Life Sciences Commons^™

Famous Sheep Breeds. 3. The Leicester, J A. Mallett

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

THE Leicester sheep, often referred to in Australia as the "English" Leicester to distinguish it from its relative, the Border Leicester, is the oldest of the improved British breeds.

Its development from the nondescript local sheep marked an advance in stockbreeding technique which did much to make Britain famous as the "stud-farm of the world."

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.

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.

Fruit Fly, D G. Shedley

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

FRUIT fly control is compulsory! To obtain effective control of fruit fly it is necessary to combine strict orchard hygiene with bait spraying.

In addition, cover spraying with DIPTEREX will give extra protection to stone fruit and pears.

When the breeding powers of the fruit fly are considered it is easy to understand why home growers and orchardists need to fight a continual battle against this pest.

Better Rations For Broiler Production, P Smetana

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

DURING 1959, trials were conducted at the Poultry Research Station, Herdsman Lake, with the object of developing a broiler-feeding ration that was better than the one at present recommended by the Department of Agriculture and commonly used by local broiler producers.

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.

Free Feeding For The Control Of Rabbits, C Marshall

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

IN common with most other farm work, the control of rabbits calls for a high degree of skill, patience and perseverance.

There is no short cut to success, and if results are required we must be prepared to give of our best.

Failures of control works are experienced at various times, and the reasons can generally be traced back to something we have failed to do or some short cut we have tried to take.

However, we should not lose heart from one failure. During normal farming procedure, if a farmer's crop fails he does not give up planting in …

Vibriosis, F C. Wilkinson

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

AN all-too-common problem on dairy farms is the failure of cows to conceive at times which will ensure their calves being born at the desired season—when the cows can take full advantage of the flush of green feed or, in the case of wholemilk producers, at a time when the milk is most needed to maintain their quotas.

There are of course many causes of sterility in cattle but in a survey carried out by veterinarians D. Roberts and M. Sier in 1957, it was shown that vibriosis was the main cause in 75 per cent of the herds investigated.

The Fruit Industry In Other Lands. 2. The Netherlands, Frank Melville

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

DURING a week spent in Holland, visits were made to the International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, the Fruit Research Station, Wilhelminadorp, the Virus Indexing Station, Emmeloord, the Glass House Research Station, Naaldwyk, and the fruit and flower auctions at Naaldwyk and Aalsmeer.

Visits to commercial orchards were limited by time.

Brown Spot Of Passion Fruit, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BROWN SPOT caused by the fungus Alternaria passiflorae, is found in plantings throughout Western Australia. Severe outbreaks of the disease have occurred in most districts, including Serpentine, Manjimup, Nannup and Denmark. Although isolated young plantings may remain healthy for two or three years the disease eventually becomes established in the vines.

A Survey Of The Incidence Of Lupinosis In Sheep In The Dandaragan District In 1959, H G. Neil, W. J. Toms, C. M. Ralph

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

FOLLOWING widespread losses of sheep grazing on dry lupins, a survey of flockowners' experience with the disease was made by the Department of Agriculture in one of the districts most affected.

The idea of a survey originated from discussions with the President, Mr. K. E. Jones, and several other members of the Dandaragan Pasture Improvement Group.

The information obtained from the survey has provided a valuable factual basis for the design of laboratory and field experiments.

Lamb Marking, I K. Stott

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

LAMB marking is the most severe of the various ordeals which sheep are called upon to endure during their lifetimes—yet it is an operation, or rather a series of operations, to which the average fiockowner gives but little care and thought.

Registered Stock Foods : Supplementary List, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

List of Registered Stock Feeds (Supplementry List

Insect Pests : Snails And Slugs, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

WHILE snails and slugs are not insects, they have been included in this series of articles, because the damage they cause is very similar to that caused by insect pests—and furthermore, the task of testing and recommending control measures is usually left to the entomologists.

Powdery Mildew Or Oidium Of Grapes, H L. Harvey

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

POWDERY mildew or oidium, is a disease which is always present to a greater or lesser extent in grapevines in Western Australia.

In seasons favourable for its development it stunts the growth of shoots and leaves and may seriously reduce fruit yields and quality.

Most of our commonly-grown varieties are quite susceptible to the disease, but for the reason that currants are the most extensively grown variety, the overall losses are greatest in this variety.

Tobacco Production In Western Australia, A E. Baker

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

THE annual consumption of manufactured tobacco in Australia is in the vicinity of 55,000,000 pounds.

Although the public is well acquainted with the use of tobacco for smoking, many people are unaware of the care and attention required to grow such a crop.

The following article attempts to outline the conditions and methods as applied to tobacco production in Western Australia.

Honey Flora Calendar For October, R S. Coleman

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

A look at Flora available in October

Trees Of Western Australia. 71. Coarse-Leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus Grossa F. Muell. Ex Benth.). 72. Desmond Mallee (Eucalyptus Desmondensis Maiden & Blakely). 73. Eucalyptus Falcata Turcz. 74. Jerdacattup Mallee (Eucalyptus Goniantha Turcz.). 75. Redheart (Eucalyptus Decipiens Endl.). 76. Eucalyptus Corrugata Luehmann. 77. Goldfields Blackbutt (Eucalyptus Le Souefii Maiden). 78. Strickland's Gum, Or Goldfields Yellow-Flowered Gum (Eucalyptus Stricklandii Maiden), Charles Austin Gardner

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

THIS mallee is unmistakable by reason of its peculiar habit and thick roughbarked stem and branches, both of which have longitudinally-fissured persistent bark right up to the distinctly reddish branchlets.

