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Feeding Pickled Wheat To Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

INQUIRIES are frequently received from farmers asking whether it is safe to feed pickled wheat to pigs, and if so, the quantities which would be suggested.

Until very recently there was no experimental information on the safety or possible dangers of these wheat pickling agents, but feeding trials completed last year at the Animal Health and Nutrition Laboratory, Nedlands, have provided some of the answers to these questions.

A Useful Farm-Made Roller, V E. Western

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

A very serviceable compacting roller can be constructed at little expense by using discarded truck tyres.

The roller described here has an overall width of 5 ft. 3 in. and carries seven 9.00 x 24 semi-trailer tyres which had been discarded when the treads were worn smooth.

Bluebush Seed Supplies, C V. Malcolm

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

A GREAT deal of publicity has been given of late to the value of bluebush (Kochia brevifolia) as a plant for some types of salt-affected land, particularly in the drier parts of the wheatbelt.

Obtaining seed supplies can be a problem, but fortunately large amounts of seed are not required since once a few bushes are established they will spread seed over the intervening areas.

Thus rates of 1 to 2 lb of seed per acre have been found quite satisfactory.

Black Spot Of Tomatoes, R F. Doepel

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

BLACK SPOT DISEASE IS THE MOST SERIOUS FOLIAGE BLIGHT OF TOMATOES IN THIS STATE. IN SEASONS FAVOURABLE TO ITS DEVELOPMENT SEVERE DEFOLIATION AND FRUIT ROTTING ARE EXPERIENCED.

IN Western Australia, black spot, which is also known as early blight and target spot, is a troublesome disease of long standing. It is caused by the fungus Alternaria solani which also attacks potatoes.

The Development Of Western Australian Sand Plain Soils For Agriculture, Richard Philip Roberts, F. L. Shier

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

IN a recently published economic survey of the Australian wheat growing industry, it was reported that nearly two-thirds of the farms surveyed in Western Australia were located on lateritic "sand plain."

As a random selection was made of the eighty farms that were visited it is reasonable to conclude that a similar proportion of all the State's wheat producing farms are on that type of country.

This constitutes a remarkable change from the earlier days of wheat belt settlement when the sand plain soils were regarded as virtually useless and by-passed for development.

It is the purpose of this article …

Overcoming Stock Watering Problems In The Kimberleys, B Swan

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

ONE of the ever-present problems of the pastoral areas is that of providing: watering-points in reasonably close proximity to the grazing areas.

All too frequently, the country on the river frontages and that in the vicinity of the water-holes becomes eaten out and although there may be ample feed on other portions of the run, it is too far distant from the available water to be effectively utilised.

Deferred Grazing : What It May Mean In The Mulga Region, W M. Nunn

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

THE practice of deferred grazing has been written up in American textbooks and has been applied effectively to sections of the cattle range lands of the United States.

Early attempts to apply the principle in eastern Australia were not very successful, and it remained for our Departmental workers in the North-West and Kimberley Divisions to demonstrate the phenomenal results that could be obtained on grasslands in summer rainfall areas.

Wild Life In A Modern Age, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THE present human population of the earth is estimated at about 2 1/2 thousand million, and reliable sources consider that this figure will be doubled by the year 2000.

Although the pessimistic forecasts of Malthus have not yet come true, it is obvious that the world's food requirements, must lead to increased exploitation of land and other primary resources, with consequent repercussions on all forms of wild life.

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.

Soil Conservation In The Kimberley Area Of Western Australia, K Fitzgerald

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

OFFICERS of the Soil Conservation Branch of the West Australian Department of Agriculture, have not been engaged in soil conservation work in the Kimberleys prior to this year, not because a serious erosion problem did not exist, but rather because with limited trained staff available they were too fully occupied elsewhere.

The recent arrival of a senior Soil Conservation Officer in the area to assist and plan an approach to the problem of soil erosion in the Ord River catchment area is therefore very welcome.

Water Usage Trials With Bananas On The Gascoyne, W M. Nunn

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

THE banana industry at Carnarvon is an unusual one by most agricultural standards.

