340 AUSTRALIAN AQKICOLTUKE. 



Chicory. Seed may be sown for chicory as a fodder crop and for 

 ensilage. February sowing answers better for the roots used with coffee. 



Oil and Fibre Crops. Linseed, hemp, castor oil, and oil and fibre 

 seeds generally may be sown. 



Harvesting Seeds. Lucerne and clover seed may ^be left as long as 

 possible that is, until they commence to shell out naturally before 

 reaping. The more matured the seed the better it is. 



VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



For Christmas. It is looking forward certainly, but it is worth while 

 sowing what lettuce, mustard, and cress, and such other salad comforts as 

 may be all the more welcome at Christmas. Sow now in rows, and thus 

 avoid transplanting. 



Beans. They are the basis of our summer supplies. Dwarfs and 

 climbing beans do well all over the country, and may be planted to any 

 exteat required for home use or marketing. 



Saving Seed. The better course is to allow all the fruit on a few 

 rows of peas and beans to go to seed. When some are picked and others 

 allowed to ripen on the same plant the seed is weak, and fails to give 

 satisfactory results. 



Asparagus and Rhubarb. Both should be coming on to ripeness for 

 summer supplies. They require about the same treatment nice, clean, 

 open cultivation, with liquid manure, where vigour is necessary to keep 

 a strong growth going. 



Onions. The early plantings should be coming on nicely, nd are all the 

 better of the treatment recommended for asparagus. Later sorts may 

 still be sown, but in the rows where they are to grow when thinned out. 



Cucumbers and Melons. For fruiting, let the vines, if at all possible, 

 raise themselves off the ground. They fruit better when there is plenty of 

 air about them, and are more free from attacks of grubs. 



Tomatoes. They also are all the better of being raised off the ground, 

 and both are the better of liquid manure, which shows immediate effects 

 when applied to the soil direct during dry weather. 



For Winter Crops. We have to commence now for winter cropping. 

 Lettuce for summer and autumn may be sown at any time, and, provided 

 the seed is good, always yield to some extent. Sow the seed now in the 

 rows, so that there need be no transplanting. Towards the end of 

 November, and during December and January, seed-beds of cabbage and 

 cauliflower may be started to supply early plants. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



To Bring On Heavy Crops. Active work is necessary, whether the 

 season be dropping and vigorous for growth, or dry and backward. 

 During the former, surface culture keeps rampant growth in check ; in 

 backward weather it stimulates the crops. 



Thinning. Unless this is attended to, poor fruits are sure to follow. 

 Peaches, apricots, plums, and grapes all suffer from this cause. In a few 

 hours spent now in careful thinning, rubbing or breaking out buds and 

 shoots, more effective work can be done than during hour* spent in winter 

 pruning. 



