~“ehruary ., 1997 
comes smaller and weaker, and if from 
these late poults we get bad symptoms, 
first catarrh, often the precursor to a 
more serious trouble, i.e, roup, or to 
make it clearer, a running at the nostrils 
is observed, and later, symptoms show a 
swollen head, from which arises an offen- 
sive smell. 
Onion tops, dandelion, rape, and raw 
onion finely cut, and white clover, are 
without doubt the favorite green foods 
with turkeys: and they are rich in 
mineral salts, and valuable as correctors 
of blood From five weeks old and on, 
this can be given mixed in the morning 
food (pollard, bran, etc.) 
Tf the pasture has a variety of grass, 
so much the better, as they prefer variety 
but if it be a dry droughty spot, sow 
lucerne ina l-acre enclosure. After it 
- becomes established, it will keep you sup- 
plied with green summer food, being rich 
In protein, and also an egg producer. 
ArzeA—One hundred adult turkeys could 
easily be run on five acres, but, unless you 
are compelled to fence, I would advise 
giviny them full liberty, as they will not 
require so: much feeding. It is rather 
difficult to say whether three feet and 
three added wires on top will suffice to 
keop them in; much depends on the way 
they have been brought up, If at all wild 
fifteen feet would not keep them in with- 
out doctoring the wing joint 
Domesticated poults are usually tamer 
than Leghorns, and give less trouble in 
this respect. { would certainly recom- 
mend trying 3-ft. wire, with four plain 
ones above, but care should be taken 
when putting in posts. Do not use too 
thick a post, for this reason, that if the 
posts are “table-topped” they allow 
ample room for a gobbler to fly on to; 
the others will soon learn the habit. 
Further, wide topped posts are source of 
great danger where foxes are plentiful, 
Run the wires above the thick posts, at- 
tached to thin hardwood batten One 
Morning I saw fourteen headless turkeys 
Ina 5-acre enclousure at Bunninyong, 
and traced Mr. Keynard’s hair on a thick 
6-ft high corner post, which was 26-inch e 
In circumference at top, and unbarked 
Had the barbed wire covered the top of 
the fence this loss would not have occured. 
‘The main thing in marketiny is to top 
off and to grade the birds according to 
Size, nut putting three big gobblers in a 
Crate with five or six wasters, Mar« your 
Crates first, second, and third quality, and 
Yon will be quite satisbed when account 
Sales come in. Make the agent your 
friend, it creates confidence, and will do 
is best for you; the farmer who is 
Always chopping and changing about 
Makes a serious blunder. Keep in touch 
With your salesman: tell him how many 
birds you will have for disposal, and ask 
‘im to wire you when a scarcity of white 
flesh exists. Don’t rush fhim with twenty 
Crates when ten will suffice; the agent 
Usually knows when to advise you to send 
4nd the cost of a telegram often pays. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. “3 
Fruit Preserving. 
(By W. J. Allen.) 
In districts where apricots are grown for 
drying and canning, some will be found 
ripe enough for handling this month. ‘I'o 
make the best dried fruit, allow the apricots 
to hang on the tree until they are perfectly 
ripe—but not over-ripe, or so that they 
cannot be cutin halves with a sharp knife 
and still retain their shape.’ When the 
fruit is fairly soft, pick it carefully into 
cases: this will. in all probability, necessi- 
tate going over the trees five or six times, 
As soon as possible. have the cases carted 
* to the cutting-shed. where the fruit should 
be carefully and evenly cut in halves (not 
pulled apart) and the stones removed. 