The leaves are broad and thick, a bright shining green in colour, with the mid-ribs usually a purplish-red. The heads of flowers are on thick red round-in-section foot-stalks which hang almost vertically, and the reddish bud-cap conceals the ultimately free, bright yellow filaments.

The widely-spreading thick branches, and in general the rough stout appearance of the shrub inspired the name "grossa" from the Latin grossus meaning thick.

Help Those Lambs To Live, C J. Spencer

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

IN almost all breeding flocks the most serious stage of sheep loss is from birth to three days of age with the majority of these losses occurring at birth or during the first day.

The number of lambs lost at this time is rarely known, but survey work shows that on most properties ten to twenty of every hundred lambs born are dead before three days of age.

The economic importance of such losses cannot be emphasised too much. Money has been expended for rams as sires, while the ewes have received extra feed and have had their wool production …

Dried Fruit And Meal Insects, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

DRIED and preserved foodstuffs such as raisins, currants, oatmeal, nuts, and flour are often found to be "weevily" after long storage.

Strictly speaking, the term "weevily" should be applied only to material attacked by certain types of beetles, but the expression is now popularly used in connection with practically any insect infestation of stored products.

This Year's Export Lamb Carcass Competition, N Davenport

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

THE Export Lamb Competition will be conducted through the Royal Agricultural Society again this year.

Last year, due partly to the season, entries were well below those of previous years and if this competition is to continue, greater support from breeders is necessary.

I am sure you will agree that such a competition has undoubted value both for producers in recognising the type of lamb required, and also as an advertising medium for the sale of high quality Western Australian lamb on the English markets.

Weeds Of Western Australia : Cape Tulip (Homeria Breyniana (L.) Lewis And H. Miniata Sweet), G R W Meadly

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

SOUTH Africa has provided us with a number of undesirable weeds including doublegee, Berkheya thistle, Guildford grass and stinking roger, but outstanding among the weed introductions from that country are two species of Homeria known as Cape Tulip.

The salmon-coloured flowers and long grass-like leaves are known to farmers in many localities extending from Geraldton to Albany and as far east as Bruce Rock and Merredin. Beyond the metropolitan area the largest infestations occur in the Northam, York, Beverley and Williams districts where thousands of acres of good land are affected.

A Successful Campaign Against The Euro, E H M Ealey, T. M. Richardson

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

RESULTS from a five-year research programme carried out by the C.S.I.R.O. on the Abydos-Woodstock Pastoral Research Station indicated that euros could be controlled in a practical and economic way by the traditional method of water poisoning,

if it was continued for an extended period and carried out over a large area. Smallscale trials supported this claim, but no opportunity had occurred to assess the practicability of a large-scale poisoning operation.

Downy Mildew Of Onions, R F. Doepel

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

DOWNY mildew of onions, caused by the fungus Peronospora destructor, is widespread in Western Australia.

In market gardens adjacent to Perth where the majority of onions are grown the disease occurs each year in spring and early summer crops and often attains epidemic proportions.

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 …

The Fruit Industry In Other Lands. 4. The United States Of America (Continued), Frank Melville

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

COMMERCIAL pear growing was seen only in Washington State where production is in the vicinity of five million bushels or about 12 per cent, of the total fruit production of the State.

Two-thirds of the pears are Bartletts which are used extensively for canning. The other main variety is D'Anjou with lesser quantities of Bosc and Winter Nelis all of which are used for the fresh fruit trade.

In the last six years a serious depletion in tree numbers has occurred due to the inroads of Pear Decline a new disease the cause of which at present is unknown.

Can Heifers Be Fed Too Well?, Laurence C. Snook

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

DURING recent years, emphasis has been given to the results of experiments conducted overseas, which appear to show that when heifers are generously fed, this reduces their ability to produce milk in later life.

As a result, some dairymen now believe that heifer calves should be kept lean rather than in prime condition.

It has become common to hear statements to the effect that generous feeding encourages calves to become "beefy," at the expense of the milk-producing attributes which are essential in a dairy cow.

Honey Flora Calendar For November, R S. Coleman

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

A look at Flora available in November

List Of Registered Stock Foods And Stock Licks 1960-61, H G. Cariss

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

All foods for stock sold in Western Australia are required by the Feeding Stuffs Act, 1928-1951, to be registered annually with the Department of Agriculture.

Fruit Fly Control With Rogor 40 And Lebaycid : Progress Report, D G. Shedley

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

THE Mediterranean fruit fly has been present in Western Australia for over 60 years and during that time many types of insecticides have been tested against the pest.

Traps and lures were amongst the earliest control measures adopted, but these gave way to sugar solutions poisoned with such materials as arsenic and sodium fluosilicate.