Life Sciences Commons^™

The Prevention Of Sucker Growth Of Tobacco After Topping, T G. Haney

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

Experiments conducted overseas and elsewhere in Australia have shown that the application of mineral oils to the cut surface of the tobacco stem after topping (removal of the flower head) have reduced the amount of sucker growth of tobacco plants. Previous experience in Western Australia has shown that the most appropriate time for topping of tobacco crops has been after the first leaf has been harvested. This operation has the effect of putting more body and width into the tip leaves, which, without topping, tend to be narrow and comparatively light in weight. With late planted crops, however, crops are …

Bacterial Cultures - Price Increases Announces

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

Prices of bacterial cultures prepared by the Department of Agriculture for the inoculation of legume seeds have now been increased. The new prices are 2s. for a 1 oz. bottle; 3s. for a 2 oz. bottle and 7s. 6d. for the 8 oz. size. Old prices were Is. 6d., 2s. 6d., and 5s. respectively. Owing to the heavy demand for these cultures it has been found necessary to employ larger laboratory staffs and purchase extra equipment. Postage and materials cost far more today than when the service was inaugurated, and it is felt that a price increase was justified in …

Poison Sedge And Cyanogenesis, R D. Royce

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

During the afternoon of April 14 of this year, a flock of 800 sheep on a property in the Carnamah district was turned into an old stubble paddock which had been spelled for two months, after having carried the same sheep for the previous paddock, death having apparently occurred suddenly and without any struggling.

The rapidity and severity of the losses, together with the lack of observed symptoms, suggested that the trouble had been due to a cyanogenetic plant (a plant capable of killing stock by the liberation of prussic acid after ingestion.)

Shearing Time - Some Time And Money-Saving Hints, M Butler

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

Shearing time on the farm with its attendant worries will soon be coming: around. Now is the time to see that everything is in readiness so that there shall be no hold-ups during the shearing. Any stoppages during shearing are costly to the farmer, and represent a waste of valuable time for the shearers. In order to ensure smooth shearing it is the farmer's responsibility to see that nothing over which he has control is left undone, particularly in regard to his machinery and shed equipment.

Foreword, A L. Mckenzie Clark

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

The soil is a nation's heritage —a rich legacy from past generations of pioneers who laboured and endured hardships in order that the land should produce for the nourishment and clothing of mankind. We

Hormone Weedicide Injury To Grape Vines, W P. Cass Smith

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

During the present season, serious injury to grape vines from 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, proprietary weedicides, has been noticed on two occasions. In each case the damage, which included killing of vines outright, was brought about by spraying weeds between the rows or on headlands.

Raising Queen Bees, R S. Coleman

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

Most beekeepers are constantly seeking new and better methods of raising good queen bees and these suggestions, while capable of many refinements, will give good results for small-scale beekeepers when they wish to re-queen their hives. Most commercial apiarists have their own favourite methods incorporating variations of these ideas.

[One of an ongoing series of articles, collectively titled: Bees and Honey]

Hints On Chicken Rearing, R H. Morris

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

The ultimate profit to be made from poultry farming depends largely on how successfully each year's chickens are reared. A bird can be made or marred during its growing life and many aspects must be considered in rearing chickens successfully, some of the more important of which I will treat very briefly today.

Water Erosion Control - 3 - Designing Contour Bank Systems, J P. Fallon

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

Contour Bank is the name applied to a ridge or bank of earth built across sloping ground between points of equal or nearly equal heights. The basic function of a contour bank is "interception of run-off water is then either absorbed or conducted slowly from the land, depending on the condition of the soil conservation work contour banks are not a substitute for, but supplementary to, suitable plant cover and careful land management.

Peach Leaf Curl, W P. Cass Smith

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

Peach leaf curl caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans is a very common disease in this State during the spring and early summer. In addition to attacking both edible and flowering peaches, the fungus also attacks nectarines, almonds and apricots. When preventive measures are neglected the disease may be anticipated yearly commencing in spring.

The Farm Bookshelf

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

C. A. Gardner, Government Botanist of Western Australia, is the author of a recently-published 400-page work on the native and introduced grasses of this State. The book is the first part of a projected "Flora of Western Australia" which is expected to comprise at least six volumes.

Here's The Answer

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

Bulk super storage

We are thinking of storing superphosphate in bulk next year, and in order to assess the quantity of storage space likely to be needed we would appreciate some indication of the number of cubic feet required to house a ton of super.

Plant Diseases - Entyloma Leaf Spot Of English Marigold, R F. Doepel

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

The English marigold or calendula is a hardy ornamental which is widely grown in gardens throughout Western Australia. With the exception of eelworm attack on the roots it is seldom troubled by diseases and this feature has no doubt contributed to its popularity.

Pet Rabbits

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

A number of inquiries have recently been received by the Department of Agriculture concerning the legality of keeping rabbits as pets. The Chief Vermin Control Officer (Mr. A. R. Tomlinson) states that anyone keeping or purchasing rabbits as pets should note that the Vermin Act provides a heavy penalty for the keeping of live rabbits unless a permit has been obtained. This applies to all types of rabbits. The permits allow domestic breeds of rabbits to be kept as pets conditional upon them being confined in hutches within rabbit proof enclosures. They must not be permitted to roam loose on …

Poison Plants Of Western Australia: Toxic Plants Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium, C A. Gardner, H W. Bennetts

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

Since the early days of settlement in Western Australia very heavy stock losses have resulted from the many poisonous species of the two closely related genera, Gastrolobium and Oxylobium which, with two exceptions, are widely distributed throughout the southern areas of the State. They constitute the largest groups of native poisonous plants and have been responsible for a large proportion of the economic losses due to plant poisoning.

