320 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1916. 



Cattle. — Cows, if not lioused, sliould be rugged. Rugs should be removed 

 and aired in tiic daytime when the shade temperature reaches 60 degrees. Give 

 a ration of hay or straw, whole or chaffed, to counteract the purging effects of 

 young grass. Cows about to calve, if over fat, sliould be put into a paddock in 

 which the feed is not too abundant. If in low condition feed well to tide them 

 over the period and stiiiuilate milk flow. Calves should be kept in warm dry shed. 

 Cows and heifers for early autumn calving may be put to tiie bull. 



Sheep. — Clear muck-balls from tails and legs of all sheep. Have the wool 

 cleared from round udders and eyes of all young lambing ewes, and see them 

 first thing every morning. Mark the ram lambs at earliest chance. Cut off 

 ewes with oldest wether lambs to best pastui'e or fodder crops. 



Sheep with overgrown hoofs are untlirifty. Whenever noticed trim back into 

 shape; tliey cut easily during winter. If left, are conducive to lameness, and 

 even foot rot. In the case of common foot rot, or scald, the feet can be placed 

 into a thick paste made of lime and boiling water. Obstinate cases of long 

 standing may need more drastic remedies, and persistent attention. In all 

 cases pare away all loose portions, and leave the diseased parts clearly exposed. 



Foxes are more ravenous during winter months. Sparrows, starlings, and 

 parrots are good bait. Poisoning lambs already killed usually accounts for 

 scavenger foxes only, and in many case? innocent good dogs. 



Every fox is not a lamb killer. - Remove all lambs for two or three nights 

 if at all possible, and birds then will rarely fail to entice Eeynard the second 

 or third night. 



Powdered strychnine, just sufficient to cover nicely a tlireepenny-piece, is 

 the usual dose. 



PouLTEY. — Supplies of shell grit and charcoal should always be available. 

 Sow a mixture of English grass and clover; this not only removes taint in soil 



but provides excellent green fodder for stock. Where possible, lucerne and 

 silver beet should now be sown for summer feed; liver (cooked) and maize aids 

 to egg production during cold weather. Morning mash should be mixed with 

 liver soup given to the birds warm in a crumbly condition. All yards should 

 be drained to ensure comfort for the birds. 



CULTIVATION. 



Farm. — Plough potato land. Land to be sown later on with potatoes, man- 

 golds, maize, and millet should be manured and well worked. Sow malting barley 

 and finish sowing of cereals. Lift and store mangolds, turnips, &c. Clean out 

 drains and water furrows. Clean up and stack manure in heaps protected from 

 the weather. 



Orchard.— Finish ploughing; plant young trees; spray with red oil or 

 petroleum for scales, mites, aphis, «S:c.; carry out drainage system; clean out 

 ilrains; commence pruning. 



Vegetable Garden. — Prepare beds for crops; cultivate deeply; practise rota- 

 tion in planting out; renovate asparagus beds; plant out all seedlings; sow 

 radish, peas, broad beans, leeks, spinach, lettuce, carrot, &c.; plant rhubarb. 



Flower Garden. — Continue digging and manuring; dig all weeds and leafy 

 growths; plant out shrubs, roses, &c.; plant rose cuttings; prune deciduous trees 

 and shrubs; sow sweet peas and plant out seedlings. 



Vineyard. — Thoroughly prepare for plantation, land already subsoiled for the 

 purpose. Remember that the freer it is kept from weeds from this forward, the 

 less trouble will there be from cut-worms next spring. Applications for ungrafted 

 resistant rootlings and cuttings must be made before the end of the month — see 

 Journal for February, 191(5. Pruning and ploughing should be actively proceeded 

 with. In northern districts plough to a depth of seven or eight inches. Manures 

 should be applied as early as possible. 



Cellar. — Rack all wines which have not been previouslj' dealt with. Fortify 

 aweet wines to full strength. 



