Horticulture Commons^™

Better Peach Varieties, Frank Melville

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

The PEACH is a very versatile fruit and a universal favourite. It is surprising then that the area of peaches in this State is very little different today to what it was 15 years ago. This is in spite of the fact that the population has increased by 48 per cent.

New peach varieties now under test could help satisfy the consumers' demand for a better range of high quality eating peaches— and expand the market for peaches in Western Australia.

Downy Mildew Of Lettuce, R F. Doepel

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

Downy mildew of lettuce is a fungal disease common in market gardens during autumn, winter and spring.

Severe outbreaks of the disease can be kept in check by timely applications of fungicidal sprays.

Onion Seed Production At The Vegetable Research Station, M Hardie

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

THE production of a uniform line of good onions is a problem to many onion growers in Western Australia.

This is caused largely by the difficulty in producing or obtaining satisfactory pure high quality seed in this State.

Take Care Of Young Fruit Trees, R G. Cahill

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

Young fruit trees need good care if they are to grow well and produce good crops in later years.

Bridgetown Horticultural Instructor, R. G. Cahill, gives these hints for orchardists establishing young trees.

Although they take little effort to put into practice they will pay off well in the future.

Orchard Planting Systems, K T. Whitely

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

HAVING decided on the location of the orchard and the types of fruit trees to be planted, the grower is still faced with the problem of layout of the trees in the new orchard.

Water For Agriculture. 3. Watering Plants With Salty Water, Stanley Thomas Smith

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

In Western Australia it is often necessary to use saline water for irrigation and gardening because of the lack of better water.

Two factors influence the results achieved. One is the selection of suitable plants, the other is the way in which the water is used.

Wood-Rotting Fungi Associated With Dieback In Apple Trees : Progress Report : Orchard Surveys And Laboratory Studies, R F. Doepel

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

DIEBACK, or decline, of apple trees has been a serious problem for many years in orchards throughout the South-West of Western Australia.

Wood-rotting fungi are commonly associated with this condition and often bring about collapse of affected trees.

The Pruning Of Fruit Trees : Deciduous Fruit Trees (Japanese Plums) (European Or English Plums), H R. Powell

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

Many varieties of Japanese plums are grown in this State, the main ones being Santa Rosa, Ruby Blood, Satsuma, Delaware, Wickson, Narrabeen, Elizabeth, Beauty and Wilson.

Lettuce Spotted Wilt, H L. Harvey

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

SPOTTED wilt disease of lettuce was first recorded in Western Australia in 1937.

Only traces of the disease are found in some years but in other years it seriously affects yields and quality.

Spotted wilt is most prevalent in spring and autumn crops.

Powdery Scab Of Potatoes, S C. Chambers

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

Powdery scab is a serious tuber disease sometimes seen in the market gardens of Coogee and Spearwood.

The disease is most commonly associated with the early winter plantings and sometimes causes heavy losses to individual growers, more so in wet seasons.

Polythene For Fruit Growers, Frank Melville

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

ALMOST everybody has some contact with that versatile plastic polythene—or polyethylene as the Americans prefer to call it.

It may be as a wrapper for a shirt purchased at the city store, as a vegetable pack in the supermarket, as a protection for new concrete or in a multitude of other uses in industry, commerce and the home.

Selection Of Fruit Trees, W J. Hart

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

Every winter almost a quarter of a million fruit trees are offered for sale by stores and nurserymen throughout the State.

Unfortunately, many of the trees fail to thrive or do not produce satisfactory crops of fruit.

Hibiscus Leaf Spot, O M. Goss

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

HIBISCUS shrubs, particularly the variety "Apple Blossom" are commonly affected during the winter and early spring months with an unsightly leaf spot disease.

Latest Recommendations For Chemical Thinning : An Aid To Apple Crop Regulation, S E. Hardisty, N. H. Shorter

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

FIELD trials and experience have shown that chemical thinning is a valuable aid to crop regulation in apple trees.

Black Rot Of Cabbage, Cauliflower And Related Plants, W P. Cass Smith

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

BLACK ROT is a widespread disease which attacks many kinds of cruciferous plants.

In Western Australia, it is most prevalent and serious on cabbage and cauliflower, but it may also attack many other related plants, including brussels sprout, broccoli, turnip, swede, and a number of weeds such as mustard and wild radish.

