Life Sciences Commons^™

Plants For Saltland : This Is Bluebush, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Bluebush occurs naturally in the 12-16 inch rainfall belt in Western Australia.

It provides very productive and nutritious fodder.

Linseed Variety Trials, 1963-64 Season, J T. Reeves

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

RESULTS of 1963-64 linseed variety trials are available for four trials on research stations and for four trials on farmers' properties.

These are shown in the table below. Excellent yields were obtained at some sites, while disappointing results were obtained at Chapman and Esperance.

Poor results at Esperance were due to the poor finish to the season.

Fisheries Report No I (1) - The Shark Bay Fishery On Snapper Chrysophrys Unicolor (Quoy And Gaimard), B. K. Bowen

Fisheries Research Reports

As regards both catch and value, the Shark Bay snapper fishery is the second most important scale fishery in Western Australia. Until 195%, the fishing was done solely by means of hard-lines operated from beats drifting over the snapper patches. In 1959 traps were first used with great success and in 196) this method of fishing was again the principal technique.

Prior to the 1960 season there were several suggestions that the use of traps would have a deleterious effect on the fishery. On October 19, 1959, the Western Australian League of the Professional Fishermen's Association wrote to the Fisheries …

The Effect Of Mulesing And Tailstripping At Lamb Marking On Subsequent Lamb Growth And Incidence Of Fly Strike, R J. Lightfoot, W. L. Mcgarry

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

THE modified mules and tailstrip operation has been shown to be highly effective in reducing the incidence of crutch strike in sheep.

In Western Australia the operation is usually performed on ewe weaners or hoggets immediately after either crutching or shearing.

Plant Diseases : Angular Leaf Spot Of Cucurbits, O M. Goss

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

ANGULAR leaf spot caused by the bactterium Pseudomonas lachrymans (E.F.Sm. & Bryan) Carsner, is common on cucumbers and gherkins grown late in the season.

The same disease has been recorded on rockmelons, watermelons and pumpkins but rarely occurs on these hosts in Western Australia.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs : The Ffect Of Nitrogenous Fertiliser, S C. Chambers

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

The number of wheat tillers affected by take-all was not influenced by the application of ammonium sulphate in an experiment at Esperance Downs Research Station.

However, its use stimulated tillering and increased yields by an estimated 7.4 bushels an acre.

Dairy Farming In The Busselton-Margaret River District. Part 1. Stage Of Development, R A. Bettenay

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

This article is the first of four in a series reporting a survey of farming practices in the Busselton-Margaret River area.

Besides the development of farms the series will cover farm stocking rates and milk production on farms in the area.

THE survey of farms in the Busselton-Margaret River district began at the end of the 1962 season.

Information on the stage of development of the properties was obtained from 94 farmers during advisory visits.

Lucerne Establishment On The West Midland Sandplain, J W. Gartrell

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

WEST of Dandaragan and the Midland line from Watheroo to Mingenew there are four million acres of scrubplain commonly called the Western Sandplain.

All virgin soils in this region are acutely nitrogen deficient so that the agricultural future of the region depends on how successfully legumes are grown.

Septoria Leaf Spot Of Tomatoes, S C. Chambers

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

SEPTORIA leaf spot was first observed on tomatoes in Western Australia in 1925.

Since then it has caused serious losses, both from seedling blight and defoliation of larger plants, on many occasions in autumn and spring crops.

Saffron Thistle, B J. Quinlivan, H. A. Pearce

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

Saffron thistle is a declared primary noxious weed in Western Australia and is especially troublesome in the northern agricultural areas.

Field trials aimed at finding the cheapest and most effective method of controlling the weed have shown that 2,4-D applied at the correct stage is the best chemical to use.

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.

The Animal Quarantine Service, R K. Kent

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

Exotic diseases are a constant threat to Australia's animal industry and there are many reasons for the uncompromising ban on the import of certain animals from overseas.

Such diseases as foot and mouth and blue tongue would cost Australia a tremendous amount of money if they became established here.

Just how Australia protects itself against the introduction of exotic diseases is described by Veterinary Surgeon, R. K. Kent, M.R.C.V.S., in this article .

Sclerotinia Disease Of Vegetables : Survival Of The Fungus In Soil, S C. Chambers, M. Hardie

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

Sclerotinia of vegetables is carried over in the soil of market gardens by means of resting fungal bodies called sclerotia.

