Life Sciences Commons^™

Control Of Perennial Grasses, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Perennial grasses such as paspalum, kikuyu and couch can be controlled by spraying with a solution containing 2,2-DPA.

This is a non-poisonous powder which is sold under a variety of trade names.

The Role Of Fleece Measurement In Selecting Merino Sheep, H G. Neil, R. J. Lightfoot

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

MANY things determine how much wool a sheep can grow.

These include the amount and quality of pasture available or how the sheep are fed, the stocking rate, the general health and thrift of the sheep and other management considerations such as cropping and the time of lambing.

Salt Land Survey, 1962 : Report Of A Survey Of Soil Salinity In The Agricultural Areas Of Western Australia, L C. Lightfoot, S. T. Smith, C. V. Malcolm

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

IN Western Australia there are within the agricultural areas about one million acres of salt land, largely within the 14-25 inch rainfall area used for cereal and wool production.

In March, 1962, farmers in 68 shires in the agricultural areas of Western Australia estimated that on their properties 305,270 acres of land previously cropped or sown to pasture had become salt affected. Of this total, 59,203 acres had gone salt in the seven years immediately before the survey.

Tales From Dead Lambs : Results Of A Survey Of Lambing Losses, Stanley M. Dennis

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

During the past year the Animal Health Laboratory has been conducting a preliminary survey into the infectious causes of abortion in sheep and perinatal lamb mortalities. This work was prompted by:

* The diagnosis of vibrionic abortion for the first time in Western Australia in 1961, and

* The estimate that 30 per cent, of all ewes mated in Australia each year may fail to produce a viable lamb that survives to marking time.

This enormous lamb wastage is due to a variety of causes and the role of infectious agents has yet to be evaluated.

Multi-Timer For Milking Studies, G W R Scott

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

Recent research into milking machine operation has proved that the belief of old-time hand-milkers that fast milking was good milking was soundly based.

In current practice the emphasis is on convenient shed and yard design and systematic routine in handling the cows. This permits a high throughput of cows and a high output of milk per labour unit.

The multi-timer designed and built by Mr. G. W. R. Scott and described in this article will prove most valuable for pinpointing where time is lost.

Stem Rust Of Wheat, H L. Harvey

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

STEM RUST is one of the most serious diseases of wheat and is of world-wide importance.

Fortunately, widespread epidemics are rare in Western Australia because the general climatic conditions are usually unfavourable to the disease.

Nevertheless, localised outbreaks of stem rust are quite common on the Esperance Plains and around Geraldton where seasonal conditions are frequently mild and humid.

Recommended Wheat Varieties, 1965 : State Wheat Advisory Committee Recommendations For Wheat Varieties For 1965 Plantings, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

State Wheat Advisory Committee recommendations for wheat varieties for 1965 plantings.

THE wheat rust epidemic of 1963 has directed attention to resistance of varieties to this disease, new races of which have recently appeared in Western Australia.

However, last year was one of abnormal seasonal conditions, with late summer rains followed by a mild winter, and spring conditions which favoured rust.

Final Report : Sixth (1962-63) Western Australian Random Sample Laying Test, R H. Morris, F. A. E. Hunt

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

FINAL REPORT SIXTH (1962-63) WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST

Final Report to December, 1963, covering a period of 500 days (71 3/7 weeks), comprising a 150-day (21 3/7 week) rearing period and a 350-day (50-week) laying period.

Mosaic Diseases Of Beans, H L. Harvey

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

TWO important diseases of beans in W.A. are common mosaic and yellow mosaic.

Both may cause malformation, stunting of growth and yield reductions and are most serious in the spring and early summer crops.

The Control Of Bitter Pit In Apples, Frank Melville, S. E. Hardisty, N. S. Shorter

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

Bitter pit is a physiological disorder of apples which causes considerable wastage of otherwise sound fruit .

It is a problem of world-wide occurrence and in Western Australia growing conditions appear particularly favourable for its development.

In recent years a practical means of control by calcium sprays has been developed.

Flower Greening And Witches' Broom, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE flower "greening" and witches' broom diseases may be found in a variety of plants.

Susceptible garden species include phlox, gerberas, vincas, dahlias, geraniums, asters and many others.

Liver Cirrhosis : A New Poultry Disease, P Smetana

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

A new poultry disease which is apparently peculiar to Western Australia is causing losses in some commercial poultry flocks in this State.

The cause of the disease has not been isolated and no reliable treatment can yet be recommended.

Set Stocking Has A Place In Soil Conservation Farming, J E. Watson

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

Set stocking of sheep at increased stocking rates is rapidly becoming popular with farmers in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

But will set stocking increase soil erosion hazards? It should do just the reverse, according to Soil Conservation Adviser J. E. Watson, B.Sc, who claims that set stocking has a place in soil conservation farming.

