448 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 1916. 



REMINDERS FOR AUGUST. 



Live Stock. 



Horses. — Those stabled can be fed liberally. Those doing fast or heavy work 

 should be clipped; if not wholly, then trace high. Those not rugged on coming 

 into the stable at night should be wiped down and in half-an-hour's time rugged 

 or covered with bags until the coat is dry. Old horses and weaned foals should 

 be given crushed oats. Grass-fed working horses should be given hay or straw, if 

 there is no old grass, to counteract the purging effects of the young growth. Old 

 and badh'-conditioned horses should be given some boiled barley. 



Cattle. — Cows, if not housed, should be rugged. Rugs should be removed in 

 the day-time 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. 

 Calves should be kept in warm, dry shed. Those on the bucket should be given 

 their milk warm. Look out for milk fever and treat as recommended in Year 

 Book of Afjriculture, 1905. 



Pigs. — Supply plenty of bedding in warm, well-ventilated styes. Keep stj-es 

 clean and dry, and the feeding troughs clean and wholesome. Store pigs should 

 be placed in fattening styes. Sows in fine weather should be given a grass run. 



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

 season. Place orders as soon as possible, for breeders can then give better satis- 

 faction and allot preference to the earlier applications. 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 

 1)0 met, and for flannels and finer materials for temperate and cold climates these 

 are indispensable. After all coarse wools liavc 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 forearm';, for coarse common thighs, for 

 mushy wasty undercovering, inferior patches aero s the shoulders, common and 

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

 pedigree alone is not sufficient. 



Poultry. — Yards should be turned over 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; thoroughly clean lamps, egg dr:iwers, 

 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 woolly aphis with lime sulphur spray. 



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

 of shrubs till after flowering. Keep weeds in cheek; 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 leituee seeds. Sow tomato seeds in a hot frame. Finish 

 digging. 



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

 This 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 

 stni 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, apply 1st acid iron sulphate treatment (see 

 Journal for Jitlji, 1011). 



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. 



