go off in a short time; moreover, it is quite harmless. The only danger is in using it when not required, and checking the natural course of fermentation, thereby throwing back the process for many months, and perhaps setting up a third fermentation, which is certain to prejudice the wine.

In unsettled weather, with electrical disturbance, or sudden changes of barometer, a disturbance often occurs, and this may be mistaken for disturbance caused by decomposition of lees. However, if only caused by atmospheric disturbance, the wine will become clear again in a few days after a favourable change occurs.

If all goes well, no third racking will be necessary till about the time the vines begin to bud in the spring, or before in some warm situations.

After what has been written, the force of previous remarks on the impossibility of making hard and fast rules will be fully understood, and that much must be left to the judgment of the wine-maker, who must assist nature in her work by removal of lees soon after they cease to be deposited, and before any disturbance takes place.

He must also bear in mind that he has to combat an ever-present but unseen enemy in the germs which are floating in the air, ready to fasten on any exposed surface, whether it be wine in the cask or the inner staves of the cask above the wine. However, the remedy, sulphur match, should always be at hand, and neglect of its use is certain to carry the penalty.

From the voluminous directions given, especially in the early part of this paper, it may be thought that wine-making is such an elaborate process that it would occupy the whole time of the maker; but this is by no means the case; many of the changes herein guarded against may not occur. However, in the first year it is advisable that all of the directions be kept in view, and followed where necessary. The next and each succeeding year that wine is made the process will appear simpler, and occupy less attention.

An underground cellar is an advantage, but not a necessity. Wine stored in a cellar does not waste so fast, or require such constant attention in filling up. A cellar also preserves empty casks from shrinking and letting out the fumes of sulphur, and admitting germs of evil.

Empty casks, when there is no cellar, should be covered up with earth all but the bung, which must be left free for sulphuring from time to time.

With all varieties of the grape the first approach of ripening is indicated by a blackening of the foot stalk of the bunch near its junction with the cane. If this is observed and noted in connection with observations with the saccharometer, the use of that instrument, after a season or two of practice, may be dispensed with.

Perhaps the best varieties of grapes for general planting are the Hermitage (Shiraz) for red, and the Verdielho for white wine, but the latter does not bear freely in all localities, in which case some of the "Shepherd's Riesling," or White Shiraz," may with advantage be added.

66

In conclusion I repeat that this paper is written for the sole purpose of teaching the beginner how to conduct fermentation. The use of sugar by the skilled wine-maker is unnecessary and objectionable; but without its aid in establishing a standard strength, the writer is at a loss to lay down rules for general instruction which will be any better for the beginner than the books already published, and which often, as the tyro complains, he

cannot understand.

Lucerne-growing for Pasture.

THE following practical information on the above subject, obtained through Mr. Inspector of Stock Watson, Corowa, at the instance of the Chief Inspector, is published for the information of our readers. If further particulars are desired with respect to this subject the Department will be glad to furnish them.

Questions and Answers re Growth of Lucerne.

1. The area laid down in lucerne in Corowa district?

2. The principal growers, with approximate area in each

case?

1. About 21,000 acres.

3. The nature of the soil and subsoil in which it is grown, distinguishing between allu

vial and other land?

4. State fully and concisely directions for laying down the land with lucerne, also what proportion of land sown in ordinary box forest land?

5. The cost of preparing the land?

6. The quantity of seed per acre, the cost per lb., and the best kind?

7. The best season for sowing?

8. Has the sowing of lucerne been generally a success, so far as growing the crop is concerned?

Hon J. C. Wallace, Quat Quatta 4,000
Also small lots at Merton Ball Plain and small

holdings.

3. The best is sandy soil, loamy, with clay subsoil, but heavier land will carry lucerne with more seed.

4. Plough 5 or 6 inches, but not deep enough to bring cold clay to surface. Harrow two or three times, as required. Sow when harrowing is fresh, and run over with brush harrow or bags nailed lengthways to a light_spar. Most of the land in this district is dry-rung box forest.

5. Eight shillings per acre without clearing. The clearing will depend on the timber, and how long ringbarked.

6. On this point there is a difference of opinion. Mr. H. Hay says 2 lb. per acre is enough. At Quat Quatta they put in 8 lb. I should say it in a great measure depends on the land. Cost per lb., 7d.

7. Spring.

8. The greatest success. Fat stock, all through the lucerne, have been and are going from this district when there could have been none; besides the very much larger carrying capacity it has given to the holdings. Mr. H. Hay carries and fattens 40,000 sheep, 700 cattle, on 26,000 acres, of which only 7,000 acres are lucerne, and I could mention others.

N.B.-There will be a much larger average laid down every year, as not only the value is so much appreciated, but many owners who have let their land on the half system for wheat have made a condition that the last year the land should be laid down in lucerne. I consider there is a great future before us in this plant, and as it does not want much rain, from my experience of the pine scrub land on the Lachlan, I think it would do well there. Mr. M'Farland is sowing lucerne broadcast without any preparation. How this will do time will show. Sowing it with the wheat has been tried, but, so far as I can see, not with success.

Lucerne Pest.

BY A. MOLINEUX,

Secretary, Bureau of Agriculture, South Australia.

