lo March. 191^-] Rcmi)idcrs for April . 199 



REIVIINDEHS fOH flPHlli. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Horses. — Those stabled should be fed liberally. Food of a more stimulating; 

 nature can now be given to {^et them well over the " changing coat " season. Those 

 doing fast or heavy work should be clipped ; if not wholly, then trace high. The 

 legs should not be clipped. Those not rugged on coming into the stable at night 

 sweating freely should be wiped down and in half-an-hour's time rugged or covered 

 with bags until the coat is dry. Weaned foals should have a little crushed oa's 

 daily, if available. 



Cattle. — As the nights become colder the dairy cows should be rugged. The 

 rugs should be removed in day-time when the shade temperature reaches 60 degrees. 

 If new grass is plentiful, give a ration of hay or straw, whole or chaffed, to 

 counteract the purging effects of young grass. Cows may now be spayed. 



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 so^\s 

 liberally with grain. Castrate young boars. 



Sheep. — Where early lambs are being bred for local markets, transfer ewes 

 and lambs to best pasture as soon as dropped. Castrate ram lambs when a few 

 days old; defer tailing them until the ewe lambs are ready. After tirst rain (when 

 dust is settled) clear wool from the eyes of young merino sheep ; whilst yarded 

 put weak weaners in hospital paddock, and any unprofitable wooUed sheep in 

 fattening paddock. 



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

 teaspoonful of linseed to each bird's ration once daily. The more exercise t3re 

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

 mixture to drinking water. Keep a sharp look-out for chicken pox. Forwanl 

 pullets should now be in their winter quarters, with plenty of scratching litter, and 

 fed liberally — including ration of animal food. 



CULTIVATION. 



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

 Prepare and plough 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 : — i^ bushels. New Zealand Black Oats; 5 bushel, 

 Cape Barley ; ^ bushel. Tick Beans ; ^ bushel, Vetches. Sow Giant Drumhead 

 Cabbage for transplanting (i lb. sufficient for i acre, in rows 3 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, Turkestan, or Peruvian seed, free from dodder, in drills 

 7 inches apart and at the rate of 10 lbs. of seed per acre. Sow permanent pastures 

 with grasses and clovers. 



Orch.\rd. — Prepare land for planting; plough deejjly 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. Prepare 

 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 : — 



Vintage operations occupy the greater part of April. See last month's notes. 



Cellars. — Cleanliness is emphatically urged. Carefully remove all fermentable 

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

 vinegar flies {Drosofhila junebris). If present, destroy these with formalin or 

 insecticide powders. A little bisulphite or sulphurous acid in washing water is 

 recommended ; also free use of lime on floors, itc. 



