Life Sciences Commons^™

List Of Certified And Approved Potato Seed Growers

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The following list of certified and approved potato seed growers is submitted for the benefit of those growers who have not yet purchased seed for their early and mid-season plantings:

Schools For Farmers - Muresk Winter Courses Resumed

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

THE short instructional courses for farmers which were a popular feature of the Muresk Agricultural College in pre-war years will be recommenced during July next.

Two three-day courses have been arranged, one on sheep and wool extending from the evening of July 21, to the afternoon of July 24, and another dealing with pig husbandry lasting from the evening of July 28 to the afternoon of July 31. Farmers desiring to enroll in these courses should obtain an application form from the Principal of the Muresk Agricultural College, Muresk, W.A., or from the Department of Agriculture, St. George's Terrace, Perth.

Crop Spraying With Hormone-Like Weedkillers, G R. W Meadly

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Although a considerable amount of investigational work on various weeds was carried out during last season it is intended to devote this article to experience gained from large scale undertakings as distinct from experiments. A very successful aerial spraying project was undertaken against water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) at Lake Monger and pasture weeds such as thistles and Cape tulip (Homeria spp.) were treated with hormone-like preparations in a number of districts, but by far the greatest activity with these chemicals was associated with the selective control of weeds such as wild turnip (Brassica Tournefortii), wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and mustard …

Plant Disease - Early Blight Or Target Spot Of Potatoes, W P. Cass Smith, M Hardie, B N. Lowe

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Early blight or target spot caused by the fungus Alternaria solani is a widespread disease of potatoes which in Western Australia is most prevalent in crops dug in autumn and early summer. The disease may attack both foliage and tubers, but the tuber rot phase of the disease has hitherto caused most concern to local growers because it causes obvious losses in storage. The less obvious but more serious effects of the foliage blight have generally been overlooked, chiefly because the disease usually develops late in the season when the crops are approaching maturity. However recent spray trials with new …

Layout Of A Dairy Premise, A E. Baker

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

As the average dairyman spends a large proportion of his working time in the milking shed throughout the year, careful attention to the layout of these premises will give good returns in time saved, and will enable the task of milking to be carried out efficiently and with a minimum of discomfort.

Trees Of Western Australia - The Grey Box, C A. Gardner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

In the grey box the rough bark extends to the ultimate branches, unlike that of the coolabah where the smaller branches are usually smooth. The grey box is the common tree of the basalt areas to the north of the King Leopold Range, but unlike the coolabah it is not found along the streams but is more typical of the stony hills and undulating country. Its occurrence is so closely connected there with basalt and andesite, that this particular soil type can at once be mapped by reference to the grey box trees.

Have Your Journals Bound!

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Books are expensive in these days, but any farmer can acquire a useful agricultural library at trifling: cost by keeping- his copies of his "Journal of Agriculture" and having each year's issues bound

New Cereal Varieties In Australia, I Thomas, J Reeves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

During 1952 four new wheat varieties and one new flax variety were submitted and accepted for registration. Particulars of the new varieties as supplied to the Registrar are as follows:—

Seasonal Reminders

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Tobacco Growing

In experiments which have been conducted for nine years at the Research Station, it has been found that, on light sandy loam soil, a lupin cover crop produces tobacco of the best quality during the following season. This applies especially to new land and the apparent reason is that lupins, when ploughed into the soil, produce a good bulk of organic matter which creates a better texture in the soil and a better moisture holding capacity. New Zealand blue lupins are recommended and it is advisable to inoculate seed before sowing, especially on new land. Application of fertiliser …

Wheat Variety Trials On Research Stations, 1952, I Thomas, J Reeves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

To test the suitability under local conditions of the newer wheat varieties, whether bred in this State or introduced from the Eastern States, variety trials are conducted each year on five wheatbelt research stations. The results of these trials indicate the varieties most suitable to the various areas of the wheatbelt and serve as a guide to the farmer in the choice of the most suitable varieties to grow.

