326 Journal of Agriciiliid c . Victoria. [10 May, 1912. 



The niuiiths of June and July are the most favouraL u for planting in 

 this State ; the warmer the climate, the earlier the planting season. 



Tfiere is thus ample time for preparing the land thoroughly before 

 the planting is done. The land must be in a first class physical condi- 

 tion for the planting of the young trees. The first and foremost necessity 

 is good soil drainage; and this may be accomplished by a deep system 

 of subsoiling, or by the laying down of tile, timber, or cinder drains. 



In the northern plain areas it is very often difficult to initiate a drain- 

 age system, owing to the level condition of the country. In such districts 

 it is certainly advisable to carry out a scheme of deep subsoiling. 



After clearing and ploughing, the subsoil should be well ploughed by 

 following the furrows with the plough ha\ing the mould-hoard removed. 

 This allows for the stirring of the clav without turning it over or bring- 

 ing it to the surface. 



This breaking up of the clay serves the dual purpose of placing it in 

 the condition that a good water percolation or soil drainage is allowed, 

 and that the tree roots are able to work and travel better in the loose sub- 

 soil. Where the subsoil is of a gravelly character or otherwise porous 

 nature, the subsoiling work is not an urgent necessity. Should the drain- 

 age be satisfactory under natural conditions, it would be superfluous to 

 carry out this work. What is required is that the soil shall be loose and 

 friable enough to admit of the drainage of all superfluous water, and that 

 the roots shall be able to -travel with comparative ease. 



For the purpose of fruit culture, soil fertility is dependent to a far 

 greater extent on the suitable physical soil condition than on the richness 

 of the soil. 



The second factor in soil fertility is the richness or the quality of 

 the soil. 



It is only fair to assume that whatever is removed from the soil by 

 the trees should be replaced, if the soil is to maintain its original fertility. 

 The most useful material for this purpose is stable or farmyard manure. 

 Where this is not obtainable, leguminous green manures are certainly the 

 best substitute. 



It is not advocated that solid masses of farmyard manure should be 

 ploughed into the soil ; quite the reverse. Light dressings annually or 

 even biennially are the most suitable. To plough into the soil heavy 

 and compact masses of manure is wasteful, and is liable to set up sour 

 and unhealthy soil conditions. 



It is the practice of many successful orchardists to manure their 

 orchards every other year with either stable or green manure; and to use 

 such artificial fertilizers as bonedust, sulphate of potash, and superphos- 

 phate in the alternate years. 



Where it is not intended to manure this season, or even some time after 

 manuring, a top dressing of lime will greatly improve soil conditions. 



Pests. 



It is now a favourable time to spray the trees where such pests as 

 Bryobia mite, woolly aphis, scale species, and peach aphis have been or 

 are prevalent. 



Any of the recognised sprays are suitable, these being red oil. crude 

 petroleum, kerosene emulsion, or lime-sulphur wash. The latter wash is 

 again becoming popular, partly owing to its effectiveness, and also to its 

 possessing certain properties as a fungicide. 



Flower Garden. 



The month of May is a suitable one for the preparation of new flower 

 beds. In starting on this important work; the first essential is good 



