576 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Sept., 1917 



more growth through the ensuing aummer aud autumn. Fleeces from well- 

 bred, good-backed sheep should be skirted with care, the better the class of 

 wool the greater the necessity. From fleeces that have become dead and earthy 

 on the backs, remove only the merest stains; there is little advantage in skirt- 

 ing these. It is better management to have ample tables and extra hands 

 skirting closely than to hastily tear off unnecessary wool and then employ men at 

 other tables to sort "broken fleece,'' "first," and "second " pieces, "&c. All 

 stains must be removed from ewes' tleeces, and jiizzle stains from the bellies of 

 wethers. Keep separate all coarse fleeces from the finer sorts, and in merinos 

 the yellow and mushy from the shafty and liright. Skirt all hairy thighs from 

 crossbred fleeces. Avoid sending wool to market in long, round-sided bales, 

 known as "sew-downs." Press in a box-press, forming square sides. Brand 

 bales neatly, on one side only, and not with sheep-branding oil. tar, or paint. 

 Stencil plates and branding ink can be obtained on application to the respec- 

 tive brokers. 



At first signs of scour drench with turpentine and oil. This preparation is 

 now procurable in emulsion form, and thus the fear of choking is removed. 

 If discharge be dark and accompanied with mucus, yard over night, drench 

 on an empty stomach, repeat again in about fourteen days, and in some cases 

 a third dose may be necessary. Change to new pasture if possible, or give 

 a little grain, whole oats for preference. 



PouLTRT. — The bulk of incubation should cease this month — late chickens 

 are not profitable. Devote attention to tlie chickens already hatched; avoid 

 overcrowding. Feed with dry mash. Also add plenty of green food to ration, 

 ordinary feeding to be 2 parts pollard, 1 part bran, and a little animal food 

 after the first fortnight. Feed ground grain, such as wheat, hulled oats, maize, 

 and peas, which should be fed in hopper to avoid waste. Grit or coarse sand 

 should be available at all times. Variety of food is important to growing 

 chicks; insect life aids growth. Remove brooders to new ground as often as 

 possible; tainted ground will retard development. 



Cultivation. 



FARii. — Plant main crops of potatoes in early districts and prepare land for 

 main crop in late districts. Fallow and work early fallow. Sow maize and 

 millets where frosts are not late, also mangolds, beet, carrots, and turnips. Sow 

 tobacco beds and keep covered with straw or hessian. 



Orchard. — Ploughing and cultivating to bo continued, bringing surface to 

 a good tilth, and suppressing all weeds. Spray with nicotine solution for peach 

 aphis, with Bordeaux mixture for black spot of apple and pear, and with 

 arsenate of lead for codlin moth in early districts. 



Vegetable Garden, — Sow seeds of carrot, turnip, parsnip, cabbage, peas, 

 French beans, tomato, celery, radish, marrow, and pumpkins. Plant out seedlings 

 from former sowings. Keep the surface well pulverized. 



Flower Garden. — Keep the weeds down and the soil open by continued hoe- 

 ing. Plant out delphiniums, chrysanthemums, salvia, early dahlias. &o. Pre- 

 pare ground for digging and manuring for autumn dahlias. Plant gladioli 

 tubers and seeds of tender annuals. Spray roses for aphis and mildew. 



Vineyard. — This is the best montli for field grafting. If stocks bleed too 

 copiously, cut off 24 hours before grafting. Make sure that scions are fresh. 

 Placing butts in clean water for a few days before grafting is recommended. 

 Field grafts must be staked, to avoid subsequent straining by wind and to insure 

 straight stem for future vine. Stakes are also necessary for grafted rootlings 

 for same reasons. Temporary stakes 3 feet long will suffice. Keep a sharp look 

 out for cut worms. (See Journal for July, 1911, and also October, 1913.) Disbud 

 and tie up all vines, giving special care to young plantations. Beware of spring 

 frosts. (See Journal for September, 1910.) 



Conclude spring cultivation (second ploughing or scarifying and digging or 

 hoeing round vines ) . Weeds must be mastered and whole surface got into good 

 tilth. Sulphur vines when shoots 4 to 6 inches long. 



Cellar. — Taste all young wines; beware of dangerous symptoms in unfortified 

 fruity wines, which may need treatment. Fill up regularly all unfortified 

 wines. 



