Life Sciences Commons^™

Rice Stem Borers At The Kimberley Research Station, L E. Koch

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

STEM boring caterpillars have severely damaged rice crops at the Kimberley Research Station, near Wyndham, and studies have been made on the biology, abundance, and control of these insects.

Hormone Sprays For Apricots, J E L Cripps

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

VARIOUS hormone sprays have been applied to apricots with the object of increasing fruit size and hastening maturity, and of these 245TA, the tri-ethanol amine salt of 245 trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, has in general, proved the most successful.

The increase in fruit diameter obtained with this spray in Western Australia has varied between 5 and 15 per cent, and is due to an increase in the size of the cells within the fruit, not to the production of a greater number of cells.

Scald Of Barley, S C. Chambers

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

SCALD is a common disease of barley during late winter-early spring and causes considerable damage to the foliage of many crops.

The fungus Rhynchosporium secalis is responsible for this disease which is very prevalent in all barley growing districts.

The Geraldton Strain Of Subterranean Clover, A J. Millington

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

THE cereal-growing areas of Western Australia form a narrow triangle extending about 700 miles from north to south, gradually increasing in width towards the south to about 150 miles.

Insects And Mites Found Attacking Cereal Crops In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

ONE of the most important factors influencing Western Australian agriculture in the last 20 years has been the development of permanent pastures together with the associated practice of ley farming.

Although the increased use of pasture plants, and particularly subterranean clover, has increased the general fertility of many areas it has also accentuated various problems, including those relating to insect control.

Summer fallow was a strong deterrent to such pests as the red-legged earth mite, the lucerne flea, and webworm and these and several other creatures have shown a tendency to increase under new farming methods.

Bacterial Wilt Of Potatoes, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

EACH season, Bacterial Wilt causes heavy losses to individual growers in several of the potato districts throughout the South-West of the State.

The disease is incited by the bacterium Pseudomonas solanacearum E.F.Sm. and is most prevalent in the districts of Donnvbrook. Pemberton and Manjimup as well as in the area between Waroona and Dardanup.

It is a tuber-borne disease which is extremely difficult to eradicate, once it has been introduced on to a property.

The Budding Of Fruit Trees, T F. Herlihy

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

A LTHOUGH the principles of budding and grafting are basically the same—that is, t h e success depends upon the close contact of the cambium layers of both stock and scion—the operations are performed at different times of the year.

Government Botanist Retires, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

MR CHARLES AUSTIN GARDNER, West Australian Government Botanist since 1927, retired from active service with the Department of Agriculture on July 5, 1960.

Control Of The Red-Legged Earth Mite And Lucerne Flea : Treatment Of Seed With Systemic Insecticides, M M H Wallace

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

THE red-legged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Tuck.), and the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis (L.), are at present controlled effectively, cheaply and safely by a combined DDT/malathion spray (Jenkins, 1956, 1957) and this continues to be the general recommendation for farmers.

However, this combination has some disadvantages. The DDT in the spray ensures some residual control of the earth mite but has the unfortunate property of toxicity to the bdellid mites which are useful predators of the lucerne flea.

The malathion in the spray assists the DDT to control the earth mite and provides a good, quick kill of the lucerne …

Some Factors Affecting The Baking Quality In Wheat, A R. Egan

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

ALTHOUGH between 10 per cent, and 15 per cent, of wheat consumed in Australia is used in feed for domestic animals, the primary usage in home consumption is for bread-making.

Exports, which account for roughly 75 per cent, of the normal Australian crop, are also mainly used in bread-making.

Leaf Scorching, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING the summer months, leaves of many plants develop browning and scorching which progresses inwards from the leaf margin or downwards from the leaf tip.

The affected parts become dry and brittle and may break away from the remaining green areas.

Ornamental trees, shrubs and other plants, certain orchard trees and in fact a large number of species may be affected.

Two plants which are very susceptible to this type of injury and are rarely seen without it are the Ioquat tree and the butterfly tree (Bauhinia).

