Life Sciences Commons^™

New Varieties Top 1967 Yield Tests, H M. Fisher

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

LARGE gains can result from using improved cereal varieties and in recent years activity in breeding varieties adapted to local conditions has increased.

The varieties available and their suitability for different areas and conditions need constant review.

Wheat Weevil And The Farmer, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins, G. D. Rimes

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

INSECT pests have been taking toll of mans' crops and herds since very early times and despite modern control techniques the annual loss is still very high.

It has been estimated that damage to stored grain alone may average 10 per cent, per year, or, in terms of the West Australian harvest, a loss by weevils of about twice the capacity of the large Midland Junction bin.

West Midlands Development : Sources Of Credit For Farmers, J T. Stoate

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

RAPIDLY increasing costs associated with land development and farm improvement have placed heavy financial burdens on farmers.

At the very least such burdens must often slow the rate of development, increase family hardship and lower farm profitability.

Many farmers however, are unaware of the sources of loan money which could help them overcome their problems.

This article outlines some of the credit sources available.

Entering The Egg Industry With Laying Cages, W Ward

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

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Bulletin 3579, "Entering the Egg Industry with Laying Cages", by W. Ward, examines various aspects of the cage system of housing laying hens.

This system is by far the most popular method of housing layers, with 90 per cent, of new farms using cages and many daep litter farms now converting to cages.

Sources Of Nitrogen For Cereals : Their Characteristics And Costs, M G. Mason

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

Generally similar results may be expected from all the sources of nitrogen available for cereal growing.

The unit nitrogen price and the convenience of use of each fertiliser in the particular situation should be taken into account in deciding which fertiliser to use.

THE first point to consider when deciding which nitrogen fertiliser to use for wheat growing is the effectiveness of the nitrogen source in increasing crop yield. Second, the cost per unit of nitrogen must be considered.

The convenience of using a particular source in a particular situation is also important and greater convenience may offset some cost …

Snail Investigations : A Progress Report, G D. Rimes

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

Experimental baits and sprays have given promising control of snails in cereals and pastures in the Geraldton-Dongara districts.

The problem of harvesting infested wheat crops has been overcome by attaching a specially designed rake in front of the header ccmb to remove snails from the plants.

Bussell Barley, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish, H. M. Fisher

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

BUSSELL is a new high yielding 2-row barley variety named early in 1967.

An early maturing variety, with white grains of good quality, Bussell has short and extremely strong straw.

It has yielded more than any other variety under test in areas of Western Australia which receive more than 18 inches of annual rainfall.

It has yielded more than Prior in all areas.

Local Marketing Of Citrus Fruits, K T. Whitely

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

CITRUS fruits are always popular on the local market but recently supplies from South Australia have made the market a very competitive one.

The situation demands the marketing of high quality citrus from growers in Western Australia.

The need to harvest the bulk of the Navel orange crop over a rather limited period and the resultant tendency for oversupply during that time also necessitates high standards of presentation to maintain firm prices.

Papaw Varieties For Carnarvon, Michael Gregory Hawson, D. W. Thomas

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

PAPAWS grow very well in the Carnarvon area of Western Australia and throughout the north of the State.

Some produce quite well as far south as Perth.

Oestrogen Free Subterranean Clovers : Their Development And Prospects, C M. Francis

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

SELDOM have plants received more publicity than the "oestrogen free" subterranean clovers developed by the University of Western Australia's Institute of Agriculture.

The production of oestrogen free clovers has attracted great popular interest, particularly among farmers in the southern sheep raising districts.

The Certified Strains Of Subterranean Clover : Their Origin, Potential Use And Identification, B J. Quinlivan, C. M. Francis, M. L. Poole

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

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER originated in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and in parts of Western Europe.

Therefore it is not surprising that it grows well in the agricultural districts of Western Australia, for these regions have a typically Mediterranean climate with cool wet winters and hot dry summers.

Amsinckia Or Yellow Burr-Weed (Amsinckia Spp.), G R W Meadly

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

YELLOW BURR-WEED is widely established in the Wimmera and Mallee districts in Victoria, presumably introduced with fodder brought to this country from the United States about 1914.

It is a problem in Oregon and other north west wheat areas of America.

The weed is also widespread in New South Wales, being most troublesome in the wheat-growing sections of the Riverina. It is not established to the same extent in South Australia and Queensland.

The recent discovery of areas infested with yellow burr-weed at Merredin prompted the Agriculture Protection Board to declare it a primary noxious weed for Western Australia.

Trials With Urea And Anhydrous Ammonia For Wheat Growing, M G. Mason

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

THE recent subsidy on nitrogenous fertilisers has greatly reduced their price to farmers. This, and farmers' increasing awareness of the benefits of application of nitrogen to cereals, has led to a substantial increase in the use of these fertilisers.

Cyanogenetic Plants Of Western Australia, T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with the more important cyanogenetic plants found in Western Australia.

