Life Sciences Commons^™

Weed Control In Cereals : Aerial Spraying Trials, G R W Meadly

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

SPRAYING cereal crops for weed control is now standard farming practice in Western Australia. Almost 500,000 acres of cereal crops, mainly wheat, are sprayed each year, and approximately three-quarters of this area is treated by aircraft.

Recent trials have shown that aerial application of 'extra low" volumes of hormone-like herbicides, with oil or water solvents, does not damage cereals if spraying is done at the right stage of growth.

Local Control Of Crows By Trapping, C J. Woodbury

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

THE common crow seen frequently around farms in the South-West is the raven (Corvus coronoides) whilst the pest of pastoral areas is the true Australian crow (Corvus cecilae).

Farmers and pastoralists, although recognising the importance of these birds as scavengers and destroyers of insects, particularly grasshoppers, sometimes for one reason or another, wish to reduce their numbers over a localised area.

Baiting with phosphorus has been used in the past, but the purpose of this article is to describe and illustrate a type of trap which has become universally known as the "Australian Crow Trap."

A Crush For Tuberculin Testing Of Cattle, A L. Ripper

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

ALWAYS a useful asset on any farm where livestock are kept, a strongly-constructed crush is essential where tuberculin testing makes it necessary to deal with dry stock, bulls and young animals that have not been previously handled.

The crush described in this article was specially designed for tuberculin testing, but will serve equally well for vaccinating, branding, de-horning or any operation where restraint is necessary.

Potatoes Sprinkler Irrigated From The Collie River, John W. Lewis

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

THE highly productive soils of the flats along the Collie River at Roelands are an important source of many of our summer grown potatoes in this State.

Large areas are planted year after year, the record being held by Mr. Clarry Cox of Roelands, who has planted potatoes on the same seven acres every season since 1922.

Automatic Waterers For Day Old Chickens, P Smetana, W. Ward

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

ONE of the most tedious and time consuming tasks on a poultry farm is the provision of water to chicks from day old up to the age of three or four weeks.

Most poultry farmers use half-gallon glass fonts with metal bases for the first few weeks, until the chicks are old enough to use the automatic watering system usually situated along one wall of the brooder house.

This cumbersome glass font system can be replaced by the cheap and easily installed automatic watering system described below. This system has already been adopted by several local poultry farmers.

Plan For Quality In Silage, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

SILAGE making time is fast approaching in the South-West.

Last minute preparations before harvesting will help avoid delays at the time of making this valuable fodder, thereby reducing the amount of costly spoilage caused by hold-ups.

A New Type Of Seed Bed Cover For The Market Garden, R R. Bell, M. Hardie

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

ALL market gardeners use seed beds in their gardening programme. However, the basic design of seed beds and covers has not greatly altered over the years.

The availability of cheap good quality plastic materials has now shown the way to improvements in the design of this type of gardening equipment.

Let's Look At Herringbone Dairies, R A. Bettenay, F. Fielder

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

THE first of the modern type herringbone dairies in Western Australia was constructed by Mr. F. Tucker of Ruabon, in 1957.

Since then there has been strong interest in this system, and there are now at least six such sheds operating in the district between Ludlow and Augusta. Many more are being constructed.