Plant Sciences Commons^™

Daffodils For Everyone, C C. Hillary

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

For hundreds of years, poets and authors of renown in almost every country have extolled in verse and prose the loveliness of the daffodil. And well they might, since it is a floral gem of great beauty and one so widely grown that it might well be called everybody's flower.

Barrel Clover, F L. Shier

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

Results obtained with barrel clover in recent years at the Salmon Gums Re- Al search Station suggest that this legume will play an important part in improving the quality and quantity of the grazing on many farms in the district. It has shown its ability to survive and to build up from small sowings under average rainfall conditions and to produce a large bulk of feed in a wet year By comparison Dwalganup subterranean clover has not done nearly as well.

Pedigree Seed Of Wheat, Oats And Barley

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

Supplies of pedigree seed wheat, oats and barley will be available for distribution from the forthcoming harvest at the Department's Research Stations. The seed will be available on a cash basis only. Varieties available this season are listed below.

Growth Regulating Substances Used For Weed Killing, G R. W Meadly

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

Many discoveries of considerable importance to agriculture have been made accidentally while scientists have been working on other problems. The presence of a hormone, or growth-regulating substance, in plants has been known for many years, and in 1934 chemists were able to define the composition of this substance. With this information it was possible to prepare synthetically many related chemicals which were applied experimentally to plants, mainly for the purpose of stimulating growth, particularly with a view to promoting root development of cuttings.

The Distribution Of Some Important Toxic Plants Of South-Western Australia, R D. Royce

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

From the earliest days of settlement in Western Australia, native species of J- plants have been responsible for stock losses. As early as 1837, the plant now known as York Road Poison, was apparently causing the death of cattle, sheep and goats in the Guildford area, although the cause of the losses was at that time unknown. By 1842, James Drummond, the earliest of the botanical workers in Western Australia, had identified at least three species of Gastrolobium and one species of Oxylobium as being toxic. Subsequent experience in the field, together with experimental evidence has proved that 25 species …

Poison Plants Of Western Australia - Cape Tulip, C A. Gardner

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

For countless ages the flora of Western Australia remained as a separate entity undisturbed by plant intruders, but following upon the arrival of the white man came a number of plants, some of which proved able colonists. These included useful plants such as the naturalised clovers; others such as the Cape weed developed here to an extent not to be observed in their natural home. Some of the plants now regarded as troublesome weeds were accidentally introduced by various agencies, while others were deliberately imported, but have since become widespread.

Trees Of Western Australia - Swamp Or Flat Topped Yate, Brown Mallet And Four-Winged Mallee, C A. Gardner

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

The two trees described here under may be readily distinguished when growing as they differ considerably in their barks and general appearance and grow under different conditions, but in common with some other trees of the Southwest each has the mallee form, and the mallee forms are very difficult to distinguish.

Lawns - Their Establishment And Management, H G. Elliott

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

It may be said that there is nothing more pleasing to the eye than a well kept lawn, be it in a home garden or covering a sporting area, and under Western Australian conditions there is no reason why a good lawn or turf cannot be developed and maintained-always provided that there is a sufficiency of water and proper care and attention are available.

The Passion Fruit - Its Cultivation In Western Australia, F Melville

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

Passion fruit has been grown commercially for many years in Western Australia, A where its delightful flavour has made it very popular. It may be eaten fresh or as a component of fruit salads and preserves, is held in high regard by housewives for flavouring cakes and icing, and more recently has been extensively used in the production of a proprietary aerated beverage.

Thinning Of Deciduous Fruits, F Melville, T F. Herlihy

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

In the absence of any artificial control of the crop, most varieties of fruit trees will set much more fruit than it is possible for the trees to bring to marketable size and this is particularly the case with stone fruits. Even under good cultural and weather conditions the trees are often unable to bring the fruit to satisfactory size unless thinning is practised.

New Flax Variety

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

The Minister for Agriculture (Sir Charles Latham) announced recently that a new flax variety developed in this State has been accepted for registration and released for commercial cultivation.

