448 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. | 10 Ji'ly, 1919. 



new milk for a fortnight, and then gradually substituting the milk with one of 

 the calf meals on the niurket. To these it would be advisable to add two or 

 three tablespoonfuls of cod liver oil. The following meal is in general use in 

 Ireland: — Two parts, by weight, of oatmeal, 2 parts mai/e meal, 1 part pure 

 ground linseed, all finely ground. Scald with boiling wat«r, and allow to stand 

 for twelve hours. Start with new milk, then gradually substitute skim and 

 i lb. daily of the meal mixture per head per day, gradually increasing to 1 lb. 

 or more. In a month milk may be dispensed with altogether. The crushed 

 oats, fed dry, have been found to give excellent results. 



Pigs. — Supply plenty of bedding in warm well-ventilated sties. Keep sties 

 clean and dr>', and feeding troughs clean and wholesome. Sows may now be 

 turne<l into grass run. If pigs are lousy dress with kei'osene emulsion or 

 sulphur and lard. rul)bing well into crevices of skin, and disinfect sties. 

 Crushed wheat from Wlieat Board is the cheapest food available now. Worms 

 are very prevalent at ]>resent, and may be treated by giving 2 to 10 grains of 

 Santonin in form of pill, or from half to one teaspoonful of oil of turpentine 

 in milk or castor oil. 



Sheep. — Decide on the breed and number of ewes and rams required for the 

 comirig season. Place orders as soon as possible. Breeders can then give better 

 satisfaction, and allot preference to the earlier ap])lications. The result of mating 

 should be given most careful consideration from a wool point of view. Evidence 

 points to an extreme shortage of good merino and fine cross-bred wool for years 

 to come. At the same time, a steadily increasing demand has set in for materials 

 manufactured from these finer grades. The world's civilian requirements must 

 be met, and for flannels and finer materials for temperate and cold climates these 

 are indispensable. After all coarse wools have a limited use. Cull stud ewes 

 carefully, especially merinoes, consider form as well as evenness of covering and 

 style of wool. Discard for thin fribby forearms, for coarse common thighs, for 

 mushy wasty undercovering, inferior patches across the shoulders, common and 

 short between the hip bones. Individual merit must be considered first, pedigree 

 alone is not sufficient. 



Poultry. — Yards should be turned ove^ with a spade or fork, and sown down 

 with rape or barley. Keep the breeders busy — straw litter with a little grain 

 scattered about will make them exercise. Overhaul incubators; see that 

 the capsule of thermostat acts properly; thorous^hly clean lamps, egg drawers, 

 and chimneys. Test machine for two days before putting eggs in. It is also 

 advisable to have thermometer tested. When additional incubators are required, 

 it is more satisfactory to keep to the one make. 



Cultivation. 



Farm. — Second fallow where necessary for summer crops. If required, roll or 

 harrow crops. Plant very early potatoes in forward districts. Sow mangolds. 

 Apply slow-acting fertilizers, such as blood and bone manures, for maize. 



Orchard. — Complete planting and pruning of deciduous trees. Watch for 

 peach aphis, and spray with tobacco solution, if present. Prepare for planting 

 citrus trees. Spray for w'oolly aphis with lime sii]])hur or. red oil spray. 



Flower Garden. — Finish digging and pruning of roses, &c. Leave pruning 

 of shrubs till after flowering. Keep weeds in check ; weed out seed beds. Divide 

 and plant out all herbaceous plants, such as phlox, delphiniums, rudbeckia, &c. 

 Plant out gladioli. Complete planting of shrubs. Mulch young plants. 



Vegetable Garden. — Top-dress asparagus beds; plant new asparagus plots. 

 Plant herb divisions, and potatoes. Sow cabbage, cauliflower, peas, carrots, 

 beans, radish, and leituce seeds. Sow tomato seeds in a hot frame. Finish 

 digging. 



Vineyard. — August is the best month for planting vines (grafted or ungrafted). 

 TBis should be actively proceeded with and completed before end of month. 

 Scions for field grafting may still be preserved as detailed last month, or better 

 still by placing them in cool storage. They should all be removed from vines 

 before end of month, at latest. Conclude pruning and tie down rods. Where 

 black spot has been prevalent, a])ply first acid iron sul])hate treatment. Owing to 

 the dry spring, black spot was not in evidence last season. The fungus is not 

 dead, but dormant, hence preventive treatment must not be neglected. Leaflets 

 dealing with black spot and its treatment will be supplied on application. 



Cellar. — Rack again, towards end of month, wines which have as yet only 

 been once racked (spring racking). Fill up regularly all unfortified wines. 

 Clean up generally in cellar and whitewash walls, woodwork, &c. 



