ae 
Ga 
Avaust 6, 1906 
Callousing. 
This is an important operation by 
means of which the knitting tissues 
between the scion and the graft is started 
before planting out in the nursery. By 
this practice, now adopted in all wine 
growing countries, a much higher per 
centage of successful strikings is secured 
to the grower. For the purposes of this 
operation it is necessary for the grower to 
be provided with a small forcing house 
or frame, where the grafted cuttings may 
be kept at an even temperature 
“The grafted cuttings are placed in a 
box between layers of moist moss, and 
the forcing house kept at a steady tem- 
perature of 60 degrees for a month. Near 
the end-of this period it will be observed 
that a callus or growth of new uniting 
tissues is formed at the points of union 
between the scion and stock, and the buds 
burst, throwing delicate shoots. As soon 
as this callus is formed the cuttings are 
then subjected to less heat and exposed 
to the full light. This will harden the 
calJus and cause the leaves to turn green, 
thus preparing the cuttings for removal 
to the less equable temperature of the 
nursery. The operation is not a difficult 
-one to carry ont sucessfully, and the 
time and trouble expended on it is amply 
repaid by the increased number of suc- 
cessful grafts at the disposal of the 
grower 
A frequent cause of failure in callous- 
ing grafted cuttings is the presence of 
mould, which destroys the newly formed 
knitting tissue and prevents a successful 
union. To avoid this the moss used 
should be thoroughly sterilised bi fore 
being used by steaming it, or failing this 
by scalding it in boliug water As a 
further safeguard against tungoid growths 
pieces of wood chareval should be placed 
throughout the layers of moistened moss. 
Time of Callousing. 
Another important factor in securing a 
high percentage of strikings is-the time of 
performing the operation. It is essential 
that the soil should be in a warm state 
when the calloused cuttings are planted 
-out, otherwise the sudden change of tem- 
perature from the warm atmosphere of 
the forcing house to the cold soil of the 
nursery would destroy the knitting tissue 
and cause many misses. 
The operation should therefore not be 
performed in winter, but deferred until 
the spring, about six or seven weeks 
before planting. Then it will be much 
easier to keep the forcing house at an 
ven temperature, aud the soil outside 
will be sufficiently warm to plant out 
straightway in the nursery after callous- 
ing without any fear of a check. 
After planting ont it is necessary to 
cover ‘the ligature with a handful of sand 
or light soil. This prevents the callus 
being dried up or destroyed by the wind 
or snn, Ou the other hand clayey or 
heavy soils should not be used for this 
purpose, as they prevent the free access 
of air, hampering the respiration of the 
new tissue and by keeping it wet causing 
it to rob. 
‘ 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
The Poultry Yard. 
Utility Poultry at Sunny Bank Yards. 
To the man who lays a good foundation 
in poultry breeding and pursues the in- 
dustry on sys’ematic lines success is 
assured. Of this there are many instances 
to be found in the Mount Barker district, 
but in no case has success been greater or 
more pronounced than in that of Mr M, 
H, Cartwright, of the Sunny Bank Poultry 
Yards at Little Totness. He began opera- 
tions a season ago with teams of Black 
and White Orpingtons and Indian Runner 
ducks, the quality of which is self-apparent 
from their accomplish nents both in the 
slow per and us layers. The yards aro 
located in a fine position, and, cared for 
by kind and thoughtful hands, the stock 
enjoyed ideal surroundings from ‘the first 
and haye responded right royally in re- 
turning large profits for the care bestowed 
upon them Pen [. of Black Orpingtons, 
comprising a cock and three hens, all 
about 15 months old and of the well- 
known Sargenfri strain, possess unusual 
qual.ty, The cock gained first and special 
prize and one of the hens second prize in 
strong competition at the poultry show at 
Mount Barker last year, and it is expected 
that the cock and one of the hens will 
also c tch the judge’s eye and cards «t 
the exhibition here next month. The 
quartet are fine, typical birds, and the 
hens last year averaged 13 doz. ezgs eich. 
