456 Journal of A ^^nailtitrc. \ ictoria. [to July. 1912. 



REMINDERS FOR AUGUST. 



LIVE STOCK. 



Horses. — Those stabletl can be fed liberally. Those doing fa^i or heav\- work 

 should be clipped; if not wholly, then trace hij^h. 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 growtli. Old 

 and badly-conditioned horses should be given some boiled barley. 



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

 the davtime 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. Calves 

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

 warm. The bull may now run with the cows. 



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

 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. — Applv to breeders for rams needed. Ask for good backed sheep, both 

 in flesh and fleece, whether British breeds or merinos. Fat lambs weighing 60 lbs. 

 live weight will sell best now — avoid the rush of the season. Stud ewe flocks 

 should be gone through carefully ; put out second-rate ewes, and enter approved 

 ycung ewes in stud books. 



Poultry. — When yards become damp and difficult to clean a little lime sprinkled 

 on surface will sweeten soil, and also act as a germicide. Keep the breeders busy — 

 oaten hay scattered about will make them exercise. As the hens eat twice as 

 quickly as the male bird, feed the latter bv himself; tack a piece of wire netting 

 on a light frame, and jilace it across an angle to make a small enclosure for him 

 whilst he is eating. Overhaul incubators ; see that the capsule or thermostat acts 

 properly ; thoroughly clean lamps, egg drawers, and chimneys. Test machine for 

 two days before putting valuable 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. 



F.ARM. — Second fallow where necessir\ for summer crops. If rei|iiired, 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. 



Orch.ard. — Complete planting and prmiing of deciduous trees. Watch for peach 

 aphis, and spray with tobacco solution, if present. Prepare for planting citrus 

 trees. Spray for woolly aphis with strong tobacco solution. 



Flower G.arden. — Finish digging and ])runing of roses, &c. Leave pruning of 

 shrubs till after flowering. Keep weeds in check ; weed out seed beds. Divide 

 and plant out all herbaceous plants, such as phlox, delphiniums, rudbeckia, &c. 

 Plant out gladior. 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 lettuce 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 belter still by 

 placing them in tool storage. They should all be removed from vines before end 

 of month, at latest. Conclude prunrng and tie down rods. Where black spot has 

 been very prevalent, applv ist acid iron sulphate treatment (see Journal for July, 

 igii). Apply readily soluble rilrogenous manures (soda nitrate or ammonium 

 sulphate) towards end of month. 



Cellar —Rack again, towards end of month, wines which have as yet only been 

 once racked (spring racking). Fill up regularly all unfortified wines. t lean up 

 "enerallv in cellar and whitewash walls, woodwork, &c. 



