Life Sciences Commons^™

The Elimination Of Cultivation In Apple Orchards : A New Approach To Orchard Soil Management, S E. Hardisty

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

THE idea of eliminating cultivation in orchards suggests a reversal of accepted local practice in orchard soil management—but there is plenty of evidence to show that a noncultivation system has much in its favour.

In this article the advantages and disadvantages of the three main forms of orchard soil management are discussed and experimental evidence is presented in support of noncultivation.

An alternative method, "winter sod" culture, is proposed for irrigated orchards.

Linuron : A New Herbicide For Cereal Crops, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

DURING two years of trials on both pastures and cereals Linuron has proved itself to be a valuable addition to the range of chemicals for the control of weeds in cereals.

It has a good crop tolerance safety factor and controls a wider range of weeds than most other herbicides.

More Sheep Per Acre, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In the late 1950's agricultural scientists in Western Australia became convinced that much of the improved pasture in the agricultural areas of the State was going to waste.

The results of the early trials resulted in many farm demonstrations of higher carrying capacities on improved pastures in southern agricultural areas.

Stocking Rate And Rate Of Superphosphate In A Higher Rainfall Area, P P. Mann, B. J. Gorddard, R. N. Glencross, E. N. Fitzpatrick

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

In its virgin state the area carried a forest association of red-gum and jarrah, and the soils are typical of large areas in the south-west of Western Australia.

These gravelly soils have a high requirement for phosphate during their first years under pasture, and this trial was designed to investigate the relationship between rate of phosphate, stocking rate and pasture production over a number of seasons.

Classing Your Own Clip, J Reilly

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

One of the most important activities in the Australian wool industry is the preparation of the clip for sale.

Many growers class their own clips and due to this practice they can reduce production costs.

Heavy Rate Set Stocking : Esperance Downs Research Station, R J. Doyle

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

THIS article describes a stocking rate demonstration in one paddock at Esperance Downs Research Station, using Merino wethers.

Since December 1961, the area has supported 530 to 540 Merino wethers under continuous grazing.

Down But Not Out [Milk Fever], F C. Wilkinson

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

The five-year-old Jersey cow pictured had calved overnight.

In the previous year this cow had been the highest producer in the herd, so the farmer was very pleased to see she had produced a heifer calf.

Summer And Autumn Rainfall In Relation To Epidemics Of Wheat Stem Rust In Western Australia, W A. Shipton

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

High summer and autumn rainfalls, followed by rust infection of volunteer plants and favourable conditions during late winter and spring, lead to rust epidemics.

WIDESPREAD outbreaks of wheat stem rust are rare in Western Australia.

Manure Disposal From Piggeries, P Mcnamara

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

Many new piggeries have been built during the past year as more farmers swing over to intensive housing.

In most cases the problem of effluent disposal has been overlooked. This article shows how some pig raisers are beating the problem.

Strains Of Stem And Leaf Rust On Wheat In Western Australia Since 1951, I A. Watson, W. P. Cass Smith, W. A. Shipton

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

THE most important wheat rust in Western Australia is stem rust,

Leaf rust occurs infrequently and has not been known to cause serious damage.

Rules Of The Western Australian Pure Bred Dairy Cattle Production Recording Scheme, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

REVISION of these rules was necessary because of the amalgamation of the field work with that of Grade Herd Recording.

Adjustments have been made to facilitate more expeditious handling of records in the Department's Head Office.

Other minor changes have been made to bring the rules into line with present day practice.

Did This Cause This? [Sarcoptic Mange Of Pigs], F C. Wilkinson

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

The mite on the left was detected by using a microscope with a magnification of 100 times to examine a skin scraping taken from the above pig.

This confirmed the suspicion that sarcoptic mange mites were the cause of the skin lesions.

Meadow Hay For The Dairy Herd, F E. Ryan

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

CONSERVATION is the basis of progress in dairy farming and the major form is meadow hay, but unfortunately relatively few dairy farmers give enough attention to the quality and quantity of this important feed.

The First Year Of A Cattle Stocking Rate Trial At Pardelup, R Sprivulis

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

AS a first step towards the study of pasture utilisation by cattle, a simple trial was commenced at the Pardelup Prison Farm in 1964.

The trial is carried out with Poll Hereford cross steers set stocked on Mt. Barker subterranean-clover and Wimmera ryegrass pasture.

It will be repeated for several seasons.

Myxomatosis : Its Decline As A Killer, C D. Gooding

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

ALTHOUGH nearly every farmer in Western Australia is familiar with myxomatosis, very few landowners really understand the factor causing the disease to spread or, just as importantly, why the severity of the disease is declining.

