Life Sciences Commons^™

The Composition Of Milk : Notes On A Recent Survey Of Dairy Farms, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE report on the recent survey into milk composition carried out by officers of the Dairying Division of the Department of Agriculture will soon be available to all interested dairy farmers.

The Red-Legged Earth Mite And The Lucerne Flea [Replaced By Farmnote 67/86], Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THE red-legged earth mite and the lucerne flea are the two most important pasture pests of Western Australia.

They commonly retard the establishment of new pastures by causing serious damage to pasture legume seedlings and in some seasons can damage cereal crops.

This article describes the pests and gives current recommended control measures.

Why Not Take Another Look At The Loquat?, W J. Hart

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

Loquats were introduced to Australia in New South Wales in the early days of the colony.

Although they hare since been established throughout the country, loquats have never found a prominent place in the horticulture industry.

In this article W. J. Hart of the Horticulture Division says Why not take another look at the loquat ?

Mules And Tailstrip Lambs At Marking Time, R J. Lightfoot

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

THE mules and tailstrip operation is basic to fly strike control and should be routine practice in all flocks in the same way as other accepted management practices like marking and crutching.

Seventh Random Sample Laying Test 1963-64 : Poultry Research Station, Wembley : Third Progressive Report O 26th April, 1964, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SEVENTH RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST, 1963-6

4 POULTRY RESEARCH STATION, WEMBLEY

THIRD PROGRESSIVE REPORT TO 26th APRIL, 1964

Average age of birds 276 days or 39 weeks and 3 days.

Docks, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Some very encouraging results have been obtained by spraying docks with a solution containing Dicamba.

This herbicide was previously known as Banvel D and is distributed under the trade name of Banex, which contains 20 per cent, active ingredient.

The Role Of Fleece Measurement In Selecting Merino Sheep, H G. Neil, R. J. Lightfoot

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

MANY things determine how much wool a sheep can grow.

These include the amount and quality of pasture available or how the sheep are fed, the stocking rate, the general health and thrift of the sheep and other management considerations such as cropping and the time of lambing.

Plants For Saltland : Samphire, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE photograph shows two bushes of "samphire" (mainly Arthrocnemum spp).

This common name is ascribed to several plants, all of which occur naturally in the agricultural areas in Western Australia.

A Chemical For Doublegee, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

DURING the past two years, finance has been made available from the State Wheat Research Fund for an intensive study on doublegee.

A newly-developed herbicide has been shown to give complete control of growing plants, while ecological studies have started to yield valuable information about seed behaviour.

Leaf Spot Diseases Of Strawberry, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Leaf spot and leaf scorch are two important' fungal diseases of strawberry in Western Australia.

Satisfactory control can be obtained by good cultural methods and with captan or phaltan fungicides in a suitable spray programme.

Modern Developments In Bulk Handling Of Apples, J C. Rowbotham

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

One of the results of mechanisation replacing physical labour has been the development of bulk handling of many commodities.

Apart from the saving of time, effort and cost, bulk handling of agricultural produce enables quicker harvesting at the right time.

List Of Registered Fertilisers : 1963/64, H G. Cariss

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

IN 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 must be registered annually.

The registration year is from November 1 to October 31 following. The list of fertilisers registered for the year commencing November 1, 1963, is set out herewith in tabular form.

Oedema Disease : A Cause Of Death Of Pigs In W.A, J Armstrong, P. Meyer

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

Within the last two years Oedema Disease ("Gut oedema") has been diagnosed as a cause of pig mortality in this State.

This article describes the nature, symptoms and methods of control of this disease.

Control Of Lice On Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

LICE are responsible for serious losses in the pig industry, as apart from the reduced growth rates and loss of condition resulting from the constant irritation, the lice are carriers of disease.

Recommended Wheat Varieties, 1965 : State Wheat Advisory Committee Recommendations For Wheat Varieties For 1965 Plantings, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

State Wheat Advisory Committee recommendations for wheat varieties for 1965 plantings.

THE wheat rust epidemic of 1963 has directed attention to resistance of varieties to this disease, new races of which have recently appeared in Western Australia.

However, last year was one of abnormal seasonal conditions, with late summer rains followed by a mild winter, and spring conditions which favoured rust.

Horse Problems In The Kimberleys, M R. Gardiner

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

A review of current horse disease and ill-thrift problems in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with emphasis on the "Kimberley horse disease".

DISEASES and other conditions affecting the health and working capacity of the horse have long had an important bearing on the economy of the cattle and sheep industries of the northern part of Western Australia.

Under present conditions it is impossible to muster stock on the large pastoral leases in the Kimberley districts without the aid of horses, and many other operations would be more difficult if stockmen were denied their services.

