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Plant Disease - Early Blight Or Target Spot Of Potatoes, W P. Cass Smith, M Hardie, B N. Lowe

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Early blight or target spot caused by the fungus Alternaria solani is a widespread disease of potatoes which in Western Australia is most prevalent in crops dug in autumn and early summer. The disease may attack both foliage and tubers, but the tuber rot phase of the disease has hitherto caused most concern to local growers because it causes obvious losses in storage. The less obvious but more serious effects of the foliage blight have generally been overlooked, chiefly because the disease usually develops late in the season when the crops are approaching maturity. However recent spray trials with new …

Bracken Fern Control, F E. Ryan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Bracken fern occurs over a large proportion of the civilised world and is recognised in all countries as a serious pasture pest. Its control is a matter of great concern. In Western Australia large areas have been invaded by bracken, and recommendations for its control have been made from time to time. Generally speaking, control measures are aimed at the removal of the frond cover and stimulating pasture growth beneath.

Crop Spraying With Hormone-Like Weedkillers, G R. W Meadly

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Although a considerable amount of investigational work on various weeds was carried out during last season it is intended to devote this article to experience gained from large scale undertakings as distinct from experiments. A very successful aerial spraying project was undertaken against water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) at Lake Monger and pasture weeds such as thistles and Cape tulip (Homeria spp.) were treated with hormone-like preparations in a number of districts, but by far the greatest activity with these chemicals was associated with the selective control of weeds such as wild turnip (Brassica Tournefortii), wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and mustard …

Infectious Pneumonia Of Pigs, C R. Toop

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Infectious pneumonia is by far the most common disease of pigs in Western Australia and 1 is a source of serious loss to the pig industry. It has a wide distribution, and evidence of its existence in one form or another may be found in a large proportion of piggeries throughout the State. It is largely confined to young pigs and is most frequently observed in weaners and slips. For the most part it occurs as a chronic disease with symptoms of coughing, unthnftiness and retarded growth, but it may occasionally assume an acute form accompanied by serious mortality.

Disease Of Bees, R S. Coleman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

All beekeepers dread the appearance of disease in their hives, for it means at the least a large drop in the honey crop and at the worst, complete destruction of whole apiaries and the beekeepers' means of livelihood. Quite apart from the economic loss, beekeepers are usually men who work with bees because they like them, and naturally they do not want to see whole colonies destroyed.

Dingo Destruction 2—Some Hints On Shooting, A G. Moore

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

These articles have been written to assist professional and amateur doggers, as well as farmers, to destroy dingoes or wild dogs (the term "wild dogs" is generally used to include both dingoes and domestic dogs which are running wild). The information given has been gathered from extensive experience in most of the areas of the State to the south of the Transcontinental railway line.

Schools For Farmers - Muresk Winter Courses Resumed

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

THE short instructional courses for farmers which were a popular feature of the Muresk Agricultural College in pre-war years will be recommenced during July next.

Two three-day courses have been arranged, one on sheep and wool extending from the evening of July 21, to the afternoon of July 24, and another dealing with pig husbandry lasting from the evening of July 28 to the afternoon of July 31. Farmers desiring to enroll in these courses should obtain an application form from the Principal of the Muresk Agricultural College, Muresk, W.A., or from the Department of Agriculture, St. George's Terrace, Perth.

Plant Disease - Black Spot (Anthracnose) Of Grapes, W P. Cass Smith, H L. Harvey, W R. Jamieson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Black spot or Anthracnose of grapes caused by the fungus Elsinoe ampelina is a widespread and serious disease. In commercial vineyards it is often responsible for considerable reduction in yield and quality of fruit, and in home gardens also it may prove very damaging. Under commercial conditions the disease has proved difficult to control in seasons favourable for its development despite the routine application of accepted fungicides. Fortunately, preliminary results of recent spray trials indicate that greatly improved control is likely to result in future from the use of a number of new fungicides.

Seasonal Reminders

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Tobacco Growing

In experiments which have been conducted for nine years at the Research Station, it has been found that, on light sandy loam soil, a lupin cover crop produces tobacco of the best quality during the following season. This applies especially to new land and the apparent reason is that lupins, when ploughed into the soil, produce a good bulk of organic matter which creates a better texture in the soil and a better moisture holding capacity. New Zealand blue lupins are recommended and it is advisable to inoculate seed before sowing, especially on new land. Application of fertiliser …

Efficiency In The Apiary, R S. Coleman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Efficiency is a word that most people associate with factories and city life, but it is just as important, if not more important, for the primary producer. Reduced to everyday English, efficiency means more goods produced with less labour and with lower capital investment for the unit of produce sold. Efficiency can be called planned business commonsense designed to save time and money.

