104 TREE CULTURE IN SOUTH AUSTKAIIA. 



In the older plantations, look over the young trees and shorten back 

 any inferior growths which seem to be interfering with the proper 

 ascendancy of the leaders ; shorten lateral branches, and otherwise 

 liberate thriving young trees. 



Hedges which are somewhat bare in the bottom, may very judiciously 

 be lopped at this time in order to throw the growth of the plants into 

 making fresh shoots among the bottom branches. Keep all hedges clean 

 and the soil stirred about the roots of the plants. 



In the nursery, attend to keeping down all weeds, and hoe the soil 

 round all young trees lined out in rows. Rub ofE and prune all unnecessary 

 shoots on deciduous trees. Keep the shades on seedling plants and water 

 regularly at night. Take shades off at night and put on again next 

 morning, if the sun comes out hot. Water potted plants every night. 



FEBRUARY. 



Go on with pruning work in the plantations. Any large limbs which 

 it is desirable to have removed from trees should be lopped this month ; 

 but do work of this kind sparingly, and, if possible, by shortening only. 

 Pile the prunings and keep them in open spaces as much as possible 

 away from the trees, or remove them altogether. 



Continue care and attention to the young trees in the plantations, and 

 water them if possible. Be sure to loosen the soil round the stems 

 next day after watering. Freshen up all mulching. 



Look out for bush fires and continue precautions against these. 



Continue fallowing ground for planting. 



The first sowing of Eucalypti seed may be sown about the end of 

 this month. Other nursery operations to be continued as directed in last 

 month's calendar. 



Cut hedges and dig round the roots of the plants. 



This and the next three months are suitable for felling timber, in order 

 that good durable wood may be obtained. 



MARCH. 



Prepare the large holes for plants, where ploughing and other pre- 

 parations are not considered necessary. In doing this, keep the subsoil 

 on one side, and the top soil by itself on another side. These holes 

 should now remain open until planting time, in order that the soil may 

 get thoroughly pulverised and in a nice mellow condition for the roots 

 of the young plants to be put into it. 



This is often another dry and very trying month for the young plants 

 in the plantations. Every care should therefore be taken of them in the 

 manner elsewhere described. 



This is a good time for general pruning and thinning in the planta- 

 tions, and this operation ought to be pushed forward about this season 

 of the year. 



In order to secm-e there being plenty of plants of the Eucalypti species 

 for the coming season's planting, it is as well to put in another sowing 



