382 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 June, 1917. 



to have this number of arms or limbs it is frequently advisable to cut back 

 to one stem, allowing the buds to break out strongly and frame the tree 

 after planting. In some localities, the custom of not cutting back the 

 trees the first year is favoured. Local experience has not resulted in 

 favour of this practice, as it ia found to be inadvisable to unduly strain 

 the young tree by leaving a heavy top to be supported by the weak- 

 growing root system. 



A number of good commercial fruits have been found to be either 

 wholly or partially self-sterile, requiring other varieties near them to 

 enable them to set their fruit. For this purpose it is necessary that 

 the bloom periods should be somewhat coincident. 



Spraying. 

 The dry season has been favorable, in many districts, to the increase 

 of certain scale insects, woolly aphis, and the iDryobia mite. The use of 

 red oil has been advocated for these pests, and, as well, crude petroleum, 

 kerosene and other oil emulsions have proved satisfactory. Some years 

 ago the use of lime, sulphur and salt spray was much in vogue as a 

 winter spray. Owing, however, to the difficulty of preparing the spray, 

 and to its caustic effect on the skin, it was practically abandoned as an 

 insecticide. Even then it was claimed, and rightly so, that the spray 

 was, to a certain extent, a very good fungicide. The use of this mixture 

 as a winter wash, with the omission of the salt, which has been found to 

 be an unnecessary ingredient, is now general; and, as it is obtainable in a 

 ready-made form, it is to be strongly recommended as a good all round 

 wintier spray. 



General Work. 



All ploughing should now be completed ; if not, it should be finished 

 before spraying and pruning operations are proceeded with. 



Any autumn manuring or liming should also be now carried out. 

 This, too, should be finished before spraying or pruning. Before spray- 

 ing with oils or with lime sulphur wash, all rough bark on apple and 

 pear trees should be scraped off. This will mean the certain destruction 

 of any codlin moth larvse hiding underneath. 



The Vegetable Garden, 



If not previously done, asparagus beds should be well cleaned out, 

 and a top dressing of manure given. To insure good drainage, the soil 

 from the paths, or between the beds, may be thrown up on the beds, so 

 as to deepen the surface drainage, and to consequently warm the beds. 

 This will mean earlier growths. A heavy dressing of manure should be 

 given, and the beds well and roughly dug over. 



Plant out seeds of tomatoes and the pumpkin family in the frames; 

 and sow in the open, seeds of peas, lettuce, spinach, broad beans, radish, 

 onions, carrot and leek. Asparagus crowns, rhubarb roots, tubers of 

 Jerusalem artichokes, shallots and onions may now be planted out. 

 Celery should still be earthed up, taking care not to have the beds too 

 wet. 



The Flower Garden. 



General cleaning up and digging will be the work for this month in 

 flower section and shubbery. Where the soil is heavy or sour, or where 