Recent tests have shown that sclerotia may stay alive in the sandy soils of Spearwood for two years, but disappear from the wet peat soils of Wanneroo within six months

Recommended Barley Varieties : 1964, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Prior and Beecher are recommended for 1964 by the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture.

One Shot Baiting, C D. Gooding, L. A. Harrison

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

THE Agriculture Protection Board introduced the first of its contract poisoning schemes in 1955 in the lower South-West when three units undertook the first "1080" poisoning for farmers in Western Australia.

The originators of one-shot baiting describe this new technique and explain how it should be used for best results on the farm.

Recommended Oat Varieties, 1964, J L. Mcmullan

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

THE varieties Kent, Ballidu, Avon, Dale and Fulmark are recommended for sowing in 1964 by the Department of Agriculture and the Coarse Grains Advisory Committee.

Attack The Rabbit At Home : Destroy Warrens And Harbourage, J S. Crawford

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

Effective rabbit destruction often calls for a carefully worked out control programme consisting of poisoning, fumigating and warren and harbourage destruction.

Possibly the most effective means of not only controlling rabbits but ultimately eradicating them from holdings is the destruction of warrens and harbourage.

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.

The Levy Nest : A Useful Aid To Farrowing, P Mcnamara

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

The levy farrowing nest which has given good results in England is a recent innovation in Australia.

It could be well adapted for W.A. conditions and is described here by Pig Husbandry Adviser Mr. P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.).

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.

Establishing Wheatbelt Pastures? Don't Use A Cover Crop, J A C Smith, D. B. Argyle

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

One of the factors which influence the establishment of improved pasture in the West Australian wheatbelt is whether the pasture legume is sown with a cover crop or not.

Mediocre establishment can follow when a cover crop is used and it is recommended that, for rapid establishment, any pasture legume should be sown without a cover crop.

Carton Packs For Granny Smith Apples, J S. Bloomfield

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

THE demand for bruise-free apples by overseas buyers has been mainly responsible for the development of fibre board cartons as export apple containers.

Cover Spraying For Septoria Leaf Spot Of Celery, S C. Chambers

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

LEAF SPOT, caused by the fungus Septoria apii Chester is the most serious disease of celery in Western Australia and is responsible for heavy losses in many winter grown crops.

Excellent control of Seproria leaf spot on winter grown celery has been obtained with the fungicide Dyrene (R) when applied at 10-11 day intervals during the season.

Dingo Control : Organised Ground Baiting Drives At Mating Time, C D. Gooding, J. J. Freeth

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

DINGOES in Western Australia, like all "creatures of nature", have a well defined seasonal pattern of behaviour.

This is influenced somewhat by weather variations, but even in remote areas where violent fluctuations in rainfall occur from year to year, the dingo still breeds at roughly the same time.

The numbers of pups born and the numbers which survive each year varies a lot, but life goes on at roughly the same tempo under most seasonal conditions.

Citrus Water Spot, H L. Harvey

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

WATER SPOT is a disease condition which reduces the quality of citrus fruit in Western Australian orchards during continuous wet winter weather.

The problem is greatest in the Hills districts on navel oranges but mandarins may also be affected. Valencia oranges are rarely if ever affected.

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.

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.

Dry Season Rice Varieties For The Ord River Valley, A L. Chapman, P. J. Van Rijn

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

PREVIOUS experimental work at the Kimberley Research Station (Langfield 1961) showed that, in general, indica varieties of rice are best adapted for wet-season sowing and japonica varieties for dry-season sowing.

This article gives the results of three rice variety and time of planting experiments carried out at Kimberley Research Station in the I960, 1961, and 1962 dry seasons. The recommendation is to sow the variety Caloro during May.

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.

The 1963-64 Wheat Stem Rust Epidemic, J T. Reeves

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

Comments on the 1963 epidemic and the current situation regarding rust races and resistant varieties in Western Australia.

THE 1963-64 harvest included 12 million bushels of undergrade wheat, representing 25 per cent, of the total harvest.

The average yield was reduced to only 11.3 bushels per acre. Although these adverse effects were due to a number of causes, the principal one was stem rust.

The economic loss due to this disease in the 1963-64 harvest probably exceeded £10 million.