264 Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [10 April, 1912. 



REIVUNDERS FOR NAY. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Horses. — Those stabled can be fed liberalh'. Those doinj^ 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. Cirass-fed working horses should be given ha\- or straw, if there is no 

 old grass, to counteract the purging effects of the young growth. 



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

 daytime when the shade temperature reaches 60 degrees. Give a ration of hay or 

 straw, whole or chaffed, to counteract the purging effects of voung grass. Cows 

 about to calve, if over fat, should be put into a paddock in which the feed is not too 

 abundant. Calves should be kept in warm dry shed. 



Pigs. — As recommended in Remintlers for April. 



Sheep! — Attend lambing ewes first thing each morniu'/. Avoid overcrowding in 

 lambing paddocks, and consequent shortage of feed. Scarcity of feed means inatten- 

 tive mothers. Breeds of ewes having more than half of British blood should be kept 

 in good strong condition, as they will not lamb until Julv or August. Yoiing ram 

 weaners of all breeds should now be classed, anvl rejects castrated or' blocked. Be 

 suspicious of weak fore-quartered sheep. If castrating, slit, tie with fine cord soaked 

 in antiseptic, cut off, and apply Stockholm tar liberally inside and out. Blocking, 

 whilst most humane in the case of rams two years old anrl over when the latest 

 appliance is used, is not desirable for two-tooths. Clear wool from e\es of merino 

 rams, and cut horns with pruning shears. 



POLLTRV. — Feed animal food to forward pullets, about ^ oz. daih', and equal 

 parts short oats an<l maize at night. Give 2 ozs. lucerne chaff, mixed with mash, to 

 each bird daily. Watch young stock for Roup (watery discharge from nostrils, with 

 unpleasant breath). Late chicks are likely subjects. Isolate all cases, and use disin- 

 fectants freely. Keep head and throat clean by washing with either Condy's fluid or 

 boracic acid. In cases of Chicken Pox isolate birds and apply to affected parts 

 ointment made of sulphur, eucalyptus oil (three or four drops), carbolic acid (two 

 drops), and a little vaseline mixed well. 



CULTIVATION. 



i- ARM. — Dig main crop of potatoes. Push on with ploughing and sowing of cereal 

 crops, including peas and beans. Green fodder (as for April) may still be sown. 

 I-and for maize, potatoes, and other root crops should be prepared and manured. 

 Flax may be sown. Transplant Chou Moellier and Giant Drumhead cabbage plants 

 in rows 3 feet apart. Complete sowing permanent pastures with grasses and clovers. 



Orchard. — Plough, manure; apply lime to orchard lands at rate of 5 or 10 cwt. 

 per acre where soil is sour. Spray trees infested with scale insects. Woolly Aidiis, 

 and Bryobia Mite with red oil or crude petroleum. Clean all rough bark from trees. 

 Commence pruning at end of month. 



Flower Garden. — Digging, manuring, and jiruning; trench and drain where 

 necessary. Dress the surface with lime. Continue to sow hardy annuals. Burv .ill 

 leaves, soft-wooded cuttings, and weeds. Continue to ])lant spring blooming perennials 

 and other plants. Plant cuttings of carnations and roses. 



Vegelable Garden. — Cut down and clean out asparagus bfds. Apply manure and 

 lime dressings. Cultivate deeply. Plant out seedHngs and early potatoes: sow peas, 

 broad beans, carrots, and parsnips. 



Vineyard. — Subsoil land for new plantations if not already done. It is very 

 undesirable to perform this work immediately before planting. Vine-growers are 

 warned against the ten common practice of feeding off foliage after vintage. Any- 

 small advantage in the form of stock feed is only gained at the cost of a reduction 

 in the following season's crop, owing to interference with accumulation of reserves, 

 which continues so long as the leaves remain green. Sheep should not be allowed 

 into the vineyard until all leaves have changed colour. Earl\- and deep ploughing is 

 strongly recommended (see March Journal, page 198). 



Cellars. — Rack or fill up (preferably the former) dry wines as soon as a I'ghted 

 match, introduced at bung hole, is no longer extingui-,hed. Sweet wines shouhi also- 

 be racked and fortified to full strength. 