Safflower : An Oil Crop For The Kimberleys, D F. Beech

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

EXPERIMENTS with irrigated safflower carried out at the Kimberley Research Station have shown that the crop is well adapted to the local conditions.

In recent years yields of 2,000 to 3,000 lb. per acre have been generally obtained. Oil content of the main variety under trial varied between 33 and 35 per cent.

Locally produced safflower oil could help to make the Australian paint industry largely independent of imports.

Safflower meal is a protein-rich concentrate and could have considerable impact on the Kimberley cattle industry.

Safflower is likely to play an important part in the early development of irrigation agriculture …

Afghan Thistle (Solanum Hystrix R. Br.), G R W Meadly

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

DURING the summer months it is usual to receive many specimens of a prickly plant with blue flowers similar to those of a potato. It is commonly known as Afghan Thistle or Prickly Potato Weed.

This plant is not a thistle, although it has the prickly foliage characteristic of many members of that group. The botanical name is Solanum hystrix which places it in the same family as the tomato, potato and tobacco.

Relatives also include weeds such as the thornapples, black nightshade and apple of Sodom.

The name Prickly Potato Weed, although somewhat unwieldy is therefore more appropriate than …

Soursob (Oxalis Pes-Caprae L.), G R W Meadly

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

DURING winter and spring, the yellow colouration of paddocks is not always due to the flowers of the widely distributed Capeweed.

In some districts, particularly in the Avon Valley, the yellow-flowered soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae L.), has become firmly established.

The genus Oxalis contains 800 or more different species, the two main natural centres of distribution being South Africa and tropical and extra-tropical South America.

The Use Of Seed Inoculum For Subterranean Clover In The Jerramungup, Gairdner River Areas, William John Toms

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

IT is unlikely that benefits will be obtained from inoculating Dwalganup or Bacchus Marsh subterranean clover seed sown in the Jerramungup or Gairdner River districts other than on the fine sands of different geological origin (Miocene) occurring in some southern areas of the Gairdner River District.

Studies In The Mulga Pastoral Zone. 1. The Grazing Of Wandarrie Grass Associations, D G. Wilcox

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

THE establishment of the Wiluna office of the North-West Branch marked the commencement of a series of investigations into the pastures of the mulga zone.

Unlike the agricultural areas where a fund of knowledge exists on the growth habits of the pastures, the pastures of this area were completely unknown.

The preliminary investigations had to be aimed at forming an understanding of the reactions of the various plants to rain, to temperature and seasonal conditions and to grazing in an area of extremely low rainfall reliability.

Powdery Mildew Or Oidium Of Grapes, H L. Harvey

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

POWDERY mildew or oidium, is a disease which is always present to a greater or lesser extent in grapevines in Western Australia.

In seasons favourable for its development it stunts the growth of shoots and leaves and may seriously reduce fruit yields and quality.

Most of our commonly-grown varieties are quite susceptible to the disease, but for the reason that currants are the most extensively grown variety, the overall losses are greatest in this variety.

Fruit Fly Control With Rogor 40 And Lebaycid : Progress Report, D G. Shedley

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

THE Mediterranean fruit fly has been present in Western Australia for over 60 years and during that time many types of insecticides have been tested against the pest.

Traps and lures were amongst the earliest control measures adopted, but these gave way to sugar solutions poisoned with such materials as arsenic and sodium fluosilicate.

Zamia Palm Poisoning, F C. Wilkinson

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

THE Zamia palm (Macrozamia Reidlei) is a common plant in the jarrah and karri forest country and on the coastal plains and is one of the earliest recorded Australian poison plants.

Weed Research. 7. Weed Control Around The Yard, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

MANY farmers and city householders have weed problems around houses and sheds which can be readily overcome by treatment with appropriate herbicides.

The risk from fire through weeds and unslightly growth can easily be removed and an area free of any plant growth can be maintained with little effort for a considerable period.

Weed Research. 8. Weed Control In The Vineyard, Geoffrey A. Pearce, W. R. Jamieson

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

WEED control in the vineyard has been achieved by cultivation for many centuries and it is only during recent years that attention has been given to the use of herbicides for this purpose.

