Life Sciences Commons^™

The Passion Fruit - Its Cultivation In Western Australia, F Melville

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

Passion fruit has been grown commercially for many years in Western Australia, A where its delightful flavour has made it very popular. It may be eaten fresh or as a component of fruit salads and preserves, is held in high regard by housewives for flavouring cakes and icing, and more recently has been extensively used in the production of a proprietary aerated beverage.

Thinning Of Deciduous Fruits, F Melville, T F. Herlihy

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

In the absence of any artificial control of the crop, most varieties of fruit trees will set much more fruit than it is possible for the trees to bring to marketable size and this is particularly the case with stone fruits. Even under good cultural and weather conditions the trees are often unable to bring the fruit to satisfactory size unless thinning is practised.

Citrus-Growing In Western Australia, H R. Powell

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

The 1952 Crop Reviewed

Western Australia in a normal year produces approximately 500,000 bushels of citrus fruits comprising 70% oranges, 20% lemons and the remainder made up mainly of grapefruit and mandarins. A general decline in production has occurred over the past three years due largely to the unfavorable seasons which have been experienced. In 1949 just over 500,000 bushels were produced. The 1950 figure was below 450,000 bushels while in 1951 approximately 375,000 bushels of citrus fruits were harvested.

Reduction Of Pre-Harvest Drop Of Washington Navel Oranges By 2,4-D Sprays, N J. Halse

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

The uses of various synthetic "plant hormones" in agriculture are many—one of the most generally known of these uses being their action in reducing pre-harvest drop of fruit. Naphthalene acetic acid, commonly known as N.A.A. is widely used for this purpose with apples, but 2,4-DichIorophenoxyacetic acid, commonly known as 2,4-D, is much more effective with citrus fruit.

Applying Orchard Fertiliser A Handy Home-Made Aid, H S. Argyle

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

Fertilisers such as sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, being rich in nitrogen are used extensively by orchardists and market gardeners. Both these compounds are readily soluble in water and are easily carried through the soil to the rooting areas of plants and trees.

Cultivation Of The Cape Gooseberry, Roy L. Cailes

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

The Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is a member of the large family Solanaceae, which includes the potato, the tomato and the capsicum. The plant is a native of Peru and Chile, where the species is known to have been cultivated for over two centuries. Records show that by 1807 it had been introduced into the settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, and shortly afterwards found its way to New South Wales, where it became known as the "Cape Gooseberry," and was the chief fruit that the colonists cultivated at that time. Cape Gooseberries have been grown for many years …

Gas Storage Of Apples, S E. Hardisty

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

As the storage life of many popular varieties of apples is limited in England by their susceptibility to low temperature breakdown, gas storage was developed as an alternative means of retarding the ripening of the fruit. Although the method does not decrease the susceptibility to low temperature breakdown it does permit longer storage at relatively high temperatures (40 F). It is used extensively in Great Britain and America and it also has general application for storage at 32° F.

As the store is sealed off and no fruit is removed until the end of the storage period, it is essential …

Chart For Packing Apples

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

A chart giving details of the correct method of packing apples is now available at the Department of Agriculture, Perth, or from District Officers. This chart embraces packs for apples of various shapes, such as round, flat, long and medium long types with brief explanatory remarks. It is printed in two forms; a wall-type chart for packing-shed use and a small pocket-size folder.

Diphenyl Wraps For Oranges, F. Melville

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

Diphenyl impregnated wraps have been successfully used on a commercial basis overseas for improving the keeping quality of oranges. Last year Mr. E. G. Hall, of the C.S.I.R.O. Laboratories, Homebush, kindly made available a quantity of diphenyl wraps of American origin and some of these were used in a small storage experiment with Washington Navel oranges.

Apples, Pears,And Stone Fruit, H. R. Powell

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

Disappointing settings of pome fruits have been a feature of this season's crop reports. Hail caused heavy losses in restricted areas and a lot of fruit was blemished by looper caterpillars. The setting of stone fruits was particularly good.

Orchard Notes - March-April

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

Cover crops should be planted with the first winter rains to ensure satisfactory growth before the cold wet weather sets in. New Zealand Blue Lupins are the favourite crop, particularly amongst citrus orchardists. The lupin is a vigorous plant and produces excellent bulk. Tick beans may be used as an alternative crop and are useful in shaded positions. They are extensively used in commercial vineyards. Field peas may also be planted but the bulk of green material produced is much less than from lupins or tick beans.