REMIKDERS fOR flPRIk 



LIVE STOCK. 



Horses : — 



Those stabled should be fed liberally. Food of a more stimulating nature can now be given to 

 get them well over the " changing coat " season. Those doing fast or heavy work should be clipped ; 

 if not wholly, then trace high. The legs should not be clipped. Those not rugged on coming into 

 the stable at night sweating freely should be wiped dowii and in half-an-hour's time rugged or covered 

 with bags until the coat is dry. Weaned foals should have a little crushed oats daily, if available. 



Cattle :■ — 



As the nights become colder the dairy cows should be rugged. The rugs should be removed in 

 day-time when the shade temperature reaches 60 degi-ees. If new gi-ass is plentiful, give a ration of 

 hay or straw, whole or chaffed, to comiteraet the purging effects of young grass. Cows may now be 

 spayed. 



Pigs : — 



Sows not already served should be put to the boar. Supply all pigs with plenty of bedding, and 

 see that sties are warm and well ventilated. Supply sows liberally with grain. Castrate young boars. 



Sheep: — 



Where early lambs are being bred for local markets, transfer ewes and lambs to best pasture 

 as soon as dropped. Castrate ram lambs when a few days old ; defer tailing them until the ewe 

 lambs are ready. After first rain (when dust is settled) clear wool from the eyes of young merino 

 sheep; whilst yard d put weak weaners in hospital jiaddock, and any unprofitable woolled sheep 

 in fattening paddock. 



Poultry : — 



Do not feed much grain this month — soft food aids moult ; add a tea«poonful of linseed to each 

 bird's ration once daily. The more exercise the hens get the better they moult. Remove all male 

 birds from [)ens. Add Douglas mixture to drinking water. Keep a sh\rp look-out for chicken pox. 



CULTIVATION. 



Faum : — 



Dig ])otatoes as they mature. Cart out and spread stable manure. Pre})are and plough land 

 for main cereal crops. Sow Chou Moellier seed in beds for transjilanting. Sow the following mixture 

 per acre for green feed during the winter months for the dairy herd : — 1| bushels, New Zealand Black 

 Oats ; J bushel. Cape Barley ; \ bushel. Tick Beans ; A- bushel. Vetches. Sow Giant Drundiead 

 Cabbage for transplanting (1 lb. sufficient for I acre, in rows 3 feet apart) ; provided the soil is in good 

 friable condition, plants from seed sown last month should be jilanted out. Sow wheat and oats 

 according to locality ; also ra|)e for winter feed or green manuring. Prepare clean seed-bed for 

 lucerne; and sow Hunter Rivei-, Arabian, Turkestan, or Peruvian seed, free from dodder, in thills 

 7 inches ajjart and at the rate of 10 Ut.s. of seed per acre. Sow permanent pastures with grasies ai:d 

 clovers. 



Orchard : — 



Prejjare land for planting; ))lough decjjly and sub-soil plant legumes for green manure. Plant 

 out strawberries. Clean u]) Codlin Moth from trees as soon as all fruit is gatL..ed. 



Fl(jwer Garden: — 



Plant out evergreen shrubs, trees, and .Vustralian plants, divisions of herbaceous plants, seedlings, 

 Kvyers, and rooted cuttings. Fccil chiysantlicnuims with li(|iiitl manure weekly until (lowers begin to 

 open. Prepare land for future plantings of roses and shrubs. 



Vecetable (Jardex: — 



Plant out seedlings fron\ the seed beds. Dig all vacant spaces roughly. Sow onions for early 

 cro|i ; also peas and broad beans. Clean out asjiaragus l)eds wherever the seeds are ri|K'ning. 



Vinkyard : — 



\'intage operations occupy the greater part of .Vpril. See last months notes. 



Ccltnrs. — Cleanliness is emphatically urgiil. Carefully remove all fermentable refuse — skins. 

 If -!. skimmings, &c. Such odds and eiuls favour multiplication of vinegar Hies (DroDophilii fitinftri/i). 

 It present, destroy these with formalin or insecticide ]K)wder8. A little bisulphite or sulphurous acid 

 in washing water is recommendi-d ; also free use of lime on floors, &c. 



