318 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1918. 



Orchards will benefit if an attack is now made upon the Codlin moth. 

 All hiding places, nooks, and crannies, where the larvae have hidden, 

 should be thoroughly searched and cleaned out. The orchardist has far 

 more time now to do this work than he will have in the spring time. 



General Work. 



Drainage systems should now be extended with as little loss of time 

 as possible. 



New planting areas should be prepared, and subsoiled or trenched 

 wherever possible. 



Vei^etable Garden. 



Weeds must be kept down in the vegetable garden. Weeds are 

 generally free growing at this season; their growth is very insidious, and 

 they will crowd out the young seedlings or plants in a very quick time. 

 Hoeing and hand weeding must be resorted to, preferably hoeing. The 

 frequent use of the hoe in winter time is of much benefit in the vegetable 

 garden. A varied assortment of crops is now being produced; and if 

 these can be kept growing much better crops will result. The soil 

 quickly stagnates in the winter, and the only way to prevent this is to 

 keep the surface stirred. Thus, a double service is performed with the 

 aid of the hoe. 



The application of lime is of great necessity at this season. In addi- 

 tion to amending unhealthy and unsuitable soil conditions, lime is par- 

 ticularly useful as an insecticide. It assists in destroying in immense 

 numbers both eggs and insects that would breed and live in the ground 

 ready to do damage to all classes of vegetable crops. Therefore, 

 wherever possible, the soil should receive an application of lime. The 

 garden should, as well, be manured with stable manure, but not for 

 some weeks after the lime application. 



Cabbage and cauliflower plants may be planted out; and seeds of 

 parsnips, carrots, onions, peas, and broad beans may be sown. 



Flower Garden. 



The whole flower section should now be thoroughly dug over. All 

 beds should be cleaned up, top-dressed with manure, and well dug. The 

 light rubbish, such as foliage, twiggy growths, weeds, &c., may all be 

 dug in, and they will thus form a useful addition to the soil. These 

 should never be wasted. Only the coarser and stouter growths should 

 be carted away for burning, and then the ashes may be used as manure. 

 No part, whatever, of garden rubbish or litter need be wasted. in one 

 form or another it should be replaced in the soil. 



May is a good month for establishing new gardens, and for planting 

 out. All deciduous plants and shrubs may now be planted. It is not 

 necessary to dig a deep hole for planting. A hole in which the roots 

 of the plant can be comfortably arranged, without crowding or cramp- 

 ing, will be quite sufl&cient for the purpose. 