Wheat Crop Competitions, I Thomas, H G. Cariss

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

The last issue of the Journal gave a review of the results of the 50-acre wheat crop competitions sponsored by the W.A. Flour Millowners' Association in 1948/49, 1949/50 and 1950/51, together with the championship awards for 1951/52 In this issue are set out the results for the individual zones in the 1951/52 competition, together with the judges' reports and details of each competitor's cultural operations.

Insect Pests And Their Control - The Red-Legged Earth Mite, C F.H Jenkins

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

The red-legged earth mite is not a true insect, but is included in this series because the injury caused by the mite is very similar to that done by many insects and because the study of ticks and mites and their control is usually the work of an entomologist.

Gascoyne Research Station First Field Day - Successful Field Day At Carnarvon

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

About 100 banana-growers and local residents were present at the Gascoyne Research Station, Carnarvon, on May 28 when the station's first field day was opened by the Deputy-Director of Agriculture (Mr. A. L. McKenzie Clark).

Training A Sheep Dog, E G. Riley

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

An untrained sheep dog pup doesn't cost very much, even in these days of inflated prices, but when he is properly trained he will perform in a few minutes, work that ten men could not accomplish in as many hours. That is a point worth remembering when training a dog—you are developing an asset, that will save you a hundred times his cost in time and temper—so it is well worth your while to train him properly.

Late Or Irish Blight Of Potatoes, W P. Cass Smith

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

Late or Irish Blight, caused by the fungus Phythophthora infestans, is the most destructive disease of potatoes in many countries. Fortunately it has proved to be uncommon in the main potato areas of Western Australia as suitable weather for its epidemic development seldom occurs for sufficiently long periods. The disease is encouraged by periods of warm muggy weather during the day, followed by relatively cool night temperatures.

Shot Hole Of Stone Fruits, W P. Cass Smith

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

Shot hole of stone fruits caused by the fungus Clasterposporium carpel s philum occurs yearly and is more difficult to control than Leaf Curl. It is often particularly damaging on early almonds, peaches, plums and apricots which come into growth in late winter or early spring while the weather is still cold and wet.

Mesquite - Aerial Spray To Be Tested

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

An intensification of the spread of Mesquite in the North-West of the State was reported by the Chief Weed Control Officer of the Department of Agriculture (Mr. G. R. W. Meadly). He stated that a spineless form of this tree had been introduced on certain North-West stations some years ago as it was thought that the plant would provide valuable topfeed in its highly nutritious pods and beans. Unfortunately, the trees had reverted to the spined type and dense thickets had developed in some areas. Approval was recently given for experiments in aerial spraying of these thickets in an attempt …

The Control Of Mealy Bug On Vines In Western Australia, P N. Forte

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

The mealy bug (Pseudococcus maritimus Ehr.) was first recorded on vines in Western Australia in 1898 (A. M. Lea, 1898). Since then it has been reported present in certain years in large numbers with consequent loss of quality in the vine products.

Farm Fencing Hints - Boring The Posts, J A. Mallett

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

Boring the fence-posts to take the wires is an important operation in fence construction. Unless the holes are well aligned and running parallel with the fence-line and the ground, the task of "running" the wires will be made very difficult, and the appearance and effectiveness of the finished fence will suffer.

Season Reminders, T G. Haney

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

Now that the sales are over, growers should be ready to take good care of the tobacco seedlings for next season's crop. A good stand of healthy seedlings goes a long way towards an even crop, and is the first step towards better tobacco.

The Winter Pruning Of Roses, C C. Hillary

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

Next to picking armfuls of blooms, I doubt whether any phase of rose growing gives the gardener greater pleasure than pruning. To cut off a misplaced branch, or to relieve the plant of worn-out wood which has already produced its share of flowers; to snip away the spindly growths and twiggy bits which overcrowd the centre of the bush; to stand off and visualise just how lovely the plant will look when covered with flowers in three months' time, only to return again and cut off an inward-growing shoot which threatens to upset the symmetry of the bush; all this …

Trees Of Western Australia - Salmon Gum And Scarlet Pear Gum, C A. Gardner

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

The name salmonophloia, meaning salmon-barked, was given to this tree in 1878 by Ferdinand Mueller, the famous Australian botanist. The title of "Salmon- Barked Gum-Tree" had already been bestowed upon this tree by the early settlers, a name which apparently referred to the colour of the bark in fracture when it resembles the colour of cooked salmon flesh. The external colouration varies from a brownish pink at the end of summer to almost white in winter, usually with greyish-purple patches.

Citrus-Growing In Western Australia, H R. Powell

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

The 1952 Crop Reviewed

Western Australia in a normal year produces approximately 500,000 bushels of citrus fruits comprising 70% oranges, 20% lemons and the remainder made up mainly of grapefruit and mandarins. A general decline in production has occurred over the past three years due largely to the unfavorable seasons which have been experienced. In 1949 just over 500,000 bushels were produced. The 1950 figure was below 450,000 bushels while in 1951 approximately 375,000 bushels of citrus fruits were harvested.

Vibriosis (Vibrio Foetus Infection) Recorded In South-West Herds, J Craig

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

Vibriosis of dairy cattle was recently diagnosed for the first time in several herds in the South-West part of this State. This disease is not a new one, since Vibrionic abortion has been recognised for some considerable time in Europe and America, while within recent years it has been identified as causing abortion and sterility in cattle in the Eastern States of Australia.

Trees Of Western Australia And Poison Plant Series

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

Owing to the absence from Perth of the Government Botanist (Mr. C. A. Gardner), we regret that the drawings and letterpress for the series, "Trees of W.A." and "Poison Plants of W.A." were not available in time to be included in this issue.