Analyses Of Feeding Stuffs

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Results of Analyses of Samples of Feeding Stuffs taken under the Feeding Stuffs Act, 1928-1951.

(Published under section 9 of the Act.)

Wild Dogs

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The Agricultural Protection Board has again pointed out that the time being spent by the Government doggers in hunting Individual wild dogs in farming areas was seriously hampering the more important work of destroying dogs by large-scale poisoning and trapping in their outback breeding areas.

Efficiency In The Apiary, R S. Coleman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Efficiency is a word that most people associate with factories and city life, but it is just as important, if not more important, for the primary producer. Reduced to everyday English, efficiency means more goods produced with less labour and with lower capital investment for the unit of produce sold. Efficiency can be called planned business commonsense designed to save time and money.

Fruit Fly

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Report from the Department of Agriculture's fruit fly inspectors indicate that satisfactory control of the pest is being maintained in commercial orchard areas, but heavy infestations are still being reported in some suburban districts. Among the host fruits recorded this season are citrus, apricots, peaches and mulberries. Fruit fly infestation in mulberries is of particular interest as until last year no official report had been made of fruit fly infestation in mulberries picked from the trees. On rare occasions, maggots have been found in masses of ripe fruit accumulating under the trees.

A Note On Chronic Footrot Of Dairy Cattle

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

With the advent of treatment with ™ sodium sulphamezathine for footrot of dairy cattle, many of the troubles associated with this condition have largely been overcome.

However, the importance of early treatment is sometimes overlooked and Fig. 1.—Chronic footrot caused the ragged growth of new bone shown in the two lower pictures. At the top are the bones of a healthy foot from an animal of similar size. some farmers are inclined to blame the drug when treatment has been commenced after the animal has been affected for some time and a cure does not result. Why treatment is not …

Dingo And Wild Dog Destruction, A G. Moore

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

It has often been said that poison is the best means of destroying dingoes and wild dogs. Poison acts silently and does not have the frightening effect of trapping. When used properly—on a well-planned system and at the right times— poisoning has given excellent results in controlling the pests.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia: The Thorn Apples (Datura Species), C A. Gardner, H W. Bennetts

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Many garden enthusiasts are familiar with a shrub or small tree known as the "Angel's Trumpet" or "Trumpet-flowered Brugmansia." Some nurserymen call it "Brugsmania." There is another garden favourite which does not appear to possess a common name but is an annual or perennial plant from one to four feet in height, of summer growth and carrying erect violet or white trumpet-shaped flowers succeeded by large bristly or prickly pods. Both these are species of Datura. Another species is native to Western Australia while four more are introduced noxious weeds.

The Farm Bookshelf

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Dr. Josue de Castro, Chairman of Executive, Food and Agriculture Organisation, is a Brazilian, whose recently-published book "Geography of Hunger" presents an appalling picture of a world in which hunger is still the most potent source of social misfortunes.

Worms In Sheep, C R. Toop

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The parasitic worms of sheep are widely distributed throughout Australia and are a source of serious loss to the sheep and wool industry. This results from the loss of condition which occurs in infested animals as well as from the failure of young sheep to thrive and make normal growth, and there is a consequent reduction both in carcase values and in the quantity and quality of wool produced. Furthermore, heavy infestations with worms are frequently responsible for serious mortalities.

Prickly Pear - Declared Noxious Weed

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Many householders and orchardists seem to be unaware of the fact that the Prickly Pear has been declared a primary noxious weed for the Armadale- Kelmscott, Darling Range, Mundaring and Swan Road Board districts.