Normally a tropical plant liking relatively humid conditions in a high rainfall, the banana is cultivated at Carnarvon in an area of extremely low rainfall and with relatively low humidity throughout the year.

Water is pumped to irrigate the crop from the sands of the Gascoyne River bed or from bores adjacent to the river course.

List Of Registered Fertilisers : 1959-60, H G. Cariss

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

TN accordance with the provisions of the Fertilisers Act, 1928-1955, it is required that—with the exception of bulk sales to a manufacturer and those made in accordance with a buyer's written prescription—all fertilisers sold are required to be registered annually, the registration year being from November 1 to October 31 following.

The list of fertilisers registered for the year commencing November 1, 1959, is set out herewith in tabular form.

Commercial Vegetable Growing In The Perth Metropolitan Region, L T. Jones

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

MARKET gardening with sprinkler irrigation on deep sandy soils around Perth is really a commercial application of hydroponics or sand culture principles.

Provision of a continuous and adequate supply of nitrogen is the major problem. Peat swamps scattered among the sandy areas have higher natural fertility. However, their common problems are drainage, acidity ("sourness"), salt and various special soil deficiencies. Over-liming of acid swamps can cause new problems.

Irrigation In Western Australia : Report On Government-Controlled Areas : 1958-59, H K. Gibsone

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

IRRIGATION in the south-western portion of Western Australia is mainly confined to the coastal plain west of the Darling Range where the three main irrigation districts of Harvey, Collie and Waroona have been established by the State Government.

The Government-controlled irrigation areas extend southward from Waroona (70 miles from Perth) to Dardanup (120 miles from Perth) and have an average width of about five miles.

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.

Manganese Deficiency In The Cereal-Growing Areas, S. T. Smith, W. J. Toms

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Manganese deficiency in cereal growing areas of Western Australia appears to be restricted to some of the ironstone gravelly soils of certain districts. Wheat, oats and barley make poor growth on such soils unless the deficiency is remedied by applying manganese sulphate as a soil dressing or as a foliage spray.

Stone Roller As Mowing Aid, R. L. Down

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The Avondale Research Station is situated on land typical of many thousands of -*- acres of the Avon Valley—jam, wattle and York-gum country liberally dotted with stony outcrops. Despite the expenditure over the years of many man-hours on stone-picking:, the cutting of meadow hay was always a task involving frayed tempers, loss of time and a heavy bill for replacements of mower parts. Small stones, which were of no consequence in the working of a paddock with other types of machinery, jammed the mower knives with exasperating frequency.

It was not a practicable proposition to make hundreds of acres entirely …

Muresk Agricultural College, W. Southern

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

When the West Australian Government established Muresk Agricultural College in 1926, it added a new chapter to an interesting story of land settlement and utilisation which had its origin in the early years of the Swan River Colony. Much of the present College land was included in a 4,400-acre grant made to Henry Reveley in 183, but portions of the grant were forfeited in the same year and taken up by Du Bois Agett, the property then being known as Down Farm.

Granular Fertiliser, C R. Hale

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

There is general agreement that granulation of fertilisers improves their physical characteristics with respect to handling, storage and distribution in the field. These physical advantages rather tan any established agronomic reason appear to be responsible for the increasing use of granular fertiliser.

The Effectiveness Of Dieldrin For Control Of The Argentine Ant In Western Australia, P. N. Forte, T. Greaves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The results of three experiments to compare insecticides for the eradication of Argentine ants are reported. The areas used for the tests were typical household allotments in Shenton Park, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. The methods of application of sprays and evaluation of results were the same as described in a previous paper. (Forte & Greaves 1953.)