Insect Pests Of Cotton In The Ord River Irrigation Area, K T. Richards

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

COTTON is grown in the Ord Valley of north Western Australia, mainly as an annual, irrigated crop during the hot summer months of the "wet season".

It is usually planted in November-December and harvested March-May.

This period of growth corresponds closely to that of maximum insect activity.

Roses : The Ideal Garden Flower, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE popularity of roses is increasing year by year and there is no need for any comment on the virtues of these flowers.

Apart from isolated areas right on the coast and similar extremely windy locations, roses can be grown with confidence, and you will be rewarded with a wealth of choice blooms.

A Simplified Mulesing Crush, G T. Halpin

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

DURING the last two years Mr. Tom Flanigan, a mulesing contractor in a large area centred at Katanning, has performed the mules-tailstrip operation on many thousands of lambs and sheep.

Starvation/Mismothering : A Major Cause Of Lambing Losses, Stanley M. Dennis

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

RESULTS of the preliminary survey into the infectious causes of perinatal lamb mortalities carried out last year by the Department of Agriculture showed that starvation/ mismothering was the most important single cause of death.

A Chemical For Doublegee, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

DURING the past two years, finance has been made available from the State Wheat Research Fund for an intensive study on doublegee.

A newly-developed herbicide has been shown to give complete control of growing plants, while ecological studies have started to yield valuable information about seed behaviour.

Breeding Records For Dairy Cattle, P B. Lewis

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

A N Y business needs records to show up inefficiencies and to indicate where and/or when danger points are being reached.

One record which can be of much use to the dairy farmer is the cow breeding record.

Leaf Spot Diseases Of Strawberry, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Leaf spot and leaf scorch are two important' fungal diseases of strawberry in Western Australia.

Satisfactory control can be obtained by good cultural methods and with captan or phaltan fungicides in a suitable spray programme.

A Revised List Of Fruit Diseases Recorded In Western Australia, R F. Doepel

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

THIS list of fruit diseases is a revision of part of the census published by Carne (1925) and supplemented by the same author in 1927.

It also contains records of diseases identified in the period between these earlier publications and June 30, 1961.

Broom Rape, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BROOM RAPE (Orobanche australiana) is a parasite which becomes attached to the roots of other plants.

It is not very selective regarding hosts and has been found parasitising many species, but particularly clovers.

Oedema Disease : A Cause Of Death Of Pigs In W.A, J Armstrong, P. Meyer

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

Within the last two years Oedema Disease ("Gut oedema") has been diagnosed as a cause of pig mortality in this State.

This article describes the nature, symptoms and methods of control of this disease.

Lawns : Their Establishment And Management, H G. Elliott, F. E. Ryan

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

THERE is nothing more pleasing to the eye than a well kept lawn, be it in a home garden or covering a sporting area, and under Western Australian conditions there is no reason why a good lawn or turf cannot be developed and maintained—always provided that there is enough water and proper care and attention.

Creeping Knotweed, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Creeping knotweed (Polygonum prostratum) is a native perennial species which has exhibited weed tendencies, especially on land which retains moisture during the summer.

Agriculture In The Lakes District : Report Of A Survey Of Farm Practices, A W. Hogstrom

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

At the request of the Central South Zone Development Committee a survey which covered 58 farms in the Lakes District was carried out by officers of the Department of Agriculture. Field work for the survey started in 1961.

The Lakes District supports about 70 holdings adjoining a chain of salt lakes to the east of Newdegate and Hyden but west of the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence.

The chain of lakes is about 70 miles long running in a N.N.W. to S.S.E. direction. The lakes are O'Connor, Carmody, Hurlstone, Varley, Gulson, Fox, Camm, King, and Pal lamp.

Vermin Control This Month, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE effects of the very wet winter are no longer being felt in vermin control activities in most of Western Australia and they have returned to normal.

The Fox : Status And Control, C D. Gooding

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

NOBODY knows for certain and it is possible that the damage done by foxes is sometimes over-rated, but the fact remains that foxes are reputed to be a real problem to some farmers at lambing time.

Weaning Lambs Under Pastoral Conditions, H Suijdendorp, L. Parsons

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

IN the summer rainfall region of the pastoral areas lambs are too often born too late to ensure their survival.

In good seasons with a fair measure of winter rain more late lambs will survive, but losses are still serious. The only solution to this problem is to make sure lambs drop in May-June.

But the presence of late and often unmarked lambs at mating time is a disturbing influence, which makes it hard to advance the established mating pattern.

Poultry : Toxic Factors In Protein Supplements, D F. Hessels

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

The toxic effect of low quality and/or stale protein supplements can be a problem in the poultry industry.

This article describes trials carried out to assess their importance in Western Australia.