Horticulture Commons^™

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.

Control Of Damping-Off In Seed Beds, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

"DAMPING-OFF" of seedlings is caused by a number of moulds, for example Pythium, Rhizoctonia, etc., which are common inhabitants of garden soils.

Powdery Mildews Of Ornamentals, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

POWDERY mildews occur on a variety of ornamental plants.

As the name suggests, these diseases always appear as a greyish white powdery coating on the leaves. This is easily removed by rubbing or weathering, but beneath it a dark web-like discoloration of the leaf surface often develops.

Under some conditions these diseases can be very serious and cause considerable defoliation, stunting and malformation in such plants as Roses, Lagerstroemia (Crepe Myrtle), Hydrangea, Michaelmas Daisy, etc.

Potato Variety Trial, James P. Fallon, G. C. De Haan

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

DELAWARE has been the only variety of Potato grown commercially in Western Australia. This is due to the fact that in the past an early maturing variety with a short dormancy period has been required to suit both hill plantings and swamp crops.

However, with the advent of sprinkler irrigation and hence better control of moisture and growing conditions, the need for early maturing varieties has ceased to exist in some districts.

There has been consequently an increasing interest in testing varieties which have proved high yielding and of good quality in other parts of the world.

The Granny Smith, Frank Melville

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

MOST of the commercial apples grown throughout the world today have originated as chance seedlings and commercialised by observant nurserymen or fruit growers.

Many Tasmanian varieties were established this way—the Sturma, Democrat and Crofton.

But the seedling which has had the greatest impact on apple growing in Australia is the Granny Smith and its rise to fame is an interesting story.

Shot Hole Of Stone Fruit, R F. Doepel

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

SHOT hole of stone fruit is a serious fungal disease which occurs in orchards throughout the fruit growing areas of the State.

Successful control is based on routine applications of Bordeaux mixture at leaf fall and bud burst.

Broom Millet In The Market Garden, James P. Fallon

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

WHEN we think of broom millet we usually regard it as a crop for growing either under flood irrigation or in summer moist swamps for the sole purpose of producing straw for brooms.

However, the particular characteristics of the broom millet plant make it adaptable for use in the market garden as an excellent windbreak and rotation crop.

Leaf Spot Of Celery, S C. Chambers

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

T EAF SPOT is the most serious disease of celery in Western Australia, and causes heavy losses in many crops during the cold wet months of June, July and August.

The disease is incited by the fungus Septoria apii Chester, and was first recorded in this State at Osborne Park in 1923.

Since then it has become a limiting factor in the production of marketable celery during the winter months.

A New Type Of Seed Bed Cover For The Market Garden, R R. Bell, M. Hardie

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

ALL market gardeners use seed beds in their gardening programme. However, the basic design of seed beds and covers has not greatly altered over the years.

The availability of cheap good quality plastic materials has now shown the way to improvements in the design of this type of gardening equipment.

Preparation Of Vegetables For Market, James P. Fallon

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

PROFITS in commercial vegetable growing depend as much on proper harvesting, handling and marketing as on good production practices.

Many gardeners who are experts as producers are perhaps not so expert in presenting their produce in a manner which will command the most favourable return.

Citrus Growing In The Home Garden, Frank Melville

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

ALTHOUGH well suited to our climate, citrus trees do not always thrive in the metropolitan area because of the unsuitable soil conditions in some suburbs.

Lemons can usually be grown successfully and grapefruit are worth persevering with, but oranges and mandarins are better suited to the loamy soils of the Gosnells, Guildford and Hills districts.

Cover Spraying For The Control Of Celery Leaf Spot. Part 2, S C. Chambers

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

SEVERAL additional cover spray schedules for the control of leaf spot in winter celery, have been evaluated during the past two years.

The most satisfactory of these is one in which Bordeaux 4 : 4 : 40 is replaced by Ziram for the last two applications before harvest.

The Use Of Lime In Market Gardens, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE term "lime" when used in relation to agriculture means any calcium containing material that is capable of correcting soil acidity.

While generally used for this purpose, lime has many other equally important functions in the soil.