Life Sciences Commons^™

Recommended Cereal Varieties : 1969, H M. Fisher, J. T. Reeves, J. A. Parish

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cereal varieties widely recommended for growing in 1969 are Gamenya and Falcon wheats, Dampier and Beecher barleys and Swan oats.

Other varieties include the new wheat Darkan, which is recommended only for the higher rainfall areas, the rust resistant wheats Mengavi and Gamut, and Irwin oats for late sowing in northeastern districts.

Lupins In Western Australia. 2. Cultivation Methods, John Sylvester Gladstones

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

While lupins are by and large plants of lighter and less fertile soils, important differences exist among them in their soil preferences.

There may also be some differences in climatic requirements. Present knowledge of these differences is summarized in the Table below.

Development Of Vascular Connections Between Lateral Buds And Main Stem In Some Decapitated Plants, Syed Mushtaq Husain, Albert J. Linck

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

After decapitation of pea plants, with resultant growth of lateral buds, the thickness of vascular tissue appeared to be correlated with the growth rate of buds. Basal lateral shoots had better developed vascular strands than buds on upper parts of the plants. IAA application retarded growth of the lateral buds and inhibited their vascular connections, but all lateral buds eventually grew in spite of the IAA application.

A Disc Electrophoretic Procedure For Separating Proteins Of Marchantia Polymorpha: Esterases., Jerome Anaya, Donald J. Kraft

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Extracts from Marchanlia polymorpha were used in the development of a disc electrophoretic procedure for the separation of proteins. Dialyzed and fresh extracts were found to produce best resolution when electrophoresed in Tris-Glycine buffer (pH 8.3) and 50 millamps current for 45-60 minutes. The esterase enzyme system was used as an indication of separation. Significantly, 5 bands were detected in induced thalli attesting to the sensitivity and application of this method to developmental studies.

Estimating Surface Area Of Soybean Root Systems, John B. Carlson

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

A procedure for estimating the total root length, root surface, and root hair surface is described for greenhouse-grown soybeans. Data are presented on the extent of the root systems of 3-week and 14-week old soybeans. The possibility of correlating data from greenhouse-grown soybeans with that of field-grown soybeans as a method to make some predictions on extent of the root systems of field-grown soybeans is suggested.

Dormancy And Life Span Of Saffron Thistle Seeds, B J. Quinlivan, J. R. Pierce

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RESEARCH in the Geraldton area has indicated that seeds of the saffron thistle (Carthamus lanatus) spread their germination over some seven years but most germinate in the first two years.

Factors influencing the rate of germination and the survival of seeds are the depth of burial and the presence of termites in the soil.

Dehulling And Scarifying Serradella Seed, J R. Weeldenburg, R. W. Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

YELLOW FLOWERED SERRADELLA is growing in popularity as a pasture legume on coastal sandy soils in Western Australia, and its use may increase further when new selections become available.

However, its rate of entry into commerce has been limited by the poor germination of the seed available.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Berry Poison (Gastrolobium Parvifolium Benth.) Spike Poison (Gastrolobium Glaucum C.A. Gardn.) Hook-Point Poison (Gastrolobium Hamulosum Meissn.) Scale-Leaf Poison (Gastrolobium Appressum C.A. Gardn.), T E H Aplin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

This article deals with four species which, apart from spike poison, may be distinguished by their small leaf size. Scale-leaf poison is found in the Irwin district, and the other three are present in the Avon district.

Fertility Build Up Under Northern Wheatbelt Pastures, M L. Poole

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Experiments on two farmers' properties demonstrated that legume pastures increase the fertility of northern wheatbelt soils.

Crops on legume pastures had higher yields than crops on volunteer pasture.

The experiments also indicated the most productive legume species for each situation and demonstrated that nitrogen added by legumes has a residual effect in the soil.

Saltland Pastures, C V. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENT of Agriculture in Western Australia considerable areas of highly productive land have become salt affected to the degree that normal crops and pastures cannot be grown.*

However, species and establishment methods are available which can bring at least some of this land back into production.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Champion Bay Poison (G. Oxylobioides Benth.), Sandplain Poison (G. Microcarpum Meissn.), Cluster Poison (G. Bennettsianum C.A. Gardn.), Hutt River Poison (G. Propinquum C.A. Gardn.), Gilbernine Poison (G. Rotundifolium Meissn.), T E H Aplin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS article deals with five species of the genus Gastrolobium. The plants look rather similar so in the past have often been confused. They occur over a considerable area of the agricultural region of Western Australia.

More Butterfat Per Acre At Denmark Research Station, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

STOCKING rates on dairy farms are generally too low and can be substantially increased, but unfortunately there is no satisfactory measurement to indicate the potential of a particular pasture or environment.

A trial carried out on Denmark Research Station in 1966-67, to obtain information on carrying capacity of a dryland kikuyu-subterranean clover pasture.

Pasture Improvement In South Western Australia, J W. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

"There is no doubt that Australia's enhanced prosperity in the last 30 years has been dependent in no small measure on the use of legume-based pastures." E. M. Hutron, June, 1968. *

THE LAST 30 years have seen an increased interest in pasture improvement which has transformed much of Western Australia. Large areas have been sown to new and improved pasture species—as a result productivity of both livestock and cereal enterprises has risen.

Control Of Clover Infertility In Sheep, H G. Neil, H. E. Fels, C. M. Francis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A summary of practices recommended for the control of infertility caused by subterranean clover in West Australian sheep.

PROLONGED grazing of green subterranean clover pastures often reduces ewe fertility. In more extreme cases, obvious signs of clover disease occur.

Promising Results On West Kimberley Pindan Country, A L. Payne

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN the 22 to 28 inch rainfall belt of the West Kimberley area of Western Australia are extensive areas of what is locally known as "pindan" country.

The term "pindan" refers to a light red or yellow sandy soil type supporting scattered Eucalypts, sparse-dense wattle scrub and grasses such as curly spinifex, ribbon grass and native sorghum.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Net-Leaf Poison (O. Racemosum (Turcz.) C.A. Gardn.), Brother-Brother (O. Tetragonophyllum E. Pritzel), Rigid-Leaf Poison (O. Rigidum C.A. Gardn.), Slender Poison (O. Heterophyllum (Turcz.) Benth.), Round-Leaf Poison (G. Pycnostachyum Benth.), T E H Aplin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS article deals with five toxic species, all of which are found in the Eyre district of the South-Western region of Western Australia.

Growing And Marketing Yates For Profit, Frank Melville

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE YATES APPLE is a late maturing red variety which because of its good storage qualities enjoyed a prominent place on the late market for many years.

The trees grow and crop well, the only disabilities are insufficient colour under some circumstances, small size fruit and a tendency to shrivel.

All these troubles can be successfully overcome by appropriate management.

Wren Wheat Unimpressive In West Australian Trials, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WREN WHEAT, the subject of current controversy in the Eastern States, has been tested in trials in Western Australia and the results have indicated that it is not likely to yield well in this State.

Pasture Seed Production In Western Australia, B J. Quinlivan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Pasture seed production in Western Australia is an industry with a somewhat turbulent past. Booms and slumps have been the rule rather than the exception.

However, during the past few years there has been some degree of "stability"—if not in price, at least in terms of total production.