384 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 June, 1918. 



Sheep. — Go carefully through all breeding flocks on conclusion of lambing. 

 Eeserve all best-framed and profitable-fleeced ewes. Ear mark all found unde- 

 sirable to breed from, and dispose of any that may be fat before prices recede 

 in the spring. Use a neat mark for ear-marking, not the " slash," " top off," 

 and other oversized unsightly marks. Discard all undersized, narrow-framed 

 ewes, any with short yellow fleeces, those with thin locky staple, any with 

 very fine, light, and wasty fleeces, ewes with " bottle " udders, single teats, 

 undershot, overshot, or otherwise deformed mouths, ewes six years old and 

 over. Draw teeth of aged ewes altogether, if showing open and signs of feed 

 slipping through. Consider well before selling any early born, good-fleeced ewe 

 lambs this coming season. Select best rams for future service; remember, wide, 

 thick sheep are best thrivers, but they must carry good fleeces as well. Keep 

 all ewes well crutched and the udders and eyes well cleared of wool previous to 

 lambing. Give lambing flocks good attention. 



Poultry. — Mating of birds intended for breeding purposes should receive im- 

 mediate attention. Eight second-season Leghorns or any other light breeds, or six 

 of the heavier birds, such as Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, and Wyandottes (pre- 

 ferably in their second year), with a vigorous unrelated cockerel will be found 

 satisfactory. Table bird's bred in March or April will pay handsomely prior to 

 the Cup Carnival. A tonic in drinking water as a preventive against chicken pox 

 and other ailments is advantageous. 



Vineyard.— Proceed with pruning, burning off, and ploughing. Where 

 Anthracnose (black spot) has been prcA'alent special care must be taken in 

 burning off to leave no afl'ected twigs on the ground. A double application of the 

 pcid iron sulphate swab (or spray) is advisalile on vines which were badly affected; 

 the first should be given at end of July or first week in August; the second, just 

 before the buds burst. Complete, as early as possible, the application of manures 

 if not already done. Mark out land for new plantations. If ground is in good 

 order and not too wet, proceed with plantation of young vines (unpruncd). 

 Remove cuttings or scions from vines previously jnarked, and keep fresli by 

 bur.ying horizontally in almost dry sand in cool, sheltered place. Permanently 

 stake or trellis last year's plantations. 



Cellars. — Rack all young wines, whether previously racked or not. Rack 

 older wines also. For this work choose, as much as possible, fine weather and 

 high liarometer. Fill up regularly all unfortified wines. This is a good time for 

 bottlins" wine. 



CULTIVATION. 



Farm. — Finish sowing barley, peas and beans, and late white oats in backward 

 districts. Trim hedges. Fallow for potatoes, maize, and other summer crops; 

 in early districts, plant potatoes. Graze off early crops where possible. 



Orchard. — Continue to plant deciduous fruit trees, bush fruits, and straw- 

 berries. Continue cultivating and pruning. Spray for mites, aphides, and scales. 



Flower Garden. — Plant shrubs, climbers, and permanent plants, including 

 roses; also annuals and herbaceous perennials, early Gladioli, Liliums, Iris, and 

 similar plants. Continue digging, manuring, trenching, and liming. 



Vegetable Garden. — Plant out seedlings. Sow seeds of carrots, parsnips, 

 cauliflowers, onions, peas, broad beans, and tomatoes. Dig all vacant plots. 



