Life Sciences Commons^™

Variations In Cream Tests, J F. Brennan

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

DURING the year dairy farmers are often concerned about variations in the butterfat test of cream they supply to the butter factory.

Why do these tests vary? Is the variation the fault of the farmer or the butter factory?

The Mango In Western Australia, K S. Cole

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

ALTHOUGH normally considered a tropical tree, the mango does well in the sub tropics of Western Australia.

The main commercial area in the State is Carnarvon but a few trees grow as far south as Perth.

Wild Oats In Wheat, J G. Paterson

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

Trials with a new chemical suggest that economical control of wild oats in wheat is only possible in heavily infested crops.

I N recent years there has been a marked increase in the incidence of wild oats in the wheat areas of this State. Three factors have been responsible.

Septoria Leaf Blotch Of Oats, S C. Chambers

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

SEPTORIA leaf blotch is a relatively common disease of oats in the southern cereal areas of Western Australia.

In some seasons it causes severe lodging.

Grow More Wool, W L. Mcgarry, R. J. Lightfoot

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

THE amount of wool that each sheep grows is determined by many things, including 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.

Removing Sooty Mould On Oranges, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SOOTY Mould is one of the most common and most disfiguring blemishes on oranges.

A chemical dipping treatment has recently been perfected by a joint effort of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture and C.S.I.R.O.

Diseases Recorded On Native Plants, Weeds, Field And Fibre Crops In Western Australia, G C. Macnish

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

This list is divided into three sections, the first dealing with native plants, the second with weeds (except grasses) and third with field and fibre crops.

Agriculture In Western Australia, A W. Hogstrom

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

A review of the development of agriculture in Western Australia with an outline of the distribution and importance of present agricultural and pastoral enterprises.

WESTERN Australia's economy has always been largely dominated by its pastoral and agricultural activities.

For short periods gold has given greater annual returns than the products of farms and stations, but these periods have never been very long.

Only in recent years has the value of factory production equalled that of our stations and farms.

Weeds In Lawns. 1. Identification Of Weeds In Lawns, Robert Dunlop Royce

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

ACCURATE identification of weeds is the first principal of weed control with modern chemicals.

This is as true for weeds in lawns as any other weeds.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs, S C. Chambers

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

THE agricultural development of the Esperance Downs was reviewed recently by Shier, Dunne and Fitzpatrick (1963) who indicated the great potential of this region.

They described the establishment of clover ley pastures capable of supporting heavy stocking rates. Crops of oats or linseed also give excellent returns.

Weed-free rotations which include linseed, oats or vetches may reduce wheat losses caused by take-all on the Esperance Downs.

Insect Pests Of Lawns., D G. Shedley

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

Lawns provide a home for many and varied insects. Although a large number do little or no damage there are some which, if left unchecked, will make it impossible to maintain the grass in good condition.

SPRAYING with insecticides is not always the best answer to pest problems. Manuring, cutting and watering must be maintained at proper levels. In fact, if this is not done the attacks of at least some pests will be more severe.

Hibiscus Collar Rot, G C. Macnish

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

FLOWERING hibiscus have been one of the most popular ornamentals in the home garden for several years.

However since about 1959, many home gardeners have been disappointed to see their hibiscus attacked and destroyed by a collar rot.

This disease, which is new in Western Australia, has been most destructive on the popular Apple Blossom variety.

Pruning Citrus Trees. 2. Pruning The Mature Tree, D B. Argyle

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

EXAMINATION of a mature tree in full production will show the natural pattern of growth already explained.

It will be seen that over the years the frame has developed by a system of layers with new growth, stimulated by sunlight, constantly appearing on the top side of the older wood.

Eventually the terminal portions of the older layers are weakened by lack of light, they become unproductive and in turn adversely affect the general fruitfulness of the rest of the tree by shading and crowding.

Plant Diseases : Pear Scab : Control By Fungicidal Sprays, R F. Doepel, S. E. Hardisty

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

Scab is an important fungal disease of pears in Western Australia.

Serious fruit losses occur in orchards where spraying is neglected, poorly timed or inefficiently carried out.

A full spray schedule, using a proven fungicide, must be adopted from spur burst onwards to ensure protection of fruit and foliage.

Selenium And Sheep Health : A Review Of White Muscle Disease Investigations In W.A, M R. Gardiner

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

SELENIUM, the latest trace element to be investigated in medicine, biology and agriculture, has been found to be essential in the prevention of a wide variety of animal diseases in various parts of the world.