Heavy Rains Show Need For Soil Conservation Practices, G H. Burvill

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Autumn 1953 will stand out in the weather records for the widespread heavy rains in the pastoral areas and wheatbelt. The rains which came from the cyclonic storms of March 22-25, totalled five to 12 inches in many pastoral areas and two to seven inches in the Northern and Eastern Wheatbelt. The steady rain soaked the land, but where the falls were heaviest, runoff to lower parts caused flooding and local inconvenience. All in all, it was a very welcome rain, especially where the previous winter had been dry. In the wheatbelt, ploughing and cultivation were soon in full swing …

The Soil Our Basic Asset, J E. Watson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Contour furrows increase pasture growth

Good pastures on steep slopes will give profitable returns from grazing, and will also reduce erosion risks. Water needed for pasture growth on such slopes must not be allowed to run off and erode lower slopes. The use of contour furrows is a readily applied erosion control measure which can be very effective in increasing the amount of water held and absorbed on steep slopes.

Make The Best Use Of Your Rainfall, J E. Watson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Farmers are not always satisfied with the rain that falls on their farms—it is often too little, too much, too soon or too late. However, the farmer has a very great responsibility to make the best use of the rain he gets, and if he gets too much, to see that the excess can flow down to the rivers without causing damage.

Sunrise And Sunset Times For May-June 1952

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Supplied by the Government Astronomer

Times of sunrise and sunset for every fifth day, are given for a number of towns throughout the State. Times for a town not on the list may be estimated if its position in relation to one or more of the listed towns is known. The times given for sunrise are those of the first appearance of the top edge of the sun over a true horizon; those for sunset give the time of the sun's disappearance below a true horizon. Situation in a valley would make the sun appear to rise later, and on …

Sunrise And Sunset Times For March-April, 1953

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

State. Times for a town not on the list may be estimated if its position in relation to one or more of the listed towns is known. The times given for sunrise are those of the first appearance of the top edge of the sun over a true horizon; those for sunset give the time of the sun's disappearance below a true horizon. Situation in a valley would make the sun appear to rise later, and on a hill it would appear earlier.

[Supplied by the Government Astronomer]

Wind Erosion Control—I, D J. Fleay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Desserts have been formed in some parts of the world by the action of wind on once productive soils. This could happen to the light land areas of Western Australia if we do not profit by the lessons of the past and manage these soils with great care.

The Regeneration And Maintenance Of Wimmera Ryegrass Pastures Under Saline Soil Condition, F L. Shier

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Over the past ten years, Wimmera ryegrass pastures at the Salmon Gums Re- VJ search Station have been improved and maintained by periodic cultivation of the soil even without applications of superphosphate. On heavy crab-holey soil affected by high salt content and unsatisfactory for wheat growing, cultivation treatments have produced remarkably uniform stands of Wimmera ryegrass as shown in the accompanying pictures. The bare patches due to salt, have been largely eliminated. If the interval between cultivations is more than three years Wimmera pastures deteriorate badly.

Sunrise And Sunset Tables Times For Jan.-Feb., 1953

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Times of sunrise and sunset for every fifth day, are given for a number of towns throughout the State. Times for a town not on the list may be estimated if its position in relation to one or more of the listed towns is known. The times given for sunrise are those of the first appearance of the top edge of the sun over a true horizon; those for sunset give the time of the sun's disappearance below a true horizon. Situation in a valley would make the sun appear to rise later, and on a hill it would appear …

Soil Conservation Service - Basis Of Co-Operation, G H. Burvill

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The Soil Conservation Service has been established as provided in the Soil Conservation Act, 1945. To carry out its objectives will require the co-operation with it of individual farmers and landholders. The policy of the Service is therefore to encourage farmers to help themselves, and particularly to encourage them to recognise the need for soil conservation methods and for soil erosion control in the early stages. More particularly, the Service aims to provide, through its trained staff, technical asistance in the way of agricultural advice, research, conservation, planning, layouts and surveys. As indicated below, under the heading "Charges for Soil …

Soil-Saving Schools

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Save the soil for your sons and grandsons," or "Every farmer his own soil conservationist" might well serve as slogans for the recently-inaugurated farmers' schools organised in this State by the Soil Conservation Service. Judging by the enthusiasm shown by pupils at the first two schools, held in August last, this highly practical approach to an important subject seems destined to usher in an entirely new conception of soil conservation work as it affects the individual land-owner.