Life Sciences Commons^™

Wheat Variety Trials On Research Stations, J T. Reeves, J. L. Mcmullan

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

THE results of wheat variety trials at seven Research Stations in the medium and low rainfall areas for the years 1957, 1958 and 1959 are presented and discussed.

The trials are designed to give information on yield and flour quality of promising crossbreds originating from local breeding programmes and newly produced varieties from other parts of Australia.

Large scale variety trials are the final tests in the long process of selection and testing which is essential before a new crossbred can be released.

The new wheats are compared with standard ones under different conditions of soil and climate.

Castor Beans In Trial Plantings : Bundidup Research Station, Wokalup, 1959-60, T Pavy

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

THE main producing countries of the world are Brazil, India, U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. This means Australia has to import her supplies of castor oil, which has led to great interest in the possibility of growing castors in Australia.

Since the turn of the century, this interest has been increasing, and has accelerated in recent years, but it has never passed the experimental stage.

Dwarf Fruit Trees, Frank Melville

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

IN this country where most fruits and particularly apples and pears are grown without irrigation, heavy crops and summer stress restrict tree size.

The aim of most growers therefore, has been to grow larger trees and little interest has been shown in trees with dwarfing tendencies.

However, in countries with ideal conditions for growth, trees tend to grow too big and become uneconomic in terms of labour costs.

Rice Growing In The Ord River Valley, C B. Langfield

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

THE first commercial rice crop in the Ord River Valley was planted late in I960 and plans are in hand for some 35,000 acres of land to be subdivided for irrigation settlement by 1964, with rice as a major crop.

Trees Of Western Australia. 91. The Powder Barked Wandoo (Eucalyptus Accedens - W.V. Fitzgerald). 92. The Dongara Mallee (Eucalyptus Dongarraenis - Maiden And Blakely). 93. The Messmate Or Stringbark (Eucalyptus Tetrodonta F. Muell). 94. The Sturt Creek Mallee (Eucalyptus Odontocarpa F. Muell), Charles Austin Gardner

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

THIS species was originally named by W. V. Fitzgerald from specimens which he obtained from near Pingelly in November, 1903.

The name accedens is from the Latin accedo—to approach or come near—and is here used in reference to the supposed close approach of the tree to the common wandoo (Eucalyptus redunca var. elata).

Potato Variety Trial, James P. Fallon, G. C. De Haan

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

DELAWARE has been the only variety of Potato grown commercially in Western Australia. This is due to the fact that in the past an early maturing variety with a short dormancy period has been required to suit both hill plantings and swamp crops.

However, with the advent of sprinkler irrigation and hence better control of moisture and growing conditions, the need for early maturing varieties has ceased to exist in some districts.

There has been consequently an increasing interest in testing varieties which have proved high yielding and of good quality in other parts of the world.

The Granny Smith, Frank Melville

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

MOST of the commercial apples grown throughout the world today have originated as chance seedlings and commercialised by observant nurserymen or fruit growers.

Many Tasmanian varieties were established this way—the Sturma, Democrat and Crofton.

But the seedling which has had the greatest impact on apple growing in Australia is the Granny Smith and its rise to fame is an interesting story.

Recommended Wheat Varieties : 1962, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

AS a guide to farmers planting recommended wheat varieties, the Wheat and Sheep Division of the Department of Agriculture has produced a new map of the West Australian wheatbelt, showing where these varieties should be planted.

Wheat Quality, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

IN August, 1956, the Australian Agricultural Council agreed that, as a first step in the further examination of all aspects of the subject of wheat quality in Australia, a conference of all interested parties should be convened by the Department of Primary Industry.

Collecting Plant Specimens. 1. Specimens For Identification, Robert Dunlop Royce

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

PLANT NAMES and the naming of plant specimens are of fundamental importance in many branches of science, including agriculture.

To the farmer, too, accuracy in naming poisonous plants and weeds, as well as fodder and pasture species, can save much trouble and expense, and may be responsible for avoiding heavy stock losses.