It also deals with plants which have not been proved as cyanogenetic but which do produce toxic effects similar to those produced by cyanogenetic plants.

Symptoms, post mortem appearances and the treatment for affected stock are also dealt with.

Concrete In Dairies, D Roger Buchanan

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

PRIME requirements for exposed concrete surfaces in dairies are that they should be easily cleansed and should not deteriorate in contact with milk and milk products.

In milking stalls, animal races and on loading platforms hardwearing surfaces which offer good foothold are also necessary.

The Red-Whiskered Bulbul, John L. Long

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

Widely distributed in both Africa and Asia, Bulbuls are a largely tropical group of fruit eating birds ranging in size from that of a house sparrow to a blackbird.

Pressurised Soil Fumigation Equipment For Control Of Eelworm, C W. Robartson

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

THE treatment of soil infested with eelworms involves the use of chemical fumigants usually in the form of volatile liquids.

This article gives details for the construction of a simple pressurised fumigator which could be easily made by most orchardists, vignerons and market gardeners.

The History And Characteristics Of Troodos And Olympus Rose Clover, E T. Bailey, N. B. Gayfer

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

ROSE CLOVER is being produced and used in increasing quantities in south-western Australia. The first line named was designated Kondinin and five lines have now been given cultivar (variety) names.

One of the first samples of rose clover, C.P.I. 13949, introduced into Western Australia proved to be a mixture of two very similar types, differing visibly only in leaf markings.

The mixed sample was named Troodos,* and the selection from it, Olympus.

This paper describes the origin of the two varieties, their history and characteristics.

Eleventh Random Sample Laying Tests, 1967-68 : Cages, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

ELEVENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1967-68 - CAGES

POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

FOURTH PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 2nd JUNE, 1968

Drilled Versus Topdressed Superphosphate For Cereal Production, A Loutit, P. Stallwood, W. J. Cox

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

CEREAL growers in Australia usually use a drill or combine to apply their seed and superphosphate in one operation.

However, during the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of super broadcast bafore seeding.

The Outlook For Wool, Lamb And Beef, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WOOL and fat lambs have been traditional products of farms in the wetter parts (20 inches of rainfall and above) of Western Australia's agricultural areas.

The prices for both these products are causing corncern and some farmers have already changed to beef production.

This article discusses the future prices for wool, fat lambs and beef.

N-P Compound Fertilisers, M G. Mason, W. J. Cox, R. N. Glencross

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

FARMERS were able to buy the two compound fertilisers N-P Compound Fertiliser 28:14 and N-P Compound Fertilser 24:24 in the 1967 season.

Maintenance Phosphorus And Sulphur For Pastures : Progress Report, Walter Jacob Cox

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

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT has been based on topdressing with superphosphate, which supplies sulphur as well as phosphorus.

In the past, all the benefit due to superphosphate was attributed to the phosphorus.

It is only in recent years that the importance of the sulphur has been appreciated.

The Changing Fertiliser Industry, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick

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

Background to current developments in the Australian fertiliser industry.

FOR many years superphosphate was the basic fertiliser used by most farmers in Western Australia.

During the 1950's some farmers began to use sulphate of ammonia, and recently urea and anhydrous ammonia have become important.

Bluetongue Of Sheep, M R. Gardiner

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

BLUETONGUE is a serious disease of sheep, mainly of introduced European breeds, throughout the African continent.

It is maintained there by wild and domestic ruminants in the presence of certain insect vectors (carriers).

The disease has probably existed there from immemorial times among the indigenous ruminants, emerging as a recognised disease only when the much more susceptible European breeds were brought into the continent.

Barley Diseases In Western Australia, W A. Shipton, W. R. Tweedie

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

BARLEY DISEASES caused by pathogenic organisms are capable of reducing yields considerably.

The recognition of disease is important so that control measures can then be taken at the appropriate time.

West Midlands Development : The Interpretation Of Lands Department Soil Maps Of The West Midlands Area, T C. Stoneman

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

Before most Crown land in the West Midlands area was released, Lands Department survey parties examined and mapped the soils using a soil classification system based on technical advice from the Department of Agriculture.

West Midlands Development : Farm Planning, G W. Spencer

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

FARM planning relates to the development and sub-division of a property in such a way that it is possible to obtain the safest, most efficient, and most practical use of every acre of land.

West Midlands Development : The Economics Of New Land Development, I J. Moncrieff

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

THE economics of new land development cannot really be separated from the financial aspects.

However, financing development is such a personal business that for general advisory purposes the distinction must be made.

For this reason, the article which follows largely avoids the financial side and is devoted to a consideration of some of the economic factors involved in the development of new land in this area.

West Midlands Development : Poison Plants In The West Midlands, T E H Aplin

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

TOXIC plants have caused considerable economic loss to stock raisers since the early days of settlement in Western Australia.

Although much is now known of the toxic materials contained in such plants, and although most of the plants have been thoroughly publicised, losses are still occurring in many areas.