Notes and Queries?

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 46

Notes and Queries?

Questions for reply in the coming Issue of the Otago Witness must be received not later than SATURDAY Night. Questions will NOT be replied to through the post. Questions must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer, but a nom de plume may bo adopted for publication.

‘y. 8., Gisborne, wishes to know which are the six largest lakes in the South * Island. Lakes Te Anau (132 square . miles), Wakatipu (112), Ellesmere (107 A Wanaka (75), Manapouri (56), Hawea (40), Tekapo (32). Myosotis,” Queenstown, asks: “Where can I obtain a copy of the Tobacco Industry Committee's report presented in the House of Representatives last October, and what would be its probable cost? ” Government Printer, Wellington; price 9d, plus postage. Interested,” Taihape, asks: “(1) What is the union rate of wages for a dressmaker to receive who is 25 years old and who has had five -rears’ experience. (2) The wages of a dressmaker with two years’ experience?” (1) 12 4s per week. (2) £1 5s per week. 11. H. W., St. Andrews, writes: —“I have a stack of linseed straw. There is a certain amount of linseed left in the straw, also wild oat straw. Would it be harmful to cows if I were to feed it to them? They seem to like it better than hay.” “Agricola” replies: Provided the foodstuff is in good condition, that is, sound, free from mould, is fresh and sweet, the results will be satisfactory. Failing these qualities, the stuff may be productive of ill results solely from staleness, over-heating, bad keeping, etc. I think you can safely leave the choice of feed to the cows in the circumstances. “Musician,” Otekaieke, writes: “We have a pear tree about 10 years old which usually has some good pears on it. This ; season the crop was better than usual. The pears, however, have small black spots with a sort of bruise underneath. Any of this black spot or bruise is exceedingly bitter, but if peeled deep enough the pears are sweet. Could you let me know what spray to use or if it is merely seasonal? (2) Where can one obtain a xylophone and what would be the price?” (1) The trouble is due to the season experienced causing an excessive flow of sap and consequent growth, etc. Do not prune this year, and there is no need to spray for this particular pear--tree affection. _ (2) Messrs Charles Begg and Co., Princes street, Dunedin, stock the instruments at prices ranging from £4 to £25. Constant Reader,” Auckland, wishes to know: (1) The best way to paste a paper picture on to thick brown paper or cotton scrim to obviate wrinkles. (2) The best thing to do to keep small ants out of a cupboard. (1) Lay the picture face down on a flat surface, damp the back, and then cover with a good stiff paste. Place the picture on the brown paper and rub it smooth, seeing that there are no creases in it, working from the centre outwards. Cover with a clean piece of paper and put a weight on it to keep it flat until dry. (2) Ants may be poisoned with sweet food, grain, treacle syrup (mixed ■with arsenic), or by fly papers. When they invade the house they may be discouraged by carbolic powder, sulphur and turpentine, insect powder, or kerosene. Peru balsam smeared in a cupboard keeps ants away from same, or loz of the balsam boiled in Igal. of water used as a wash has a similar 1 effect. * Tarpaulin ” asks for a recipe for making non-sticky waterproof tarpaulin. The following method known as the paint method of waterproofing is the formula uSed in the British naval yards. Grind 121 b of English ochre with boiled oil, and add to it 21b of black paint. Dissolve 2oz of yellow soap, by means of heat, in a pint of water. While this is hot mix it with the paint and ochre. Have the whole mixture thoroughly well worked together, and it will be ready for use. It is to be applied to the dry tarpaulin as stiff as can conveniently be done with a brush. Two days later a secod cOat of black paint and ochre, etc., must be painted on. There is not to be any 1 soap mixed with this coat. Give this second coat time to dry, and finish with a coat of any coloured paint you like. Leave it for three day’s, and you will find it will not stick together when folded up. This method will give excellent results, even in making a new' covering. “ Top-dresser,” Otago, suggests that fertilisers, if used frequently, take the “ heart ” out of the land, and are responsible for some of the plant diseases. “Agricola” replies: The Rothamstead experiments, in which chemical fertilisers in due proportion have been used successfully year after year, dispose of .the first suggestion. Actually in practice the farmer does well to use fertilisers to supplant the meagre farmyard manure available, and so maintain a full supply of humus in the ground, as well as plant food. To suggest that chemical fertilisers induce unhealthy growth and susceptibility to fungus and other crop plant diseases is manifestly absurd. We hear more about plant diseases than our fathers did because scientists are beginning to understand their prevention and cure. The more that is known, the more particular farmers become about the health of their crops. To-day farmers want to grow full crops at minimum cost, and their best aid lies in chemical fertilisers which, one is thankful to note, have cheapened considerably in recent years, '“lnquirer,” Owaka, asks: “ (1) What is the volume of the flow of water measured in the following manner:—Space cut in top of weir 12in by 3in deep,.

