530 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [L Jun, 1900. 
more thoroughly the fly is kept down during the winter on the coast the fewer 
flies there will be to deal with in spring. Where not already done, see that 
pineapples are protected from frost, and keep the ground between the plants 
well worked in order to retain moisture, as the winter months are usually dry 
and the plants are liable to injury through drought. The same remarks apply 
to bananas, and the unripe Hnishes of fruit should be protected from slight 
frosts or cold spells by any suitable available material. 
Farm and Garden Notes for June. 
Farm.—The farming operations for the month may be summarised as 
follows :— 
The land has by all practical farmers been ploughed, harrowed, and made 
ready for sowing. Pasture grasses will already have been sown in many 
instances. Where this has not been done, no time should be lost in sowing all : 
kinds of grasses, especially those mentioned in the last number of the Journal. : 
‘Wheat, barley, oats, rye, vetches, and lucerne should be sown. Frosts will have 
already occurred in many parts of the Southern and Western districts. Insect 
life is now fairly dormant, and weeds will no longer be a source of trouble and 
expense to the farmer. Hence a good opportunity occurs to sow lucerne and | 
grass seeds. Tobacco, mangolds, swedes, carrots, chicory, and buckwheat may i 
be sown. Now is time to get the land ready for maize, millets, sorghum, 
panicum, &c. Some recommend sowing maize in sheltered situations, but we 
would strongly advise deferring the sowing of maize, no matter how sheltered | 
the land may be. All that should be done now is to get the land ready and in | 
proper condition to receive the seed towards ‘the latter end of July and in | 
August. The sameremark applies to potatoes. Karly potatoes should not be 
planted till next month, el then only in very “le tered positions. The 
arrowroot crops will shortly be ready to take up, but wait until 
the tops are blackened and the bulbs have properly filled. Dig sweet 
potatoes, yams, and ginger. If you wish to store sweet potatoes, 
see that they are thoroughly ripe. To make sure of this, break a potato, 
and notice if the juice, when dry, is of a dark colour. If so, the potato is not 
ripe. But if the juice, when dry, remains white, the tubers are ready to be | 
taken up. But they are not yet ready to be stored away any more than apples 
are ready to be packed in cases or barrels the moment they are gathered. ‘The 
latter fruit wants airing by exposure. So do sweet potatoes. Spread them out 
in the field or farm for several days. This is a kind of curing process. Then 
lay down a thick layer of sand, on which place the first layer of tubers. Pour 
sand over them till they are completely covered. Then add more potatoes ; 
pour on sand as in the first instance, and continue this till all your potatoes are 
pitted. The air is thus excluded, and you can keep the potatoes right through 
the winter. ‘The place of storage should be cool, as hot weather is injurious to 
them, and even in a Queensland winter hot days are experienced. 
Wheat may be sown, and it is worth noting that early-sown wheat will 
often escape rust and other evils which affect later crops. 
Do not attempt a field crop of onions, for it is too late. 
