REIVSmOERS FOR SEPTEMBEH. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Horses : — 



Still continue to feed stabled horses well ; feed green-stuff if available. Continue rugging to 

 encourage the shedding of the coat ; good grooming will also be beneficial. Continue giving hay or 

 straw to grass-fed working horses. Feed old and badly-conditioned horses liberally. 

 Cattle : — 



Cows should still be rugged, but coverings should be removed frequently, in order to enable 

 the animal to get rid of the old coat ; or, better still, a good curry-combing may be given. Continue 

 hay or straw. Give calves a good warm dry shed. (Jive the milk to young calves at blood heat. 



Pigs : — 



Supply plenty of bedding in warm well-ventilated styes. Keep styes clean and dry, and feeding 

 troughs clean and wholesome. Sows may now be turned into grass run. 

 Sheep : — 



Prepare for she:iring. Clean yards to minimize dust ; also remove all straAV, chaff, &c., from 

 sheds and wool bins. For superior wools, procure sj)etial packs ; for ordinary wools, the usual kind 

 will do. Clean all excessively " daggy " sheep before bringing them on to the shearing board. 

 Poultry : — 



September is one of the best for hatching. Incubators should be kept going, and broody hens 

 set. Care must be taken to kee]) down vermin, as they now breed quickly ; use sprays in houses and 

 Insectibane or Pe.stend in nests — nothing stunts chickens quicker than vermin. The food for 

 young chicks should be tine oatmeal, stale bread crumbs, a little calcined (dry) bone, and a pinch of 

 powdered charcoal. Sliglitly moisten with skim milk, and add very finely jiulped raw onion. Make 

 the whole fi-iable, and feed frequently ('" little and often ") just as much as they will readily eat, as an 

 excess of food only sours and disturbs their digestive organs. Do not feed animal food yet. Skim 

 milk is safer, and answers same purpose. Keep chicken's feet dry — wet grass causes a chill ; and 

 once the birds are chilled, trouble may be expected. 



CULTIVATION. 



Farm : — 



Plant early potatoes, and work up fallow for the main crop. Keep fallow for summer forage 

 crops well worked up with the disc and harrows. Make early sowings of mangolds, beet, tield carrots, 

 and turnips. Push on witli the fallowing in the Northern Districts. Prcjjare land for tobacco seed 

 beds by burning rubljish on tlie site ; afterwards work up to depth of three or four inclies. 



Orchard : — 



Commence spring plougliiug ; plough in leguminous crops for green manure as soon as the plants 

 are in full flower. Finisli grafting early in the month. Spray peach and aju-icot trees with Bordeaux 

 mixture as the blossom buds are opening, as a preventive against "leaf curl" and "shot hole" 

 fungi ; watch for peach aphis, and spray when present with tobacco solution. 

 Flower Garden : — 



Cultivate and work up the surface to a fine tilth — clear out all weeds. Water newly planted 

 shrubs, &c., if the weather is dry. Plant out cannas, early dahlias, chrysanthemums, gladioli, and 

 other herbaceous plants. 



Vf;GETABLE GaRDEN : 



Plant out seedlings. Sow seeds for summer use, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, marrows, immpkins, 

 melons, &c. Plant out tomatoes and shelter till frosts are over. Hoe and work u]) the soil siuface. 

 \'iN kyard : — 



Plantation of young vines (gnfted or ungraftcd) should be concluded before ilie comnuMu-ement 

 of ScptcmlxT ; i)iuning of old vines likewise. Prune vines rccenfly i>lanted just hefoi-e buds comnu-nce 

 to swell (if not jiruned when planted), cuttini; strongest cane liack to two buds. Do uot delay this work 

 until buds have slwt, as fliis seriously weakens tlie young vine. Towards end of niontli. Held iir'ttiui,' 

 may be commenced, if weather lie tine and warm. If cold and wet, post])one initil Oetoher. Swab 

 witlv acid iron sulphate vines which sliowed signs of BLvck Spot last season. To avoid burning, this 

 must be completed lufore the buds commei\ce to swell. 



Cellar .•— 



Conclude spring racking early in month, if not already done. Fill up, regularly, iill unfortified 

 wines. 