Peg in weir 15in from overflow —top of pe” level with bottom of space cut for overflow* Depth of water on top of peg 3Jin. (2) What power would this amount of water develop with a fall ot 20ft? (3) With a fall of 2oft? (4) What would be the most efficient way of developing this power.” Mr rl. M. Davey, consulting engineer, replies: “ fn your inquiry you have omitted necessary’ information as to your conditions. (1) You have a weir into which you cut a gap 12in long by 3in deep. I can give you the tabulated quantity of water passing through that, up to its depth of 3in, which should be 2.09, or about 25 cubic feet per minute. But you give the depth as and oinit ’ the length of the weir, which obviously may be anything, so the quantity passing over cannot be given. (2) With 20 feet head, the pressure would be 8.61 b per square inch. (3) With 25 head, it would be 1011 b per square inch. (4) Not being told what von require the water power for, nor the levels of the property, no advice can be given, but the quantity is small, and if the power is not wanted continuously. perhaps storage could be had. “ Farmer,” Hakataramea, writes: “ I have a cow suffering with a thick, slimy, yellow matter which causes great pain while the coyv is being milked, and makes her kick. Could you tell me the name of the disease, and also a cure. The disease is very infectious. The cow was rid of it for a space of time, but it has come back to her. Apparently the cow is suffering from the disease known under the name of mammitis, a form of inflammation .othe udder, the cure of same being problematical. Unless recognised in the very early stages there is not much that can be done. The milk or fluid from the affected quarter should be drawn into a separate pail, and if not destroyed, at least boiled ere fed to the pigs, and the hands of the milker washed with soap and water containing some good disinfectant. Massage and then wash the udder externally with a 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid, and dry her off or turn out with a calf, and later fatten her off. If but a mild case of mammitis you might try the effects of fomenting the udder with hot water and hand rub two or three times a day with warm camphorated oil for 10 days. Draw the milk frequently, massage the vessel generously, and take good care of the cow, more particularly in regard to the cold weather. “Queries,” Canterbury, wishes to know: “ (1) The correct pronunciation of ‘ celanese,’ ‘ lingerie,’ ‘ Zonophone,’ the surname ‘ Chevalier,’ and ‘ La Cinquantaine, with its meaning. (2) Where may I buy a copy of ‘The Berg,’ a play featuring the wreck of the Titanic, and from which the British talking picture ‘Atlantic’was adapted? (3) What are the names of the British film producing companies? ” (1) Sellanese (accent on “ ese ”); “ lanjerie ” (accent on “lan”); Zo-no-fone (accent on “Zo ”);. Shev-al-lee-ay (accent on “al”); lar san-kon-taine (accent on “san”). This means “ the fifty,” or “ half a hundred.’’ (2) Copies of “ The Berg” may be seen at the Public Library, Dunedin, or obtained from any bookseller advertis-

ing in the Otago Witness, the price of a paper copy being 4s 6d, and in cloth 7s. (3) Archibald Nettleford Production; Associated Radio Pictures; Associated Sound Film Industries, Ltd.; Blattner Picture Corporations, Ltd.; British Dominions Film Corporation, Ltd; British Instructional Films, Ltd.; British International Pictures, Ltd.; British Film Corporation Ltd.; Burlington Films, Ltd.; Gainsborough Pictures, Ltd.;. Gaumont British Pictures; H. B. Parkinson Productions, Ltd.; Stoll Pictures Productions, Ltd.; Twickenham Film Productions, Ltd. “Potato Grower,” Southland, wishes to know how to counter the ravages of wireworms. -Several species of wireworms are abundant in New Zealand, but these differ only in minor characters. All are larvae of “ click-beetles.” Ordinarily’ they breed in grass land, the larvae feeding on the roots of grasses. Under such circumstances their presence is rarely noticed, because the ground is so filled with roots that their work does not attract attention. When such ground is broken up and used for potatoes or root crops the larvae have not the same abundant supply of food, and they quickly become a serious nienace to the crop. The larvae remain in the grub stage for two or three years, so that they are often abundant in soil that has been broken up only one or two years. Suitable crop rotation, autumn ploughing, and thorough cultivation are the only means 'of dealing with this pest. Wireworms do not attack clover or other related plants, and where fields are badly infested the growing of legume crops is. advised Theer are no suitable applications that can be made to the soil that will kill the larvae unless made so strong as to be injurious to plant life. Manuring, however, is often extremely beneficial, not for the purpose of killing the grubs, but to stimulate the growth of the crop so that it can resist and recover from an attack.

A. R. W., Timaru, asks: “ (1) Is Olearia Lyalli or Olearia Traillii suitable for cultivation in a dry summer district such as South Canterbury? Are these an upright growing kind, or are they’ spread out and rotund. If the above were not too open in habit they would be suitable for the purpose I fancy, as they would face the south against a 9ft galvanised iron fence. (2) Regarding the native beeches, Northofagus Cliffortiodes, N. Fusca, and Menzieii, to what height in cultivation do these grow, and are they more or less deciduous? I intend planting a specimen N. Fusca, but I note it is recorded for its autumn tints, and I take this to mean it is partly’ deciduous. (3) I

suppose any’ of the above trees would suit a 6ft border with southerly aspect, mainly planted with ribbonwood and akeake, etc., around 15ft high? If, of course, the above mentioned trees are liable to be too massive they would be unsuitable.” (1) These queries were submitted to Messrs Matheson and Roberts,. seedsmen. Octagon, Dunedin, who consider that Olearia Lyallii is well suited for growing in South Canterbury, also O. Traillii, but that the latter is too open a variety for shelter purposes. O. Lyalli grows upright for a space and then spreads, while O. Trailli is more of a shrubby nature and spreads earlier. (2) Up to 60ft or 70ft. Some of the New Zealand beeches retain their leaves, depending a good deal upon the climatic conditions experienced. (3) Yes, about 20ft in height.