Place evenly on the trays with the outside 
np, and as soon as possible remove each 
tray to the fumigator, where it may remain 
with door closed until the fumigator is 
smfliciently full to start sulphur burning, 
This is of the utmost importance, as when 
the fruit has been once cut it must not 
be exposed to either sun or wind - 
When everything is ready, place sufficient 
sulphur or brimstone to fill the room with 
fumes for about three hours (from 1 lb to 
24 1b according to size of room), but if 
possible, allow the fruit to remain in the 
sulphure-room from eight to’ten or twelve 
hours, or until the cup is full of juice. [t 
can then be taken out ani placed, either in 
the sun, or inthe evaporator, as the case 
may be, immediately. If in the evaporator 
do not place the fruit: in the hottest part 
to begin with but gradually work from the 
. cooler to the hotter part, say, starting at 
. that part which is 140 degrees, and finishing 
off at 160 or 170 degrees Fah. In this way 
the fruit will dry in from fourteen to 
eighteen hours ; but the greatest care must 
be taken not to allow it to burn; and some 
practice will be required to tell when it is 
just dry enough : 
If the fruit is to be dried in the sun, use 
wooden trays 2 feet x 3 feet, which are made 
for the purpose, with 2} inch cleat at both 
ends These are easily handled, and can be 
used in connection with all fruits _ 
In cutting the fruit and placing it on the 
trays, or so that the cleats at the ends will 
be resting on, the ground, thus allowing a 
current of air te pass underneath and assist 
in the drying process If the weather is 
hot, which it usually is about Christmas 
time, it will take from two and a hglf to 
three and a halt days to dry the fruit, which 
will require to be sorted over so that any 
which is not quite dry may bo put on trays 
and allowed to stand for another half-day 
orso ‘The dried truit should be taken 
from the trays and put immediately into 
clean calico bags, and securely tied so that - 
the moths may not reach it. 
When sorting over in the above manner, 
any fruit whicu is small or of bad apper 
ance should not be mixed up with the good- 
‘put sorted out and marked as inferior, whlle 
the good also can be marked according|y 
When the fruit is dried and bagged, in 
should be at once stored in a cool drv place 
if exposed to heat it will become hard, lose 
in weight and deterioate in quality 
lf by any mischance the moths have got 
into the fruit and deposited ther eggs, 
- ‘Tailors, 
ACK; F., Sen., Cash Tailor, Clothie 
and General Outfitter, 284 Rund 
Street East, Adelaide. Suits to order a 
he shortest nctice, and at Lowest Prices. 
therein, an effectual means of cleaning o 
ridding such infested fruit is to dip it into 
boiling hot water for a few seconds, and 
thed spread in trays and allow to dry by 
exposure to the sun’s rays for a tew hours. 
Hruit thus dipped will not retain its lolour 
long, consequently it should be disposed of 
quickly 
aL he Mower Garden 
General gardening work of importance 
during this month is the continuance of 
surface cultivation, watering when neces- 
sary, and staking and training growing 
plants. Where water is peeded it should 
be applied thoroughly, a light surface 
sprinkling being of little service, and often 
decidedly harmful, as roots are encouraged 
too near the surface, where they will be 
injured by cultivation. A good soaking 
is necessary, and the surface should be 
broken finely again as it is drying. Plants 
that specially need water during dry 
werther are those newly; planted, and 
surface rooting kinds, such as ericas and 
ezales. When free growth is being made 
the plants should not be allowed to suffer 
from lack of water, but those with natural 
foliage rerely require it at this season, 
except under specially severe conditions 
Plants such as violets, primroses, and other 
winter and spring flowering species, re- 
quire no water, being ina state of com- 
parative rest at this time. 
After the spring floweritg is over, roses 
should be allowed to rest—ie¢., should not 
be forced into growth by the free use of 
water. Ordinary surface cultivation will 
suffice in the case of established plants or 
in very dry situations a mulch of, stable 
manure, Weakly growths may be cut 
away, and ample room should be allowed 
for the development of remaining shoots. 
Dahlias should be planted this month. 
If bads have been prepared for them, the 
the plants may be set out in lote districts 
early inthe month. The end of the 
month is preferable for the metropolitan 
district, and early districts where there is 
no danger of early frost, Divisions of the 
tubers may be set out a little later than 
young green plants from pots, and then 
flowers simultaneously with them. 
Care should be taken not to break the 
“pall” of soil when planting green plants 
from pots, and some shelter should be 
provided for a few days should the weather 
be hot. A pot inverted over the plant, or 
a rough shading of bracken or such mna- 
terial, is sufficient.. Plants in potssh vuld 
be thoroughly watered before being 
“knocked ” from tha pots, and the young 
plants carefully watered, if need arises 
for a few days. 