THIS pest first appeared about ten or twelve years ago on Mr. James Bell's property at Morphettville, South Australia, and should it make its appearance in isolated spots in New South Wales heroic measures would be justifiable in order to prevent its spread.

In South Australia the insects are generally known as "lucerne fleas"; in Europe the common name for them is "springtails," and the local name is quite as much a misnomer as the term "flea-beetle," by which they are at times referred to in New South Wales.

The pests extend as far south as Morphettville and Clarendon, and north beyond the sewage farm. The insects eat the soft part of the leaves, completely skeletonising them, and giving a badly infested field a whitish appearance. The damage done to lucerne fields is very great, whilst serious injury has been done to fodder crops of all descriptions, and even to cereal crops, vegetables, and to flower-gardens.

In 1887 the late Fraser S. Crawford described the pest in the Garden and Field, stating they belonged to Lubbock's order of Collembola or Springtails, family Smynthuride. For their treatment he suggested close feeding or cutting of the lucerne, and then dressing with quick-lime, sulphate of ammonia, superphosphate, kainit, or some other chemical which would act as a stimulant to the plant and be distasteful to the insects. He also suggested that a light frame, covered with canvas, and fixed to light wheels in such a manner as to be easily adjusted according to the height of the lucerne, and the undersides of the canvas tarred, would, if drawn across infested fields, kill great numbers of insects. Paris green at rate of 1 lb. in 200 gallons of water was also suggested.

In September, 1891, a number of experiments with a Pearson-Dobbie broadcast sprayer were carried out under the superintendence of Professor Lowrie, assisted by Messrs. A. W. Dobbie, W. C. Grasby, and H. Kelly. Kerosene emulsion, containing about 70 per cent. of kerosene and diluted, was first tried. By this means large numbers of insects were killed, but owing to faulty preparation the oil separated from the water. Paris green and London purple, at rate of 1 lb. in 50 gallons of water, was also tried. This seemed to have a beneficial result, but in a very short time the field was again infested.

Mr. Chas. French, F.L.S., Entomologist to the Department of Agriculture of Victoria, identified specimens sent from this office as Smerenthids, but could recommend no remedial treatment, except spraying with Paris green

(1 lb. in 200 gallons of water) or Hellebore, or dressing with mixture of 1 cwt. sulphate of iron, 1 cwt. sulphate of potash, and 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia per acre. If stock were kept off fields sprayed with Paris green at strength mentioned for twenty-four hours they would not be injured by the poison.

Mr. Henry Tryon, Entomologist to the Queensland Department of Agriculture, identified the insect as a Smynthurus, probably a new species allied to S. viridis. He also found a few insects belonging to (apparently) a species of Papirius (Spring tails).

Mr. Claude Fuller, Assistant Entomologist to the New South Wales Department, thought the insects identical with Smynthurus viridis, a European species.

A number of growers in the infested districts were communicated with, asking for information concerning the habits of the pest, the area over which it had spread, and the remedies tried, and the substance of their replies is as follows:

:

Mr. Jas. Bell, Morphettville, states he tried many different methods of coping with the pest, devoting a considerable amount of time and money to his experiments. Spraying with Paris green appeared to destroy the insects, and did no injury to the cattle grazed on it the following day, but the paddock was reinfested in a few days from the adjoining land. His most successful plan was to turn a flock of sheep into the field when the ground was moist. They puddled it down, and apparently destroyed the insects, and for about six weeks the lucerne kept growing, but then the insects came in, and the crop was as bad as ever. Mr. Bell doubts whether any effectual remedy will ever be discovered, unless it is a natural enemy of the pest.

Mr. W. A. Morphett, of Morphettville, states he has tried harrowing and rolling, but although this destroyed great numbers, it had no lasting effect. He thought close grazing with sheep would be most beneficial, through close trampling, and possibly the effect of the urine.

Mr. I. S. Elworthy, manager of Sir Thomas Elder's Morphettville Stud Farm, states he has tried carbolic acid, lime, and salt, but derived the most benefit from the use of gas-lime, fresh from the retorts. It would be difficult to obtain this in sufficient quantity to treat large areas. It requires very careful use, or it will injure the lucerne. Above all, he recommends sheep folded at night, with shifting hurdles upon the lucerne-paddock until the ground is quite bare, and when the whole area has been folded over, scarify the land lightly, when the lucerne will grow with renewed vigour, and remain free from the pest longer than with any other treatment he has tried.

Mr. G. A. Gebhardt, of Glenelg, also reports beneficial results from use of fresh gas-lime after the lucerne has been cut.

Mr. H. Sherriff, of Underdale, reports beneficial results from use of two dressings of specially-prepared superphosphate, at rate of cwt. per acre. Folded flocks of sheep on paddocks in wet weather gave better results.

Mr. C. F. Fenn, of Fullarton, states that he used fresh gas-lime, which caused the disappearance of the insects, and they have never reappeared. Mr. W. Kither, of Glenelg, reports, through Mr. J. Cox, having used gaslime and quick-lime,-the gas-lime being a sure exterminator. Burning the surface of the land and deep-working was also very beneficial.

Mr. J. H. Aldridge, of Richmond, reports using Paris green mixed with gypsum with very little result.

Mr. Bedford Hack, manager of the sewage farm, states he has used freshly-slacked lime, followed by heavy flooding with sewage water, but this