1 May, 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 431 
Farm and Garden Notes for May. 
Tur farming operations for this month may be summed up in a few words. 
Your land has presumably been ploughed and made ready for sowing. If 
sowings have not already been made, lose no time in sowing all kinds of 
pasture grasses, as well as wheat, barley, cats, rye, yvetches, and lucerne. See 
that potatoes are earthed up. Cut tobacco. Those who may have a patch of 
cotton should now pick it. Although directions for stock-feeding do not 
properly come under the head of field work for the month, still farmers will do 
well to prepare for winter feeding of stock by utilising all kinds of green-stuff, 
whether in the silo or in the stack. It should be the aim of every agriculturist 
who owns a dairy herd to sow permanent grasses suitable to the climate and to 
the district in which he lives. Nearly all pastoral country in the colony is 
covered with indigenous grasses, and very few acres are artificially sown. In 
1896 only 11,960 acres out of 386,775 acres under general cultivation were 
devoted to perennial grasses. A few acres of clover or other grasses form a 
valuable adjunct to the farm, and will support a surprisingly large number of 
cattle in proportion to acreage. 
Kitchen Garden.—Prepare all ground by digging and manuring for 
successive crops. Plant out cabbages and cauliflower for a succession. ‘T'rans- 
plant onions. These may, however, still be sown, although it is late in the 
season. Keep the seed beds clean. Sow beans, peas, radish, lettuce, carrots, 
arsnips, beet, leek, rhubarb, herbs, cabbage, spinach, mustard cress, &c. 
ihe over the celery rows. Dig and prepare beds for asparagus. Full 
instructions were given in the last numher of the Journal for the cultivation 
of this most excellent vegetable. For those who have not got those notes, it 
will be of use to note that in preparing beds for asparagus the best soil must 
be chosen. The most favourable is a deep sandy loam, dug deep (18 inches), 
and well manured, a good sprinkling of salt being added a month before the 
planting season, that the rain and atmosphere may act upon it. Then peg out 
the beds 4 feet wide, leaving a path 2 feet wide on each side of the bed. 
Plant four rows in each bed, keeping the front rows 9 inches from the side ; 
cover the crowns at least 8 inches with good loose soil and manure mixed ; 
rake to a smooth surface. The plants must be 15 inches asunder. ‘The object 
of having the beds so narrow is that they may not be trodden on, as, from the 
length of time they remain without further opportunity for deep digging, 
everything must be avoided which would tend to compress the earth. For old 
beds, cut the stalks down in May, and dig the beds lightly over with a fork, - 
and lay over them a good dressing of manure. In September you may begin 
to cut; you can ensure the blanching of the tender shoots by placing earthen 
pipes or bamboo joints over them. 
Transplant strawberries—such as Trollope’s Victoria, Marguerite, and 
other prolific sorts. 
Flower Garden.—The directions for March and April are equally applic- 
able to May. Prepare ground that is to be planted, and, as soon as rain comes, 
plant out at once. Cut back and prune all trees and shrubs ready for 
digging. Dahlia roots may be taken up and placed in a shady place out-of 
doors, Plant bulbs as in March. 
HI 
