Life Sciences Commons^™

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.

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.

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.

Poison Plants In The Garden, T E H Aplin

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

SOME 18 commonly grown garden plants are known to be toxic and many local home gardens have five or six of them.

Several other species can cause skin ailments.

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.

Do You Know This Disease [Scabby Mouth], F C. Wilkinson

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

This sheep is showing rather severe lesions of "scabby mouth" a disease widely distributed in both the pastoral and agricultural areas.

The Recent Story Of Skeleton Weed : A Menace To Our Wheat Industry, G R W Meadly

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

SKELETON WEED was first found in Western Australia at Ballidu in 1963.

No further recording was made until December of last year when a small area was located near Esperance, but, within a brief period, plants were reported from Geraldton and Kwinana.

Cereal Variety Testing : A New Approach, H M. Fisher

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

One hundred and twenty large scale trials will be planted at 38 centres in the Department of Agriculture's expanding cereal variety testing programme.

ACCORDING to statistical returns West Australian farmers grow well over 100 varieties of cereals. More than 80 of these are different varieties of wheat.

Only a few varieties are widely grown so one might ask why farmers continue to grow so many of the less popular types.

The obvious answer is that they believe such varieties to be both suitable and profitable for their particular conditions.

Loquat Diseases : Black Spot And Fleck, R F. Doepel

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

Black spot is common on loquats and renders affected fruit unmarketable.

Another disfiguring fungal disease, fleck, has also become established in this State.

The newer fungicide dodine is recommended for controlling both these diseases.

List Of Registered Stock Foods And Stock Licks, 1965-66, H G. Cariss

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

A l l foods for stock sold in Western Australia are required by the Feeding Stuffs Act, 1928-1955, to be registered annually with the Department of Agriculture.

For the purposes of the Act, "Food for Stock" includes stock licks, which in turn embrace all preparations claimed to supply or primarily intended to supply mineral matter to stock.

Termites Or White Ants, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

TERMITES are commonly but erroneously called "white ants."

Actually they are more nearly related to cockroaches than to ants, but their general appearance and subterranean habits have given strong support to the popular designation.

They may be divided into two major groups from an economic point of view, viz., wood-dwelling and earth-dwelling termites.

Mastitis : Modified Teat Cups Give Better Back-Flushing, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Back-flushing of the teat cups has not brought the expected reduction in the spread of mastitis in some dairy herds.

Replacement of the conventional nut-and-tail nipple with a special flushing nipple, or use of a one-piece teat cup liner, will ensure that flushing is efficient.

Some Recent Developments In The Apple Industry In Western Australia, H R. Powell

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

IN 1940, the total acreage of apples in W.A. was 13,098, made up of 10,359 acres of bearing trees and 2,739 acres of non-bearing trees.

In 1959, the figures were 13,459 acres of total plantings; a bearing area of 10,926 acres and a non-bearing area of 2,533 acres.

Similar figures for 1964 show the plantings as 15,126 acres of total plantings, 10,889 acres of bearing trees and 4,237 acres of trees not yet in bearing.

Reproductive Wastage And The Sheep Shortage In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA has an acute shortage of sheep.

It is estimated that about seven million extra sheep are needed to stock existing pastures fully; meanwhile the carrying capacity of the State's pastures is increasing at the rate of three million sheep a year.

Coccidiosis Of Calves, W A. Halhead

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

Coccidiosis is one of the commonest causes of calf loss and debility on South-West dairy farms.

Treatment and control are simple once the nature of the disease is understood.

Salmonella Infection In Farm Animals, F C. Wilkinson

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

FIFTY-EIGHT cases of salmonella infection were diagnosed in farm animals in Western Australia during 1965.

Losses, due to deaths, abortion and ill-thrift on properties where these cases occurred were often substantial and caused the owner financial hardship.

Many more outbreaks of salmonellosis undoubtedly occurred but were not brought to the notice of veterinarians.

The Avondale Stocking Rate Experiment, L D. White, R. J. Lightfoot, R. N. Glencross

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

THERE is now ample evidence that stocking rates well above the usual district levels can be carried in the Avon Valley.

However, many aspects of increasing stocking rates still require investigation, particularly with lambing ewes and young sheep.

Citrus Red Scale Control, G D. Rimes

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

THE RED SCALE (Aonidiella aurantii Masc.) is widely distributed throughout the world and is a serious pest in countries with semi-arid climates such as California, South Africa, Palestine and Australia.

The home of the pest is probably China, but it has been known in Australia for over 70 years and it was introduced into North America from the continent.

Comparisons Of Broiler Rations, D F. Hessels

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

PELLETS are the most profitable feed for broiler chickens—but when they contain about two-thirds cereal, does it pay a country grower to pay freight on pellets when cereals are plentiful in his district?

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.

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.