Plant Disease - Corm Rots Of Gladioli, Olga M. Goss

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Several diseases of gladioli now present in Western Australia can be very damaging to the plants under certain conditions. The diseases referred to in this article attack not only the above-ground portions of the plant, but the corms also, and their introduction to new areas usually results from the planting of infected corms. When such corms are planted the disease spreads to the developing shoots and leads to inferior growth and flower production, and in some cases to the death of the plant. An even more serious feature of the disease is that the soil becomes contaminated with the organisms …

New Insecticides For The Control Of The Argentine Ant In Western Australia, P N. Forte, T Greaves

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The Argentine Ant (Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr), has been the subject of much investigation in Western Australia. Jenkins (1943), Jenkins and Forte (1946, 1951), Jenkins (1948) and Forte (1949) have reported results of extensive work on the control of this pest. The results of the investigations have shown that effective control can be obtained by the use of DDT sprays but that large scale eradication was not possible with DDT.

Free To Stockbreeders - Booklets On Genetics

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Department of Agriculture has received from the C.S.I.R.O. about 1,000 copies of Dr. A. L. Hagedoorn's booklet, "A Geneticist Talks with Australian Animal Breeders." These are to be made available free of charge to stockbreeders in this State. Readers of the Journal who breed farm livestock, including poultry, should apply for copies without delay to the Director, Department of Agriculture, Perth.

Trees Of Western Australia— The Coolabah, C A. Gardner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The coolabah and the grey box are two common tropical trees which closely resemble each other in bark, foliage and other characters, but which differ widely in their soil requirements and in their timbers. Both are numbered among the most valuable trees of the Kimberley district because of the strength and durability of their exceedingly hard timbers and their resistance to the ravages of the termite.

The Shorthorns, J A. Mallett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Among "The Stud Farm of the World" the red, white and roan Shorthorns have always been given pride of place in the cattle section. They were the first of the popular cattle breeds existing today to be systematically improved, and at the present time approximately three-quarters of all the cattle in the British Isles carry a preponderance of Shorthorn blood.

The Pruning Of Fruit Trees—Part 1. General Principles, H R. Powell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

In this series of three articles, an attempt is being made to explain the principles of fruit tree pruning, together with some of the difficulties likely to be encountered. The subject will be treated under three main headings in the following order:— 1—General Principles; 2.—Framework Pruning; 3.—Pruning of various kinds of fruit trees with special reference to treatment of fruiting wood. This first section will be confined mainly to stating the reasons why pruning is considered necessary and will describe the terms used to indicate the various parts of the tree.

Trees Of Western Australia— Coral-Flowered Gum, C A. Gardner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Among the more decorative small trees available for planting in the Eastern Agricultural Areas, there are few more suitable that Eucalyptus torquata. This tree, known also as the "Christmas Tree" of the Coolgardie and Dundas districts usually blooms during December, and its handsome drooping coral-pink blossoms make it a conspicuous object in the woodlands at that season of the year. It was first discovered by L. C. Webster near Coolgardie in 1901, on a stretch of stony dioritic country 25 miles in length and about a quarter of a mile in breadth. It is found at least as far south …

Trees Of Western Australia— White Mallee, C A. Gardner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

This species is usually found in mallee form, growing from 10 to 18 feet tall, but may at times possess a single stem, and is thus a small tree. Both mallee and tree forms have characteristically a broad 'base or stock, so that frequently in the mallee forms the individual stems arise well above the soil level from a large domelike base. As a tree the stem may be as much as 18 inches in diameter. The species is characterised in the field by its white or pink bark which is covered throughout externally with a white smooth talc-like powder. …

The Glorious Gladiolus, F Jackson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Possessing a wide colour range and striking beauty of form, the gladiolus is one of our most popular and spectacular annuals. When grown in large numbers, the mass formations of varied hues make beds of gladioli a sight to be remembered, but the flower is probably displayed at its best when used as a home decoration.

Thin-Shelled Eggs, R H. Morris

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Thin-shelled eggs are responsible for a loss of thousands of pounds annually to the West Australian poultry industry. To a very large extent the flock owner can control the percentage of thin-shelled eggs laid by his flock and this article outlines how this control can be exercised.