^:40 Mar.. 1911-] Orcliard and Garden Aotcs. 



French draught horses are very good, the Government having done a 



..great deal towards their improvement during the past half century. They 

 are of the Percheron breed and especially suitable for vineyard work. Some 

 idea of this compact, active, light draught horse, will be gained from the 

 snap shot reproduced, which represents a good ordinary animal and not 

 a prize taker. 



Notwithstanding the quality and suitability of these horses, mules are 

 verv generally preferred for vineyard work. They do more work and 



■ consume less feed than a horse and can be worked for a longer time 

 without a spell. They are also said to damage the vines less. 



On some of the best managed large estates in the region, mules are 



.■exclusively used for all vineyard work. Our photograph shows a team in 

 use at Verchant estate which was worth over ;^2 5o. I was much struck 



:by these fine animals, usually from 16 to 17 hands high, and was led to 

 form quite a different opinion of the much abused mule. These animals 

 are not locally bred, but come usually from Poitou, a district where mule 

 breeding is made a specialty of and where they often command a price 



•.-of from j£']o to ;!^8o. 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. E. Pcscoit, Principal, School of Horticulture, Burnley. 



The Orchard. 



It is to be feared that the al)normal weather conditions, the cold tem- 

 peratures and the wet days, will somewhat interfere with fruit trees and 



.-orchard results this season. It will be \ery interesting to note exactly 

 what the effect of this unusual weather will be. It is hardly within the 

 recollection of growers that similar weather has e\"er occurred at this time 



>of the year. A large quantity of fruit, particularly any late stone fruits, 

 will be spoiled by the excessive wet ; while some mid-season apples and 

 pears will also suffer. Already one effect is noticeable — the blossoming 

 of occasional fruit spurs. Wherever this occurs the blossom should be 

 picked off ; no good will result from allowing the fruit to set. The fruit 

 itself would not ripen, being so late, and the regularity of action of the 

 tree will be much interfered with. 



Planting. 



Where new areas are being prepared in anticipation of planting out in 

 the autumn and winter, these rains will be of immense benefit. Ploughing 

 will be greatly accelerated ; and, if the land has been already ploughed, 

 the subsoil will receive an excellent soaking. 



In preparing land for planting out, and this should be commenced 

 right away, so as to allow the soil to sweeten, it should be subsoiled, so as 

 to produce good results in after years. Subsoiling will add to the age and 

 vigour of the trees, it will materially increase the crop, and it will con- 

 sirlerably les.sen the expense of fertilizers. Reference has previously been 

 maile in these notes to the success attained from growing fruit trees in sub- 

 soiled land ; bill ihi; fact may be again jKiinted out that many growers in 

 ^'ictoria an- to day rea[)ing the l)enelit of increased ctojis without artificial 

 feeding, where the soil was subsoiled before phmting. Drainage is an- 

 •lOther most imi)ortant facfr in sncrcssful fruit culturr ; but whil«^ perhaps 