Take-All Disease Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

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

Take-all is the most serious of the several root-rotting diseases of wheat in Western Australia.

In the absence of cereal crops, the fungus responsible for take-all survives on the roots of native grasses.

Losses can be minimised by adopting cultural methods which reduce the amount of infective material in the soil and which also encourage vigorous growth of the crop.

Crabgrass, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Crabgrass growing in lawns can be controlled by spraying with a solution containing D.S.M.A. (dosodium methyl arsenate).

A Revised List Of Diseases Of Ornamental Plants Recorded In Western Australia, O M. Goss

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

THIS list of ornamental diseases constitutes a revision of portion of the census published by Carne (1925) and added to by the same author in 1927.

It contains also records of diseases identified in the period between these earlier publications and June 30, 1961.

Ram Management, J Craig

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

REALISING that good rams play an important role in flock improvement, the wise flock owner selects his rams after careful consideration of their breeding, type, production and fleece characters or potential meat-producing qualities.

Good ram management can have a major effect on lambing percentages. In this article Senior Veterinary Surgeon J. Craig outlines methods of achieving the best results from rams.

Guard Against Bitter Pit, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Two seasons ago bitter pit' caused heavy rejections of apples for export overseas and bad trade publicity.

To avoid a repetition of this, precautions should be taken against bitter pit on all susceptible varieties.

Grade Herd Recording, 1963-64, Maurice C. Cullity

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

A review of Grade Herd Recording during the 1963-64 season.

THERE was a substantial increase in the number of cows which were recorded in 1963-64 compared with 1962-63 (23,520 and 22,635 respectively).

This season's figure represents 20.4 per cent, of all cows in the dairying districts.

The number of cows which completed lactation and therefore whose yields were included in the averages, rose from 17,258 to 19,011.

Oat Variety Trials, 1962 And 1963, J L. Mcmullan

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

OAT variety trials were located on a number of Research Stations and, in 1963, on three other properties in the higher rainfall areas.

These three trials contained only varieties of midseason maturity.

The location of the test centres is given in the tables, while brief details of the varieties and crossbreds under test in the period 1962-64, inclusive, are given in Table 1.

Pig Research Projects For W.A, W J O Wilkie

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

The Medina Pig Research Unit now being developed by the Department of Agriculture will be an important addition to pig research facilities in Australia.

The primary function of the unit will be to serve the needs of the pig industry in Western Australia.

In this article, Animal Husbandry Officer W. J. Wilkie, B.V.Sc, discusses some aspects of research to be carried out.

Linseed Growing In The Ord River Valley, D F. Beech

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

Experimental work with linseed at the Kimberley Research Station began in 1952 and has been intensified in the last four years.

Fertiliser requirements and methods of land preparation, sowing, irrigation and weed control have been established.

Suitable varieties have been selected. Farm-scale crops have been grown in the area and, although cotton is very much more remunerative as an establishment crop, it is expected that linseed will ultimately have a place in the Ord irrigation scheme.

Flower Greening And Witches' Broom, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE flower "greening" and witches' broom diseases may be found in a variety of plants.

Susceptible garden species include phlox, gerberas, vincas, dahlias, geraniums, asters and many others.

Contagious Ophthalmia (Pinkeye) Of Sheep, C R. Toop

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

CONTAGIOUS OPTHALMIA, better known to the sheep owner as "pinkeye", is a common disease of sheep particularly during the summer months.

It is known to occur in most countries where sheep are kept and is prevalent in Australia throughout the sheep-raising areas.

Control Of Perennial Grasses, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Perennial grasses such as paspalum, kikuyu and couch can be controlled by spraying with a solution containing 2,2-DPA.

This is a non-poisonous powder which is sold under a variety of trade names.

Migratory Movements Of Emus And Control Efforts, John L. Long, T. J. Tozer

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

ALTHOUGH little data has been recorded on movements or migrations of the Emu (Dromaius novea-hollandiae), it is well known throughout the farming community that some such movement occurs in September and October in most years at least.

First Three Year Average Report For The West Australian Random Sample Laying Test Covering The 4th, 5th And 6th Tests, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

FIRST THREE-YEAR-AVERAGE REPORT FOR THE WEST AUSTRALIAN RANDOM SAMPLE LAYING TEST COVERING THE 4th, 5th AND 6th TESTS

Despite every effort made to provide all entries in individual tests with a uniform environment it is still possible for a particular entry's performance not to be a true indication of its inherent ability.

Random Sample Test results should therefore be viewed on a long term, annual, consecutive basis. If the yearly results for a given hatchery are grouped together and averaged over a period of several years irregularities in performance due to factors other than genetic worth are minimised and a …