Iron Deficiency Of Oats In The Lower South West, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick, R. Sprivulis

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

Oats grown on the acid peaty sands of the West and South Coastal areas of Western Australia develop iron deficiency.

This deficiency can be cured by spraying with iron sulphate. A 2 to 4 per cent, solution can be applied through a low volume spray without damage to the plants. The spray should be repeated when deficiency symptoms reappear.

Growing oats on these soils is not recommended.

Gum Spots On Citrus Leaves, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

GUM SPOTS on citrus leaves are one of many types of leaf spots which prompt numerous enquiries from citrus growers.

Although they are fairly characteristic in appearance they are often confused with spots due to other causes, such as fungi, spray chemicals and so on.

Insect Pests Of Forests. 3. The Tuart Bud Weevil And The Gregarious Gall Weevil, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THE group of beetles commonly known as weevils contains some of the most troublesome of all insect pests.

The best known is probably the wheat weevil, but many other forms attack stored products and growing plants.

A Simple Feeding Guide : Balanced Rations For Dairy Cows, K Needham

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

MANY technical articles have been written on the nutrition of dairy cattle and the methods employed in compounding a balanced ration have often been explained.

This article aims to present the principles of compounding a balanced ration in a simplified form, and suggests rations which should be easily adopted on any dairy farm.

Vermin Control Research In Western Australia 1952-1962, C D. Gooding

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

Ten years ago this month the Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia began setting up a section within its Vermin Control Branch to tackle some of the scientific aspects of vertebrate pest control.

C. D. Gooding, B.Sc. (Agric), reviews the first 10 years of vermin control research work in Western Australia.

Honey Flora Calendar For April, R S. Coleman

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

A list of Flora available in April

Day-Old Fowl Pox Vaccination, P Smetana

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

FOR many years the standard procedure for fowl pox prevention on West Australian poultry farms has been to vaccinate young stock at 12 weeks of age. Although most farmers have used this system successfully it has a number of weaknesses which can be overcome by day-old vaccination.

A new day-old fowl pox vaccine now on the market has many advantages over the normal vaccine, which is used at about 12 weeks old.

In tests at the Poultry Research Station it gave satisfactory results.

Select On Fleece Weight And Cull The Low Producers, W L. Mcgarry

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

EFFICIENT calling of maiden ewes before they join the breeding flock is an essential part of any policy of flock improvement.

Removal of the low wool producers should be one of the first considerations when culling the flock.

Webworm And The Weather, J A. Button

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

FOR many years farmers have remarked on the cyclic occurrence of webworm outbreaks in their cereal crops.

Webworm, the State's most serious pest of cereals, has frequently assumed a role of major importance for one or two seasons, and then not been troublesome for a number of years.

A research programme being carried out by the Entomology Branch aims to give a better understanding of the effects of weather conditions on the seasonal incidence of webworm, and should lead to more effective control of this pest.

Non-Parasitic Diseases Of Potatoes, S C. Chambers

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

POTATO tubers are subject to several non-parasitic diseases which are induced by unfavourable environmental conditions.

These disorders often cause considerable loss of marketable tubers, but in some instances this can be avoided by correct cultural, handling, or storage methods.

Control Of San Jose Scale, G D. Rimes

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

W ITH an export rejection rate in excess of 10,000 cases per year, the apple industry in W.A. is continually confronted with the problem of San Jose Scale control.

Hints On Chicken Rearing, P Smetana

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

For the next few months poultry farmers will once again be concerned with rearing chickens.

A good brooder, ample space, good sanitation, plenty of water and a balanced feed are still the essentials of successful chicken raising, says P. Smetana, B.Sc. (Agric), Acting Officer-in-Charge of the Poultry Branch.

Honey Flora Calendar For July, R S. Coleman

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

A guide to Flora available to Honey Bees this month.

Weaning And Weaner Management, R J. Lightfoot

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

MOST of Western Australia's Merino flock owners wean their lambs in the months of August, September and October.

Too often this is done indiscriminately to fit in with other operations, or lambs are left on their mothers for long: periods until the ewes are remated.

The Papaw : A Fruit For The Tropics And Sub-Tropics, K S. Cole, M. G. Hawson

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

TOE fruit of the papaw (Carica papaya) has a unique flavour and is a welcome addition to any diet.

In the tropics and sub-tropics the papaw is quite easy to grow and is adapted to a wide range of soils and climate.