Plant Disease - Corm Rots Of Gladioli, Olga M. Goss

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Several diseases of gladioli now present in Western Australia can be very damaging to the plants under certain conditions. The diseases referred to in this article attack not only the above-ground portions of the plant, but the corms also, and their introduction to new areas usually results from the planting of infected corms. When such corms are planted the disease spreads to the developing shoots and leads to inferior growth and flower production, and in some cases to the death of the plant. An even more serious feature of the disease is that the soil becomes contaminated with the organisms …

Worms In Sheep, C R. Toop

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The parasitic worms of sheep are widely distributed throughout Australia and are a source of serious loss to the sheep and wool industry. This results from the loss of condition which occurs in infested animals as well as from the failure of young sheep to thrive and make normal growth, and there is a consequent reduction both in carcase values and in the quantity and quality of wool produced. Furthermore, heavy infestations with worms are frequently responsible for serious mortalities.

The Farm Bookshelf

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Dr. Josue de Castro, Chairman of Executive, Food and Agriculture Organisation, is a Brazilian, whose recently-published book "Geography of Hunger" presents an appalling picture of a world in which hunger is still the most potent source of social misfortunes.

Wild Dogs

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The Agricultural Protection Board has again pointed out that the time being spent by the Government doggers in hunting Individual wild dogs in farming areas was seriously hampering the more important work of destroying dogs by large-scale poisoning and trapping in their outback breeding areas.

Have Your Journals Bound!

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Books are expensive in these days, but any farmer can acquire a useful agricultural library at trifling: cost by keeping- his copies of his "Journal of Agriculture" and having each year's issues bound

Dingo And Wild Dog Destruction, A G. Moore

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

It has often been said that poison is the best means of destroying dingoes and wild dogs. Poison acts silently and does not have the frightening effect of trapping. When used properly—on a well-planned system and at the right times— poisoning has given excellent results in controlling the pests.

The Citrus White Fly, C F.H Jenkins, D G. Shedley

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

For the first time in Western Australia the citrus white fly was recorded on lemon trees at Maddington in 1950 and since then it has been found to be widely distributed in the Maddington-Gosnells area and in scattered situations in the Darling Range, Middle Swan and Perth suburbs. It is also of interest to note that the insect appeared in Mildura citrus orchards in Victoria (Anon 1952), about the same time as it was reported from Western Australia, although there appears to be no explanation for its sudden dispersal over the continent.

Seasonal Reminders

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Poultry Notes

The March-April period affords the poultry farmer an opportunity to prepare the A ground for sowing greenfeed crops such as oats, barley, rape and lucerne. Brooder houses and rearing quarters should be cleaned out, floors disinfected with a 2% solution of caustic soda (1 lb. caustic soda to five gallons water), and all woodwork and lappings in the house sprayed with creosote. This gives the creosote a chance to soak into the woodwork long before the chickens are received.

Here's The Answer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

TICK FEVER

" I am experiencing trouble with young pullets losing the use of their legs, with accompanying form of diarrhoea. Most of the affected birds have dark coloured combs and die within two days of showing the first symptoms of being diseased. I have searched for tick but am unable to locate any trace of them. Can you assist me in this matter?"

Black Spot Or Early Blight Of Tomatoes, R F. Doepel

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Black spot disease is one of the most important limiting factors to tomato production in the Geraldton district of this State. All above ground parts of tomato plants are affected and, under weather conditions favourable to the disease, serious defoliation and reduction of fruit yields are experienced.

Suppurative Otisis In Pigs, C R. Toop

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Suppurative otitis, an inflammatory condition involving the deeper structures of the ear, is commonly met with in young pigs. Affected animals show characteristic symptoms the most prominent of which is the abnormal carriage of the head which is constantly held on one side and this may be accompanied by difficulty in maintaining balance and direction.

St. John's Wort - Beetle Parasites Imported

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Some hundreds of thousands of Chrysomelid beetles, which attack St. John's Wort, were recently forwarded to this State by air freight from the C.S.I.R.O. Division of Entomology, Canberra, and have been liberated at Greenbushes and Forestgrove.

Beekeepers' Field Day

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

About 80 beekeepers, attended the first apicultural field day organised by the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Beekeepers' Section of the Farmers' Union of Western Australia. The field day was held at the Government Apiary, Yanchep, on December 13, and hot, sunny weather made it a successful and interesting innovation.

Caked Superphosphate

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Farmers who have experienced difficulties in handling superphosphate which has caked hard during storage may be interested in this method of reconditioning employed by Mr. J. Trott, of Corrigin, and described hereunder.