Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

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.

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.

New Cereal Varieties In Australia, I Thomas, J Reeves

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

In 1927 a conference of the State Ministers of Agriculture resolved that to avoid X duplication, the names of new cereal varieties be circulated among the States and subsequently confirmed at a meeting of Ministers. Particulars of new varieties as submitted to the Registrar are as follows—

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 …

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).

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Drill Spacing And Rate Of Seeding, I Thomas, H G. Carris

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

During the war, when superphosphate was in exceptionally short supply,a wheatbelt farmer experimented with a method of sowing a crop in which he had blocked each alternate drill run and in effect halved the rates of seed and super used on each acre. He expressed himself satisfied with the results and has since continued to plant the major portion of his crop in this manner.

The Composition Of The Dwalganup Strain Of Subterranean Clover, A B. Beck

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

Subterranean clover is now the major pasture species in Western Australia and according to Elliott (1948) nearly 90 per cent, of the sown pastures of this State have a subterranean-clover base or were originally sown with this species. In spite of its great economic importance, no data have been published showing the chemical composition of the clover growing in this State. In order to fill this gap in our knowledge, series of samples of the Dwalganup strain were collected from three localities. These have been analysed by the Government Chemical Laboratories and the results are presented in this paper.

Elephant Grass, H G. Elliott, L C. Snook

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

Elephant Grass, sometimes known as Napier's Fodder, is a hardy, palatable and nutritious plant which under good conditions will give heavy yields. When once established it will remain as a permanent stand so long as it receives good treatment. It grows well in many parts of Western Australia and up to date appears to be free from attack by pests and diseases.

* (Revised from Leaflet No. 600, by H. G. Elliott)

Tobacco Field Day, J A. Mallett

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

Undaunted by grey clouds and misty rain, about 75 people interested in tobacco culture attended a field day at the Tobacco Research Station, Manjimup, on February 15. Fortunately the threatened downpour failed to materialise and the visitors were able to enjoy to the fullest extent an interesting and highly instructive series of demonstrations and lecturettes.

*Secondary title: Successful event at Manjimup

Leaflet No 1003 - The Salt Problem In The Wheat Belt, G. H. Burvill

Bulletins 1 - 2999

IN the wheat belt of Western Australian bare patches in farm paddocks are often seen. Many are bare, or almost bare, because of too much salt in the soil. The excess of salt prevents the germination of seeds, or kills living plants, because it causes the water supply for germination or growth to be cut off. This salt problem is so serious in places that single farms or groups of farms have been ruined; wheat growing on them has become unprofitable.

Leaflet No 1001 - Aerial Baiting For The Control Of The Little Plague Grasshopper (Austroicetes Cruciata Sauss), C. F. Jenkins

Bulletins 1 - 2999

Aeroplanes have been tested for grasshopper control in many parts of the world during the last decade but the insecticides used have been in either dust or spray form.

The aerial distribution of bran bait is quite a recent development in overseas countries and was tried for the first time in Western Australia during the spring of 1949.

Bulletin 119 - Take-All Of Wheat And Similar Diseases Of Cereals, W. M. Carne, J. G.C. Campbell

Bulletins 1 - 2999

This important disease, known also as Footrot, Blackleg, and Whiteheads, affects wheat principally, but also occurs on barley, rye, and certain grasses. In a very few instances it has been known to attack oats, but this is so rare that oats may be regarded for practical purposes as free from attack. Of the grasses attacked the most important, from a farming point of view in Western Australia, are Bailey Grass (Hordeum murinum), Silver Grass (Festuca bromoides and F. myuros), and the so-called Spear grasses (Bromus spp.). These annual grasses are very common in the wheat belt.

Bulletin 121 - Mildew, Septoria, Leaf Spots And Similar Diseases Of Cereals, W. M. Carne, J. G. C. Campbell

Bulletins 1 - 2999

Mildew attacks all the cereals as well as many grasses. but as in black stem rust the fungus has developed specialised races, one attacking wheat, another barley, another rye and so on, so that the form attacking wheat will not attack oats, etc

Bulletin 115 - The Value Of Windmills For Pumping Water In Western Australia, A. H. Scott

Bulletins 1 - 2999

It is surprising to note the dearth of up-to-date reliable information dealing with actual results of modern windmills, under working conditions, though literature on thousands of other subjects less important can usually be obtained.

In this bulletin there is presented a complete and accurate record of the amount of water pumped daily by a windmill, under actual working conditions, for a period of 14 months.

Bulletin 111 - Standard Wheat Varieties For The W. A. Wheat Belt, Geo L. Sutton, F. Vanzetti

Bulletins 1 - 2999

Graded selected Pedigree seed is produced at the Chapman and Merredin Experiment Farms.

Bulletin 105 - Pedigree Selection Of Seed At The Chapman And Merredin Experiment Farms, Geo L. Sutton

Bulletins 1 - 2999

A Paper read before the Royal Society of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 12th October,1921.

"Pedigree" or "Pure Line" selection is that system of selection under which the choice is made, not. solely because of the attractive appearance of the plant, but because of its ability to transmit its good qualities to the progeny. Such a system requires, and the method of selection ensures, that the qualities sought after shall be hereditary. For this purpose a record of ancestry is essential, hence the use of the term "pedigree."

Bulletin No 81 - The Improvement Of Pastures With Notes On The Pasture Trefoils In Western Australia, E. A. Mann, D. A. Herbert

Bulletins 1 - 2999

Agriculture can be roughly divided for practical purposes into two large divisions, those of animal husbandry and vegetable husbandry. It is with the former that this pamphlet is chiefly concerned and its object is to contribute, it possible, in some small measure towards the problem of how to increase time stock carrying capacity of our natural pasture lands. it is unnecessary to dwell upon the importance of this question, especially in relation to the remarkable developments which are taking place in time wool-growing industry in the Southern and more coastal areas of Western Australia.

Guide To The Experiments In Cropping Now Running At The State Farms Of Narrogin, Merredin, Chapman, Geo L. Sutton

Grain and other field crops published reports

The publication of this Guide to experiments conducted at the State Farms is deemed desirable, in order that farmers may be made acquainted with the nature of the work and the progressive results obtained, The purpose of the alteration of practice initiated at the State Farms during the past three years is to carry on an original and definite plan for the improvement of agricultural methods, and to this end a series of experiments have been undertaken which would entail too much expense on the individual farmer, or involve a departure from his routine practice before the value of the …