420 Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1908. 



trough is 6 inches wide and 2 inches deep. Two 9-inch boards are placed 

 in the back of the rack and sloped so that the loose leaves keep coming to 

 the feed trough. The grain trough is 12 inches from the ground. 



A covering in the form of a skillion is necessary, with the eave pro- 

 jecting far enough out to allow rain water to drip free of the sheep when 

 feeding. A sheep to every 12 inches is the average allowed. 



The demand of late years for rams of the British breeds points to larger 

 numbers of suitable sheep for export fattening being soon available. There 

 will always be a large class of graziers on cold winter country who cannot 

 produce any other than a store lamb. Although this is country suitable 

 for rape and turnip growing in connexion with fallow and fertilizers, for a 

 great number of years yet there will be graziers with holdings too large to do 

 much with these crops on a large scale. 



As a wool-growing community principally, graziers have not had occasion 

 to give much consideration to encouraging the quick thriving abilities in 

 sheep that are now gradually coming into request. With hand-feeding 

 it will not pay to feed slow doers. There are breeds of sheep that direct 

 the principal part of the food eaten into wool ; these are not desirable 

 for a hand-feeder of export sheep, and again, to make hand-feeding most 

 successful, paddocks are necessary to bring on backward stores to forward 

 condition cheaply. There is not at present sufificient in the business to 

 allow of very poor sheep being hand-fed into fats, unless, of course, they 

 can be purchased at low rates, which will not always be possible. 



GARDEN NOTES. 



/. Croiun, Principal, ScJiool of Horticulture, Burnley. 



The Bamboo. 



Plants generally known as bamboos embrace several genera, including 

 Bamhusa, Arundinaria and FhyUostachys. With few exceptions they 

 are natives of India, Japan, China, and other parts of Eastern Asia; but a 

 few occur in tropical America, and the well known bamboo of most 

 Victorian gardens, the Danubian reed, Arundo donax, is a native of South 

 Europe. The latter has been planted in almost all districts and divisions 

 of the State, and although a moisture and shade-loving plant — as are all 

 ofhers of this class — the Arundo is often seen growing in large clumps or 

 patches under conditions totally different to those generally considered 

 necessary for its well-being. When well established it will endure fairly 

 rough conditions, and is a valuable shelter plant for poultry, in addition to 

 its picturesqueness ; the reeds or canes are also valuable as stakes or for 

 trellis making. This fairly common plant is worthy of much extended 

 culture, especially where moist and shady positions are abundant. 



The finer types of bamboos are not so easily grown as the Arundo, but 

 where suitable conditions prevail thev are fairly hardy and require little 

 attention when well established. Shelter from hot winds is the most 

 important factor in selecting sites for them, and sufficient water available 

 to insure moderate moisture in the soil during hot dry periods is of almost 

 equal importance. In many of the public gardens in Melbourne and 

 suburbs several kinds are found to thrive with a little care and attention 

 when first planted, the effect produced quite justifying the trouble taken 

 to establish them. Some kinds are erect in habit of growth and attain 

 a height of 15 to 20 feet, others are smaller, but far mare graceful in 

 appearance, while some are distinctly dwarf plants and suitable for plant- 

 ing in the smallest gardens. 