This, like other records quoted below, is 
no vain boast. Mr Cartwright conducts 
his yards on business lines, and his daily 
recoid book shows that his Black Orping- 
to.s for the twelve months returned a 
profit of 4s Gd in eggs alone, Sittings 
from these at 10s 6d are a gift Running 
about ut grass are about half a dozen 
Black Orpington pullets, while three 
cockerells are penned up, and for birds 
e'ght mouths old they all would be hard 
to beat, having plenty of size and weight, 
perfect plumage, and withal a credit t» 
pen No I. and their breeder. A new 
variety in White Orpingtons lends much 
interest to the yards. The birds, which 
are from Brockman’s stock imported from 
Cook & Son’s in Kent, are hardly so large 
or loose feathered as are the black variety, 
but as layers they are much earlier and 
Al, and as table birds carry rather more 
flesh and are of splendid flavor. The pen 
consists of a cockerel and four pullets, all 
very pleasing to look upon, and the pullets 
commenced laying at six months of age. 
In other yards are three cockerels, brothers 
to the above and all birds that fill the eye 
remarkably well. ‘They appear a breed 
that is going to become popular, and at a 
guinea a sitting the eggs are remarkable 
value, especially for birds that have snch 
excellent credentials. 
The reputation of the Indian Runner 
duck as th» “queen of layers’ in her 
order is generally recognised. Speci nens 
at Sunny Bank cime from the Sargenfri 
Yards and are tiptop in quility, the drake 
Il 
haying taken first and special and one of 
the ducks (by no means the best) second 
in keen competition at the Mount Barker 
“Show last August, and are expected to 
further distinguish themselves locally this 
year. These are all about 16 months old, 
and a testimony to the laying ability of 
the strain is forthcoming in that the two 
ducks now living laid all the year round, 
excepting for four weeks, gave 14 dozen 
eggs each for the 12 months, and haye 
produced 100 eggs between them in ten 
weeks this year. The profit in 1905 was 
6s per duck, which speaks for itself. In 
another pen are two drakes and four 
ducks, progeny of the above and all first- 
class specimens of a grand breed, eggs 
from which here are the essence of cheap 
ness at half a guinea a sitting. Mr 
Cartwright feeds his birds with dry stuff 
as chicks and later with bran and pollard 
(occasionally seasoned with bullock’s liver) 
in the morning, green stuff in abundance | 
at noon, and wheat at night, and that the 
ration produces the very best results will 
be readily admitted by all who accept the 
cordial invitation of the proprietor and 
visit the yards. Mount Barker Courier. 
The keeping of poultry, gulls and other 
birds in infected gardens is to be com- 
mended, as it is astounding what a num- 
ber of slugs some of these birds can 
devour. Young ducks are useful helps in 
this way, but they are too fond of peas 
and many other vegetables to be trusted 
in most gardens, ‘Tobacco is best used in 
dust form. This substance appears to 
paralyze the slugs which, together with 
snails, may frequently be found either 
dead or helpless in the dust of tobacco. 
They cannot stand the substance in any 
form, but they will sometimes cross leaves 
and even stalks of refuse tobacco—the 
dust appears to act as a barrier. Slugs 
show a decided preference for their own 
kind. If a number are killed they are 
greedily eaten by their comrades who 
will not leave a meal until the last par- 
ticle is gone. 
ECONOMIC 
Dental Company, 
LIMITED, 
74 Grenfell Street, Adelaide 
Under the direct personal supervision 
of our Surgeon, Mr T. Ambrose Macklin, 
who is duly qualified by registration. 
Every detail is overlooked by our Sur- 
geon at each stage, with the result that 
our patients are fully satisfied and our 
practise grows. 
We do not require to use Cocaine, 
Gas, Ether, or Chloroform, for Extractions 
however many, and they are quite painless, 
Every branch of Dontistry is unler- 
taken by us. 
Our feas are exceelingly mo lerate. 