Today there is little risk to the vine in using any one of the herbicides listed in this article, and in general the main considerations governing the use of chemicals for weed control are the cost of the operation and the effect which it is desired to achieve.

The Merredin Early Strain Of Wimmera Ryegrass, J T. Reeves, H. M. Fisher

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

WITH the exception of subterranean clover, no introduced pasture species has a wider application in Western Australia than Wimmera ryegrass.

This popular pasture plant is believed to have originated as a natural cross between two ryegrass species and first became prominent in the Wimmera district of Victoria.

Geranium Rust, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

GERANIUMS are affected by relatively few troublesome diseases. However, in Western Australia, leaf rust of these plants is very common and can become a serious problem, particularly in the more susceptible varieties growing in sheltered positions.

Brown Spot Of Passion Fruit, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BROWN SPOT caused by the fungus Alternaria passiflorae, is found in plantings throughout Western Australia. Severe outbreaks of the disease have occurred in most districts, including Serpentine, Manjimup, Nannup and Denmark. Although isolated young plantings may remain healthy for two or three years the disease eventually becomes established in the vines.

Trees Of Western Australia. 63. Yellow Tingle (E. Guifoylei, Maiden). 64. Weeping Gum (E. Sepulcralis, F. Muell.). 65. Kingsmill's Mallee (E. Kingsmillii Maiden Et Blakely). 66. Hopetoun Mallee (E. Leptocalyx, W.F. Blakely). 67. Capped Mallee (E. Pileata, W.F. Blakely). 68. Eucalyptus Carnabyi (Blakely And Steedman). 69. Tallerack (E. Tretragona (R.Br.) F. Muell.). 70. Eucalyptus Micranthera (F. Muell. Ex. Benth.), Charles Austin Gardner

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

THE yellow tingle is one of the large forest trees of the lower South-West, and although it possesses many good qualities, its limited range renders it of less importance than its associates—the jarrah and karri.

Some Results With Nitrogen Fertiliser On Cereals At Esperance Plain Research Station, William John Toms

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

ON newly-cleared land at Esperance Plain Research Station the use of sulphate of ammonia on cereals has proved profitable over a number of seasons.

The response to sulphate of ammonia varies markedly with the season.

Banana Packing And Waxing, J A F Lawson

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

IN 1955, representatives of the Carnarvon banana growers approached the North- West Branch of the Department of Agriculture with the suggestion that tests be made concerning the value of waxing bananas prior to consignment.

It was claimed at the time by the Director of Horticulture of the Queensland Department that, by means of wax dipping, bananas had been transported from Northern Queensland to Brisbane, ripened artificially, and then returned to Northern Queensland for sale in the middle of summer, whereas the undipped fruit arrived completely unsaleable.

Sclerotinia Rot Of Beans, S C. Chambers, M. Hardie

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

INVESTIGATIONS over the past three years suggest trenching is the most important practice for controlling Sclerotinia rot in market gardens.

None of the remaining measures under test gave satisfactory control of the disease, although some reduced its incidence significantly.

Chemical Thinning Of Apples, S E. Hardisty, N. H. Shorter

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

TWO important related problems of apple-growing in this State are biennial bearing and poor fruit size.

Early thinning by chemical means, is providing a valuable and practical means of tackling these problems.

With every prospect of heavy crops in most districts this year, many growers will be interested in the possibility of spray thinning.

Studies In The Mulga Pastoral Zone. 2. Some Aspects Of The Value Of The Mulga Scrub, D G. Wilcox

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

THE mulga pastoral zone is so named since most of its area is dominated by Mulga (Acacia aneura).

The mulga is found associated with shrubs and grasses in almost all plant habitats. In its various forms it can associate with spinifex (Triodia basedowi), Wandarrie Grasses (Danthonia, Eragostis and Eriachne spp.) and with low shrubs on flood plains, hills and breakaways. It may even attempt to become established in salty communities, though this is never completely successful.

The scene the area offers from its low hills is one of a succession of low undulations, occasionally scarred by creeks or breakaways and …