192 Journal of Agncidture, Victoria. [10 March, 1916. 



Pigs.— Sows not already served should be put to the boar. Supply all pigs 

 with plenty of bedding, and see that sties are warm and well ventilated. Supply 

 sows liberally with grain. Castrate 30unj5 boars as early as possible. Pigs 

 should be highly profitable now, as feed is cheap, and pork very dear. 



Sheep. — Merino and fine cross ewes, if they have been mated early, will 

 lamb from now on. Those in lamb to the larger British breeds of rams will 

 give a certain amount of trouble in lambing, and anticipating the extreme 

 value of meat and wool close attention should be given morning and evening 

 to save every lamb possible, and any ewes that may be cast. If the ewes are 

 well-woolled sorts, they will need erutching for Ay, at the same time clear 

 wool from around teats, and away from the eyes also. If the ewes are 

 attentive mothers any lambs that are found dead after these precautions, apart 

 from weather conditions, foxes, &e., are just as well gone. Give purgative 

 drenches at first sight of ewes appearing ill in any way. Give warm salad 

 oil to any lambs that are dull in appearance. Ewes after difiicult parturition 

 or retention of after-birth can often be saved by flushing out. Reserve fresh 

 pasture, or better still, sow a mixed green crop to turn ewes into later on, but 

 not while carrying the lambs, this is too often injurious. On fine mornings 

 when attending ewes, if feed is plentiful and ewes strong castrate as many 

 ram lambs as possible, they are easily caught when two or three days old. 

 Place them between the feet on the ground, no holder is necessary. In dis- 

 tricts where conditions make second dipping a necessity, see that it is done 

 before the weather becomes too unsettled. 



Poultry. — Do not feed maize this month — soft food aids moult ; add a 

 teaspoonful of linseed to each bird's ration once daily. The more exercise the 

 hens get the better they moult. Remove all male birds from pens. Add to 

 drinking water one packet Epsom salts to twenty birds. Keep a sharp look out 

 for chicken pox. Forward pullets should now bo in their winter quarters, with 

 plenty of scratching litter, and fed liberally- — -including ration of animal food. 

 Grit shell and charcoal should always be available. 



Cultivation. 



Farm. — Dig potatoes as they mature. Cart out and spread stable manure. 

 Finish preparation of land for main cereal crops. Sow Chou Moellier seed in 

 beds for transplanting. Sow the following mixture per acre for green feed 

 during the winter months for the dairy herd : — 1^ bushels, Oats; ^ bushel, 

 Cape Barley; ^ bushel. Tick Beans; ^ bushel. Vetches. Sow Giant Drum- 

 head Cabbage for transplanting (1 lb. sufficient for 1 acre, in rows ?, feet 

 apart) ; provided the soil is in good friable condition, plants from seed sown 

 last month should be planted out. Sow wheat and oats according to locality; 

 also rape for winter feed or green manuring. Prepare clean seed-bed for 

 lucerne; and sow Hunter River, Arabian, or Peruvian seed, free from dodder, 

 in drills 7 inches apart and at the rate of 12-16 lbs. of seed per acre. Sow 

 permanent pastures with grasses and clovers. 



Orchard. — Prepare land for planting ; plough deeply and sub-soil. Plant 

 legumes for green manure. Plant out strawberries. Clean up Codlin Moth 

 from trees as soon as all fruit is gathered. 



Flower Garden. — Plant out evergreen shrubs, trees, and Australian plants, 

 divisions of herbaceous plants, seedlings, layers, and rooted cuttings. Feed 

 chrysanthemums with liquid manure weekly until flowers begin to open. Pre- 

 pare land for future plantings of roses and shrubs. 



Vegetable Garden. — Plant out seedlings from the seed beds. Dig all vacant 

 spaces roughly. Sow onions for early crop; also peas and broad beans. Clean 

 out asparagus beds wherever the seeds are ripening. 



Vineyard. — Consideration must be given to manuring; early application is 

 strongly urged. Peas, &c., for green manuring should be sown as soon as pos- 

 sible. 



Cellars, — Cleanliness is emphatically urged. Carefully remove all fer- 

 mentable refuse — skins, lees, skimmings, &c. Such odds and ends favour 

 multiplication of Vinegar Flies (Drosophila funebris). If present destroy 

 these with formalin or insecticide powders. A little bisulphite or sul- 

 phurous acid in washing water is recommended; also free use of lime on 

 floors, &c. See Februarv Journal. 1914. 



