512 Jounuil of Affricii/fiiie. Victoria. [10 Aug., 1917. 



Yard and go through all well-bred MerinoLincoln cross lambs before offer- 

 ing to exporters. Select, ear mark, and shear all best sorts for future breeding 

 and shearing. Buyers will find sliafty, well bred, fine to medium grade wools, 

 disappointingly scarce for years. 



Sheep. — Wherever early shearing is possible, and shelter available, all sheep 

 to be disposed of can be fattened earlier, if shorn. Sheep or lambs not good 

 enough for freezing also thrive better after lieing shorn. Where insufficient know- 

 ledge of grading cross-bred wool exists, draft the coarse sheep from the fine before 

 coming into the shed, and shear and bale separately. Clean all daggy sheep before 

 bringing them on to the shearing board. Avoid deep and careless skirting. Only 

 dense seedy parts, and heavy fribs and stains should come off fleeces. Press in a 

 box press, which forms square sides to bales, and avoid round bales, called " Sew 

 Downs." Brand boldly and neatly on the long and narrow side. Clean carefully 

 all straw, chaff, &c., from shearing place. Cut back all misshapen feet when 

 noticed during shearing. 



Poultry. — September is one of the best months for hatching for winter eggs. 

 Incubators should be kept going, and broody hens set. Care must be taken to 

 keep down vermin, as they now breed quickly; use sprays in houses and Insecti- 

 bane or Izal in nests — nothing stunts chickens quicker than vermin. The food 

 for young chicks should be fine oatmeal, stale bread crumbs or biscuit meal, a 

 little calcined bird's grit, a little chopped green stuff such as lettuce, thistles, or 

 green lucerne or spring onions occasionally cut fine is a good tonic, and 

 a pinch of powdered charcoal. Slightly moisten with new milk. Make the 

 whole friable, and feed frequently ("little and often") just as much as they will 

 readily eat, as an excess of food only sours and disturbs their digestive organs. 

 Animal food may be given in small quantities after the first ten days once or 

 twice a week. Chickens should be protected from damp ground and the cold, 

 bleak winds. 



CULTIVATION. 



Farm. — Plant early potatoes, and work up fallow for the main crop. Keep 

 fallow for summer forage crops well worked up with the disc and harrows. 

 Make early sowings of mangolds, beet, field carrots, and turnips. Push on with 

 the fallowing in the Northern Districts. Prepare land for tobacco seed beds 

 by burning rubbish on the site; afterwards work up to depth of three or fo«r 

 inches. 



Obchakd. — Commence spring ploughing; plough in leguminous crops for 

 green manure as soon as the plants are in full flower. Finish grafting early in 

 the month. Spray peach and apricot trees with Bordeau.x mixture as the 

 blossom buds are opening, as a preventive against " leaf curl " and " shot 

 hole " fungi ; watch for peach aphis, and spray when present with tobacco 

 solution. 



Flower Garden. — Cultivate and work up the surface to a fine tilth — clear 

 out all weeds. Water newly-planted shrubs, &c.. if the weather is dry. Plant 

 out cannas, early dahlias, chrysanthemums, gladioli, and other herbaceous 

 plants. 



Vegetable Garden. — Plant out seedlings. Sow seeds for summer use, such 

 as tomatoes, cucumbers, marrows, pumpkins, melons, &c. Plant out tomatoes, 

 and shelter till frosts are over. Hoc and work up the soil surface. 



Vineyard. — Plantation of young vines (grafted or ungrafted) should be 

 concluded before the commencement of September; pruning of old vines like- 

 wise, as well as tying down of rods on long-pruned vines. Prune recently- 

 planted vines just before buds commence to swell (if not pruned when planted), 

 cutting strongest cane back to two buds. Do not delay this work until buds 

 have shot, as this seriously weakens the young vine. Field grafting may be 

 carried out, if weather be fine and warm. If cold and wet, postpone until 

 October. Swab with acid iron sulphate vines which showed signs of Black Spot 

 last season. To avoid burning, this must be completed before the buds commence 

 to swell. (See article in ,Tuly issue.) Cultivation (scarifying or discing) must 

 receive attention when soil is in suitable condition. 



Cellar. — Conclude spring racking early in month, if not already done. Fill 

 up, regularly, all unfortified wines. 