Growing Peas For Canning And Freezing In Western Australia, James P. Fallon

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

Canned and frozen peas to the total annual value of over a quarter of a million pounds are being imported into Western Australia from Eastern States.

Could our requirements be supplied from crops grown in this State?

The answer is "Yes" and this article gives a general background of information on pea growing and an indication of areas suitable for pea crops.

Care Of Autumn And Winter Tomato Crops, W H. Kooyman

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

I N recent years there has been a considerable increase in plantings of autumn and winter tomatoes in the Perth metropolitan market garden area.

Research Report : Chemical Thinning Of Apples, J E L Cripps, N. J. Halse

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

MANY progressive fruit growers have adopted spray thinning of apples, and have found that it pays well.

More widespread adoption to reduce costs of production in the face of returns which show no tendency to rise, would benefit the apple industry.

For this reason improved recommendations have been formulated, based on local research.

Transplanting Summer Seedlings, W Dawson

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

IN almost any flower garden there are occasions for a certain amount of transplanting, even if it is only to readjust the spacing between plants which have come up irregularly from seed sown directly in the garden.

Fertiliser Trials With Potatoes, Manjimup : 1958-1959, T Wachtel

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

THIS experiment was the third of this type carried out in karri loam soils.

Significant yield responses were obtained from increasing rates of fertiliser applications.

The results appear to be generally consistent with those obtained previously in the area.

Sclerotinia Rot Of Vegetables, S C. Chambers, M. Hardie

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

SCLEROTINIA ROT, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is now one of the most serious vegetable diseases in metropolitan market gardens.

Over the past decade it has been steadily increasing in prevalence and if present trends continue, many growers may be forced to abandon certain crops.

Although most vegetables are susceptible, the greatest losses are occurring in the autumn planting of beans, cauliflowers and lettuce and in the production of cauliflower seed.

Dwarf Fruit Trees, Frank Melville

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

IN this country where most fruits and particularly apples and pears are grown without irrigation, heavy crops and summer stress restrict tree size.

The aim of most growers therefore, has been to grow larger trees and little interest has been shown in trees with dwarfing tendencies.

However, in countries with ideal conditions for growth, trees tend to grow too big and become uneconomic in terms of labour costs.

Carton Packs For Granny Smiths, J S. Bloomfield

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

CONSIDERABLE quantities of Granny Smiths will be exported in carton containers in the 1961 season.

Last season an inaugural trial of tray pack cartons was shipped to the United Kingdom but this year will see the first use of cell pack cartons.

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.

Citrus Psorosis, H L. Harvey

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

CAREFUL selection of propogating material will prevent the spread of citrus psorosis, a disease which reduces the yield and economic life of infected trees.

Organic Manures In Commercial Vegetable Growing, T Wachtel

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

AT one time organic manures provided the only means to return the plant nutrients into the soil, which were removed by cropping.

With the rapid increase of mechanisation, these materials have become very scarce, and their cost extremely high.

It is, therefore, necessary to consider whether the benefits gained from their use are sufficient to warrant their high purchase price, or indeed whether the use of manures is warranted at all.

Orchard Drainage, R G. Cahill

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

UNDERGROUND drainage of orchard land is an essential feature of fruitgrowing which is overlooked by many orchardists.

Soils should be adequately drained to cope with all winter rains.

Citrus Growers : Don't Blow Up Your Colouring Rooms, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THERE have been several dangerous incidents associated with the use of acetylene in citrus colouring chambers recently, and growers are warned to take care when using this explosive gas.

Fertilizers For Potatoes In Manjimup And Pemberton Areas, James P. Fallon

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

IN articles published in previous issues of the Journal each of a number of potato fertiliser trials carried out in the Manjimup and Pemberton districts has been discussed and results reported.

This article briefly summarises the results of these trials carried out over the past four years and makes definite recommendations to potato growers in these districts regarding quantities of fertilisers to be used on new Red Karri loam soils.

Root Lesion Eelworm (Pratylenchus Penetrans) In Vegetables, O M. Goss

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

ROOT lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans) have been found in many market gardens in the Balcatta-Osborne Park and Spearwood areas, associated with such crops as carrots, parsnips, swedes, lettuce, celery and rhubarb.