The Wedge-Leaved Rattlepod, C A. Gardner

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

During the last two years, work has been in progress near Fitzroy Crossing (West Kimberley) upon an investigation to determine the cause of Kimber- Iey Horse Disease, commonly known as "Walkabout Disease." The investigations are still in progress, and the findings when completed, will be published elsewhere, but the discovery that Crotalaria retusa L. is a cause—and probably the major cause —of this disease is of considerable importance. Because of this it is considered advisable to assist pastoralists to recognise the plant and by providing information on its habit, occurrence and distribution, to enable them to take steps to minimise …

Raising Japanese Plum Trees From Cuttings

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

Occasionally prunings from Japanese plums used as stakes for peas, root readily and in a number of instances have made good trees. This applies particularly to such varieties as Santa Rosa and Satsuma. Interesting evidence of the performance of another variety has recently come from a Bedfordale grower, Mr. J. E. Dowell. Last year, after pruning a new Japanese variety called Purple King, he planted 18 cuttings, each about nine inches in length, in moist black loamy soil.

Trees Of Western Australia - Gimlets And Pear Fruited Mallee, C A. Gardner

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

Next to the salmon gum, the gimlet tree is perhaps the best-known of the trees of the Eastern Agricultural Districts and the Eastern Goldfields. A thin reddish brown bark, and a fluted or spirally-twisted trunk (especially in the young trees), distinguish at a- glance the gimlet trees or fluted gums from all other Eucalyptus trees. This bark has a thin outer layer which when removed reveals a sappy pale green, inner bark, and sometimes this inner green bark is exposed when the trees shed their reddish-brown outer bark towards the end of summer.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.)

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.

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.

Reduction Of Pre-Harvest Drop Of Washington Navel Oranges By 2,4-D Sprays, N J. Halse

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

The uses of various synthetic "plant hormones" in agriculture are many—one of the most generally known of these uses being their action in reducing pre-harvest drop of fruit. Naphthalene acetic acid, commonly known as N.A.A. is widely used for this purpose with apples, but 2,4-DichIorophenoxyacetic acid, commonly known as 2,4-D, is much more effective with citrus fruit.

Wheat Crop Competitions, I Thomas, H G. Cariss

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

For many years prior to the last war, 50-acre crop competitions were sponsored and conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society and judged by officers of the Department of Agriculture. These competitions always proved successful and without doubt contributed in no small way to the development of the cereal-growing areas, particularly as far as wheat farming is concerned. The conducting of these crop competitions lapsed during the war but, in 1946 a new series, sponsored by the W.A. Flour Millowners' Association, was inaugurated and conducted under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society with the field judging again being carried out …

Applying Orchard Fertiliser A Handy Home-Made Aid, H S. Argyle

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

Fertilisers such as sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, being rich in nitrogen are used extensively by orchardists and market gardeners. Both these compounds are readily soluble in water and are easily carried through the soil to the rooting areas of plants and trees.

Cultivation Of The Cape Gooseberry, Roy L. Cailes

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

The Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is a member of the large family Solanaceae, which includes the potato, the tomato and the capsicum. The plant is a native of Peru and Chile, where the species is known to have been cultivated for over two centuries. Records show that by 1807 it had been introduced into the settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, and shortly afterwards found its way to New South Wales, where it became known as the "Cape Gooseberry," and was the chief fruit that the colonists cultivated at that time. Cape Gooseberries have been grown for many years …

Hydrocyanic Acid (Hcn) Poisoning

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

When newly developed country is to be stocked with sheep or cattle it is important to make sure that it is free of poison plants. A large proportion of the native poison plants belong to the genera Oxylobium and Gastrolobium, typical examples being Box and York Road poisons, but the cyanogenetic plants form an important group.

[Article not present in contents page but present in index and in text]

Plant Your Roses Carefully, C C. Hillary

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

While the planting of roses is a comparatively simple business, there are certain rules which must be followed if losses are to be avoided. Most of the roses sold by nurserymen in this State are raised on what is known as Fortuniana stock. The origin of this stock is somewhat obscure, but it is thought to be the result of a cross between Rosa banksia and Rosa laevigata. Whatever its origin, however, it is certainly a very vigorous stock and one which thrives better in the soils and climate of this State than any other. A further advantage is its …

Potato-Harvesting Machines

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

Less than 15% of Australian potato-growers own mechanical diggers stated the Director General of Agriculture (Mr. Frank W. Bulcock) in replying to inquiries addressed to him by the West Australian Minister for Agriculture (Sir Charles Latham).

[Article not present in contents page but present in index and in text]

Cape Tulip Control

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

Strong measures will be taken this season to control the spread of Cape Tulip in Western 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.