Down And Out [Pulpy Kidney Disease], F C. Wilkinson

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

Two days previously the weaner mob had broken through a gate into a hundred acre paddock in which an excellent green oat crop was growing.

The owner had not been particularly worried because the oats needed grazing. When however, he went to check the water troughs and found 17 weaners dead, he became perturbed.

Survey Of Potato Losses In The Field, James P. Fallon

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

A RELATIVELY large proportion of the potatoes grown in Western Australia are below Grade 1 standard.

Some are left in the field at harvest while others are rejected during grading operations.

Stocking Rates On Light Land : Wongan Hills Research Station, R J. Lightfoot, W. L. Mcgarry

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

THE two most important things that determine the rate of return on invested capital in Merino sheep breeding and grazing are the stocking rate and lambing percentage.

Pasture Seed Production, 1966 : Statistics And Comments, B J. Quinlivan

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

THE marketing of pasture seeds differs from that of some other primary products in that there are no guaranteed prices.

A knowledge of potential supply and demand for the various species and strains is just as important to the seed producer as good production techniques.

Irrigation In The South-West : Report On Government-Controlled Areas, 1965-66, G Gauntlett

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

LARGE scale irrigation in the south-western part of Western Australia is confined to the coastal plain, west of the Darling Range where the three irrigation districts of Waroona, Harvey and Collie have been established.

Values Of Commonly-Used Protein Supplements In Broiler Rations, D F. Hessels

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

THE performances of broiler flocks in the latter part of 1964 were below standard. Low body weights and a high incidence of gizzard erosion were common on farms.

It was therefore decided to test the biological valuss of the commonly-used protein supplements and also to try to find a correlation between gizzard erosion and any of the protein supplements.

Why Does Fruit Drop?, K T. Whitely

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

THERE is always a dramatic difference between the number of blossoms that form on a f r u i t tree in spring and the number of fruit which ultimately mature.

This is very obvious to the grower in the " o f f " or light crop year when he feels a personal loss with every young fruitlet or near-mature fruit that falls from the tree.

A Survey Of Citrus Plantings In Western Australia, Frank Melville

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

THE development of the citrus industry in Western Australia has been determined by the requirements of the local market and there is no reason to suppose that this will not continue to be the controlling factor.

Twinning Increases Production, K P. Croker

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

Many breeders claim that twinning causes too many losses among Merino lambs and does not favour breeding for twin lamb production.

But recent experiments have proved otherwise and agricultural scientists now agree that . . .

TWINNING INCREASES PRODUCTION

THE low marking percentages regularly recorded for Merino flocks suggest that the Merino is a relatively infertile breed.

Certainly, lambing percentages are low when compared with those of most British breeds of sheep.

Sheep Or Beef Cattle?, G D. Oliver

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

THE present sustained high meat prices and the moderately low wool prices have caused many farmers to think again about the relative profitability of sheep and beef cattle.

With synthetic fibres continuing to threaten the wool price a changeover from sheep to beef cattle must be seriously exercising the minds of many woolgrowers.

Piggery Septic System, N E. Macintyre

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

ONE of the problems of intensive houses for pigs is the disposal of the dung and urine.

If proper arrangements are not made to remove this, it soon accumulates in an offensive pile at one end of the piggery, making an excellent breeding ground for flies.

Stocking Rates With Growing Cattle At Wokalup Research Station, Maurice C. Cullity

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

CONSIDERABLE attention has been given in Australia and in overseas countries to methods of grazing control, and to the effects of varying stocking concentrations.

There is evidence that the highest yields per animal—of milk or butterfat per cow, or of weight increase per growing or fattening beast—are not necessarily a true reflection of the greatest output from the farm, as indicated by the measure of yield per acre.

Good Management For The Springers Pays Dividends, J Y. Langdon

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

This article gives a striking example of the advantages of calving cows in good and rising condition—and explains why condition around calving time is so important.

ALTHOUGH most farmers know that cows calving in good and improving condition will give higher yields than those calving in poor condition, few use this knowledge to improve the production from their cows.

Warning : Footrot Threatens South-West Sheep Industry, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING the past few months footrot has appeared in sheep in the South-West in an area extending from Busselton southwards to Kudardup.

This area has only recently been stocked with sheep which have been purchased from many sources.

It is probable that there were a few "carriers" amongst these introduced sheep, and that under the favourable conditions of the South-West the infection was able to develop and spread and then to declare itself in clinical form.

Septoria Leaf Spot And Glume Blotch Of Wheat, W A. Shipton

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

SEPTORIA leaf spot and glume blotch of wheat occur throughout Australia and are capable of reducing crop yields.

While no estimates of yield losses are yet available in Western Australia both diseases can cause serious damage to crops.