RURAL MATTERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9085, 9 May 1908, Page 5

RURAL MATTERS.

THtf BOT-FLY.

The previous references made' ffi tho "Age" to the ravages of the bdtity and the suggested palliatives and ♦.''ures have caused some discussion farmers ana others interested particularly in horses. Prom tbt' remarks passed by a local farmer, with a reputation for veterinary know ledge of a practical and valuable cba racter, it seems that in the recipe gi en by a Home farmer to administer raw linseed oil to the horse after the grub had been given a surfeit of n«w >nilk when the horse had previously heen starved down, the quantity of oil suggested was exclusively great, and would probably result im the death of the animal. Ihe remedy suggested two quarts as a dose, whereas the medicinal dose for a horse is one pint. Four times this quantity would therefore obviously be too much, and probably the medicinal dose; was; whau really was meant. The gentleman who supplied the recipe did- no* remember exactly what quantity of oil would be right, but suggested two* quarts.The opinion of aii scientific authority, givem tfo. the reporter, yesterday, was' that there is- absolutely no known remedy, whatever for the fly. He said,. "licouldi compound a mixture now, with no- viisrtue whatever, and go round and' sell* iit to farmers and get testimonials' by the thousand. I coulß say to ai hwseowner, "give to your hwse in the spring and see how it will bring the bot-grub away,."'and) away the bots would come,, too,, but not because of the medicine but because nature brings themi away at that season. As for the clearing out of bots ly giving them a surfeit oi milk anu dosing the horse.' with oil after-' wards, I fail to* see; how.' this is to be accomplished.. The grub hangs to the walls of the stomach by sharp, hook-like members, and its head is buried in the villous membrane, the grub existing on blood, not ou the food given the animal at all. It is therefore unlikely that it will :©- lease its hold to imbibe milk." This authority was emphatic ire the opinion that remedies and palliatives weie alike utterly usnlbssU MR W. H. HOICK'S DIP. The past dipping season was the first during which Mr W. H. Buick used his new table tip, and he expresses very great satisfaction with its working, "it has made dipping a pleasure," said Mr Buick, "and a infinitely preferable to the Orthodox race dip. I have effected several minor alterations and; improvement l- , principally to the apparatus for capsizing the table, which n«»w works with the greatest ease when crowded. with sheep. I found it also necessary to put a gate across the race to keep the sheep a sufficient length of time in the mixture, and now the dip runs with beautifuJ smoothness. "The last lot of sheep I put through were for Mr C. H. Smith—a mob cf 1,200 2-tooths 'I riese we put through

at the rate of 330 per hour, allow i. g each lot about < •ui'-"tf \v. t"h«» Mr Buick has shown' the- dip at wor'< to a n \ > - r • i» anxious to see for themselves-its good points. The unanimous opinion is that it is a loner wmv in advnnce of the race dip, and is a progressive idea which will, no doubt, come into mora general use than at present. WINTER FEED;. Winter oats are being sown in fairly extensive areas on the Upper Opaki and neighbouring localities. Mr A. Matthews has about 47 acres ploughed, which will be sown next week. Mr P. W. Gaskin has a considerable area of Algerians in and up several inches, and looking particularly well. Mr C. F. Wilton ha* his teamaa out, and will be putting in twenty or thirty acres. At Matahiwi fifty acres were put in about a fortnight ago. At this station a larger area by some ninety acres will be sown in the spring than was the case last year.

Mr W. H. Rummer's winter oat area is about twenty acrea. Mr W. H. Buick has. about thirty acres already 7in or Bin high. This farmer's sheep are looking m very fine condition, and show little sign of having gone through the severe season just experienced.