422 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1899. 
and run diagonally for a distance of about 6 yards into the yard, when they 
terminate in a narrow opening sufficient to allow a wallaby to pass in, but not 
large enough for him to easily return, even if he could find the opening by 
which he entered. The plan is a simple one, and would be worth trying in 
localities where wallabies are numerous. 
ASPARAGUS. 
THE Agricultural Gazette (London) has the following on growing asparagus. 
We doubt, however, whether the method here advocated of growing the root 
elose to the surface would be beneficial in our warm climate :— 
A friend said to me lately, ‘You and I are the only two people who cut 
asparagus at the level of the ground.” If so, few people are sensible. I cut 
when 5 or 6 inches high; but in very hot weather, if a cutting has been 
negleeted, I find it nearly 1 foot high, and I cut it in two; the lower part often 
as tender as the top. When I give any away I say, “ Now, mind you eat every 
bit, or I shall grudge my gift,” and they tell me that they did, Asparagus, 
then, has some taste. 
And now I will add a little advice that may be new to some, because not on 
the old fashion. Since the plant spreads its roots horizontally at about 6 inches — 
below surface, the old plan of making beds 1 foot or 2 feet deep of rich matter. 
is useless. Let the soil be rich to just below the level of the roots, and every 
autumn top-dress when the haulm is removed ripe. The roots, as in the case of 
vines, want to be near the surface for warmth. ’ 
In making a new bed, let it be away from all bushes and the like. It isa 
jealous plant. And let every bed be of one single line of plants about 2 feet 
apart from one another. The stools will then in time put up immense numbers 
of big shoots. I sow and grow on the flat. While the plants or stools are 
growing (a matter of years), other vegetables may be grown at a reasonable but 
iereasing distance. The asparagus should be the monarch of all it surveys. 
REMEDY FOR FLIES. 
Iris a troublesome question to know what to do with the flies this summer. 
This is the best method of destroying them that we know of. ‘ake haltf-a-tea- 
spoonful of black pepper in powder, 1 teaspoonful of brown sugar, and 1 tea- 
spoonful of eream ; mix them well together, and place in the room on a plate when 
the flies are troublesome, and they will soon disappear. Cold green tea made 
very strong and sweetened with sugar will also, where set about the room in 
saucers, attract flies and destroy them. 
SHOEING GEESE. 
Accorpine to a consular report issued recently, a regular “goose market” 
takes place at Warsaw during the month of October, through which some 
3,000,000 geese pass, some for consumption at Warsaw, but most for export to 
Germany. One-third of the geese come from the Government of Vilna, and 
many more haye come long distances, which would ruin their feet, to prevent 
which they are “shod,” as it is called, before setting out on their journey to 
Warsaw —that is, they are driven first through tar poured on the ground, and 
then through sand. After this operation has been repeated several times, their 
feet become covered with a hard crust which protects them during their long 
march on hard ground. 
FRUIT PROPAGATION EXTRAORDINARY. 
*““Our anp Home” says that the crofters of Mull and Iona have come by a 
number of strong fruit trees in a most remarkable manner. Apples from the 
wreck of the Dominion liner, ‘‘ Labrador,” were strewn in profusion along the 
high-water mark of the spring tides, and thousands of the pips had germinated 
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