1 Srpr., 1902. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 221 
Farm and Garden Notes for October. 
Furm.—We are now in the second month of autumn, and may reasonably 
look for warmer weather and grateful showers of rain. The weeds will be on 
the increase, and the labours of the farmer and the gardener will be increased 
likewise to cope with them. Hence the horse-hoe, hand-hoe, and cultivator will 
have to be set diligently to work. Whatever you may have to leave undone, 
do not let the weeds get ahead of you. If you neglect to destroy them, and 
allow them to go to seed, it means the seven years’ weeding for one year’s 
seeding. Earth up growing crops which require it, and keep the ground loose 
amongst them. Plant sweet potatoes, yams, earthnuts, arrowroot, turmeric, 
ginger. Sow and plant out tobacco. Sow maize, sorghum, setaria, imphee, 
Kafir corn, Paspalum dilatatum. 
Kircurn Garpren.—Keep all crops clean; mulch and water when neces- 
sary. Cabbages may be planted out, taking care to destroy the aphis by 
spraying or dusting with tobacco dust as soon as the pest appears. French or 
kidney beans can now be sown in all parts of the State. Lima beans are a 
first-class hot-weather vegetable ; the hotter the weather, the better the Lima 
bean likes it. Sow the dwarf kinds in drills 3 feet apart and 18 inches between 
the plants; the climbing kinds must be sown 6 feet apart each way. Beetroot 
may still be sown. If cucumbers, melons, squashes, and marrows have not yet 
been sown, get them in at once, or you will lose the best of the season for these 
vegetables and fruits. Leaf-eating beetles will probably attack them, but a 
spray of Paris green or London purple will effectively suppress them. Many 
gardeners like to grow chillies. Now is the time to sow them. ‘They generally 
grow here like weeds; but, if you have any particular kind, sow them in boxes 
or in a seed-bed, and plant out when large enough. You should sow the 
bird’s-eye pepper, which is not. much larger than a large grain of wheat, and is 
very valuable to pickle-makers. It is the hottest of all the chillie family. West 
Indian gherkins, ifyou can get the seed, may be sown largely. They meet 
with a very ready sale for pickle-making. Set out egg plants in rows 4 feet 
apart. In the cool districts sow a few rows of peas, but in the hotter parts of 
the State it is a waste of time and money to try and raise peas. Plant out 
tomatoes at once, 33 feet each way. Train them on trellises, breaking off the 
shoots which spring from the junction of the leaf with the main stem. Set out 
rosellas. Besides the fruit, the plant produces an excellent fibre which can be 
utilised for tying up plants to stakes and trellises. A very nice wine may be 
made from the fruit, which is also excellent for pies, puddings, and jam. ‘The 
fruit may also be dried and stored for winter use. Weeds will be very 
troublesome now, but it is imperative to keep them down. If you have to 
water, do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Should the soil 
appear baked next day, stir it with the hoe. A fine soft tilth is of the greatest 
advantage in the vegetable garden. All plants also are benefited by mulching 
during hot weather. 
Frowrer Garpren.—lIf you have followed out the directions given for the 
management of the flower'garden during the past three months, you will now 
be rewarded with bloom of many varieties. Especially shoull the roses be in 
full bloom. It is a good time to plant out palms and all kinds of tropical and 
semi-tropical plants, being careful to give them ample water and shade. Plant 
chrysanthemums, giving them plenty of water daily. Look out for pests, 
especially aphis and caterpi!lar, and spray the plants freely if they appear. 
Sow dianthus, snapdragon. Plant coleus in the borders. Keep the borders 
well hoed and the grass edgings trimmed, and keep the lawn-mower going on 
the grass. ‘Do all the planting as much as possible in dull, showery weather. 
