND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 May 1917, Page 3

ON THE LAND

ANSWERS TO CORRES.PO ND.'ENTS

(From the Journal of Agriculture)

COVERING GRASS-SEED

" NeAv Ohum," Kaipara :~ Kindly let me know the best way to cover grass-seed in hilly country—poor clay gum land. Would light harrows cover too deep, or rolling alone be better ? The greater part of the land can be rolled.

The Fields Division : —lf rolling can be carried out, the roller with brush harrow attached behind should cover the grass suffu-iently. Tine harrows would be inclined to bury the fine seed too deeply.

FORMS OF LIME. I\R,.K., Kaukapaicapa :—Please inform me whether the so called hydraulic lime is suitable for agricultural use. What is the difference i n chemical constituents between it and <l agricultural lime *' ? The Fields Division .-—Hydraulic lime is, chemically, hydrate of lime. It is produced by treating burnt liaie with a definite quantify of water. Like burnt lijie. it is caustic (burning). Seventy-four pounds of hydrate of lime is equal to 56tb of freshly burnt lime or iOOlb of ground limestone. All three forms are useful in agriculture, and as such are agricultural limes. Where you use I ton of burnt liuie you will require to use a little over 1-^- tons of hydrate of lime.

ORICKEIS' AND FRUIT TREES

8.. R.E., Waimauicu :—"Kindly inform me whether there is a cure for crickets attacking fruit trees. In some cases the trees are eaten right round. Is there any way of savingthe trees ?

The Horticulture Division :—Are you sure the injury has not been caused by hares or rabbits ? You might paint the trunks with a mixture of cow dung and sand, o*\ if it is really criokets that are doing the damage, cow-dung and clay will answer aa well. Orickets can be poisoned by arsenic mixed with boiled potato, or wiih grated raw potato or carrot.

WHITEWASH FOR FOWL-HOUSES

"Inquirer," Mosgiel : —Will' you kindly supply me with a formula for whitewash for fowl-huuses suitable for uao with a spray-pump. I find that lime blocks the nozzle, even when the wash has beeu strained.

The Live-stock Divison :— No formula of whitewash for fowl-houses which clops not include lime can be recommeuded. Any limewash mixture should be strained at least twice through a piece of scrim. While there are many different mixtures of whitewash used, the best and simplest, in our experience, is prepared as follows : Thorougly dissolve some bluest-one in boiling water—say a teacup to a bucket of water —and

mix the lime with this while hot, The blues tone will have the effect of making the mixture sticic, and if well strained, will ea&ily pass through an ordinary spray-pump.

WARTS ON" COW'S TEATS

R.H, New Lynn:—What do you advise as a cure for warts on cow's teats ?

The Live-stock Division :—The best treatment for warts on cow's teats is to nip them off with a pair of clean, sparp scissors when the animal is dry, touching the wounds with a stick of nitrate of silver (lunar caustic;. It is a good plan to look over the heifers and cows some time before they come in. One cannot do much when the animals are in profit. The following, however, might be tiled : Get your chemist to make up loz of salicylic acid 2 parts, zinc chloride I part, collodion 15 parts. Apply a little to the warts with a camel-hair brush after milking. See that the teat is dry.