64 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1916. 



feed in quantities only consistent with work to be performed. Stable should be 

 well ventilated, and kept clean. When at work, give water at short intervals. 

 Always water before feeding. 



Cattle. — Provide succulent feed and plenty of clean water easy of access; also 

 shade and salt lick in trough. Have each cow's milk weighed and tested for blotter 

 fat regularly. Rear heifer calves from those that show profitable results. Give 

 milk at blood heat to calves. Keep utensils clean or diarrhoea will result. Do 

 not give too much at a meal for the same reason. Give half-a-eup of limewater 

 per calf per day in the milk. Let them have a good grass run or lucerne, or 

 half-a-pound of crushed oats in a trough. Dehorn all dairy calves except those 

 required for stud or show purposes. 



Pigs. — Sows about to farrow should be supplied with short bedding in well- 

 ventilated styes. All pigs should be provided with shade and water to wallow in. 

 There will be plenty of cheap feed available now. Oats are quoted at 2s., and 

 barley at 2s. 4d. jjer bushel, which is far cheaper than jiollard at £7 per ton. Refer 

 to articles on breeding, feeding, &c., in Journals for April 1912, June 191.3, May 

 1915. Pigs should be highly j^rofitable animals to feed now. 



Sheep. — Longwool crossbred ewes, known as " three-quarter breds " or " second 

 cross ", usually not in season until now, are this year earlier than usual. Downs 

 rams can be joined for export lambs. Merino rams for wool growers, breeding 

 ewes, and grazing sheep, or other white-faced longer-woolled breeds for export 

 lambs if the season be favorable, or for holding over if the reverse. Should 

 there be among the rams to be used anj' distinctly inferior to the others, keep 

 them back for twenty-one days, give the best rams the first three weeks, but be 

 sure the ewes are in season. Narrow, inferior-framed rams are almost invariably 

 active, rapid workers compared to sheep of more substance. Keep salt available. 

 Drench any weaners scouring. If necessary to feed, do not wait until in-lamb 

 ewes are weak before commencing. When on continuous dry feed, sheep move 

 directly off camp to water towards evening each day before feeding. When water 

 becomes inferior, or available to in-lamb ewes irregularly, losses with both ewes 

 and lambs before and after lambing appears to be more prevalent. 



Avoid moving good-woolled sheep in heat and dust. 



Poultry. — Chickens should now be trained to perch; they will be more healthy 

 and less liable to develop wry tails. 



Provide plenty of green feed and give less grain and meat. Avoid condiments. 

 Keep water in cool shady spot and renew three times each day. Keep dust bath 

 damp. 



Birds showing symptoms of leg weakness should be given 1 gi-ain of quinine per 

 day (three months old chickens, i grain) and plenty of skim milk. 



Cultivation. 



Farji. — See that haystacks are weatherproof. Cultivate stubble and fallow, 

 and prepare land for winter fodder crops. Get tobacco sheds ready for crop. In 

 districts where February rains are good, sow rye, barley, vetches, and oats for 

 early winter feed. 



Orchard. — Spray for codlin moth. Search out and destroy all larviP. Cultivate 

 the surface where necessary and irrigate where necessary, paying particular atten- 

 tion to young trees. Fumigate evergreen trees for scale. Continue budding. 



Flower Gardex. — Cultivate the surface and water thoroughly during hot 

 weather. Summer-prune roses by thinning out the weak wood and cutting back 

 lightly the strong shoots. Thin out and disbud dahlias and chrysanthemums. 

 Layer carnations. Plant a few bulbs for early blooms. Sow seeds of perennial 

 and hardy annual plants. 



Vegetable Gardex. — Continue to plant out seedlings from the seed-beds. Sow 

 seeds of cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, peas, turnip, and French beans. Keep all 

 vacant plots well dug. 



Vtxeyard. — February is the best month for the " Yema " or Summer bud graft. 

 Select scion-bearing vines; maik with oil paint those conspicuous for quality and 

 quantity of fruit, regular setting and even maturity. 



Sulphur again, if necessary, but avoid apjdying sulphur to wine grapes too 

 short a time before gathering. 



Cellars. — Prepare all plant and casks for the coming vintage. An ounce of 

 bisulphite of potash, or a couple of fluid ounces of bisulphite of soda solution, to 

 each bucket of water used to swell press platforms, tubs, &c., will help to keep 

 it sweet. Kee]i cellars as cool as possible. Complete all manipulations so as to 

 avoid handling older wines diu'ing vintage. 



