Horticulture Commons^™

Progress In The Nursery Industry, W J. Heggers

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

The demand for ornamental plants in Western Australia is sat an unprecedented level, making the nursery industry a relatively prosperous branch of horticulture.

One reason for the continued demand for nursery lines is probably that people are concerned about the environment - "green survival", as it is often refered to in promotional literature.

In rural areas, farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of planting windbreaks, shade and ornamental trees, while mining companies and the Forests Department are actively engaged in re-afforestation.

As a result the nursery industry is in a healthy situation and can continue to develop in …

Virus Diseases In Agriculture, George Mclean

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

Viruses are extremely small particles which can only be seen with an electron microscope. A virus is present in a diseased plant as huge numbers of tiny particles within the cells of the plant. Viruses which are infectious can cause disease, and reproduce only inside the cells of a living plant.

Many insects transmit plant virus diseases—aphids, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, thrips and beetles. Generally a virus is spread by only one of these groups of insects.

The Western Australian Department of Agriculture is expanding the diagnostic service for the identification of plant viruses.

The Banana Industry At Carnarvon, John Roger Burt

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

In viewing the semi-arid conditions of the West Gascoyne, visitors are surprised to see a thriving banana industry at the mouth of the Gascoyne River, 930 kilometres north of Perth. The natural vegetation in the plantation area consists mainly of stunted gums, low acacia scrub and salt bush.

Despite the adverse climatic conditions, the average yields of Carnarvon bananas are double those of banana areas in other states.

Promising Results With Pineapples At Carnarvon, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Pineapples were investigated commercially in Carnarvon in the early 1930's but drought, sunscorch, alkaline soils and problems with transport and marketing caused the infant industry to collapse in 1936.

Recently however, trials at Gascoyne Research Station have shown that pineapples can produce good yields of high quality fruit in the area.

The trials have been aimed at establishing the viability of pineapple production at Carnarvon and have been carried out by officers of the Horticulture Division.

Extracts From The Department Of Agriculture's Annual Report, 1974-75, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The Department of Agriculture's Annual Report for the year ended June 30, 1975, took the form of short reviews of selected activities of the Department during the year.

Some of these reviews are reprinted below to give an idea of the range of activities undertaken by the Department. A limited number of copies of the full report are available to interested organisations from the Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, 6151.

In past years the Department's report has taken the form of a relatively detailed technical summary of the work of each Division. Because of the large volume of …

Sturt Pea Hosts Collar Rot Fungus, M D. Marcley

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

Evidence that Western Australia's Sturt Pea can be attacked by collar rot fungus suggests a reason for the occurrence of collar rot in places where the fungus should not survive.

At Carnarvon for instance, in spite of the hot, dry conditions, the collar rot fungus has been found on eggplants and Tuart trees.

Brown Collar Rot Of Citrus, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Infection of fruit and foliage by brown rot fungi (Phytophthora spp.) occurs after opening rains in autumn. It can continue during periods of wet weather until spring.

Powdery Mildew Of Apples, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) markedly affects the growth and vigour of susceptible apple varieties, particularly Jonathan and Cleopatra.

The fungus survives the winter as mycelial threads in dormant buds on spurs and laterals infected the previous season. At bud-burst the mycelium grows onto the developing leaves and blossom clusters to form white patches.

Spores produced on these patches are spread by the wind onto the healthy growth.

Sprinkler Irrigation In Windy Conditions, K S. Cole, G. C. Brown

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

THOSE summer winds—be they cooling afternoon breezes or scorching easterlies—are no help to the irrigationist.

Where sprinklers are used wind can result in uneven irrigation, reduced yields and spoilt produce.

Low Cost Filter For Trickle Irrigation, C R. Coffman, G. L. Godley

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

CLEAR water is essential for a successful trickle irrigation scheme. Most water sources are not sufficiently clean and some form of filtration is necessary.

High Yields From Improved Onion Strain, M Hardie, R. G. Nailard

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

FOLLOWING an intensive programme of bulb selection over a period of 10 years, a special strain of the locally developed Spearwood Brown Globe onion has been produced by the Department of Agriculture.

Commercial Production Of Egg-Plant, James P. Fallon

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

The egg-plant or aubergine (Solarium melongena) is a sub-tropical plant which is not only very tender to frost and low temperature, but requires a long growing season.

Planting A Tree Or Shrub?, C Hart

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

THE few minutes spent in planting a tree or shrub properly can be the most important moments of its life.

A little time can mean the difference between a vigorous and a weak root system, and a tree is only as good as its roots. Protection of the roots before planting is also important. Bare-rooted trees need more attention than those in a hessian-wrapped root ball or those growing in a container.

Planning Home Vegetable Supplies, James P. Fallon

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

PLANNING is important to obtain the best value from growing vegetables at home and many types can be satisfactorily stored for later use to provide a welcome change of diet when they are not generally available.

Whatever is home grown can be picked absolutely fresh and at the best stage for eating, but there is no advantage in growing too much or in growing lines which are plentiful and cheap on the market when yours are ready to pick.

Fertiliser Recommendations For Citrus : Detailed Fertilizer Programmes For Citrus Growers, N H. Shorter, J. E. L. Cripps

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

CITRUS growers should adopt a well balanced fertiliser programme to safeguard tree health, cropping and fruit quality. While moderate dressings are a wise insurance in most situations the rates required vary with tree age and soil type.

The recommendations are given in detail in the tables in this article.

Chemical Thinning Controls Biennial Bearing In Apples, J E L Cripps

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

Department of Agriculture experiments have shown that biennial bearing of apples can be controlled by chemical thinning, but both winter and spring weather conditions must be taken into account when the need for spraying is assessed.

BIENNIAL BEARING is a regular cycle in which each heavy crop of fruit is followed by a light crop, or, in extreme cases, no crop at all.

Horticulture Chief Retires, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Horticultural Division, Mr. H. R. Powell, retired last month after a long career of service to Western Australia's horticultural industries.

The Vital Role Of Bees In Apple Pollination, N H. Shorter

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

THE vital role the honey bee plays in pollinating apples is often overlooked.

Bees are the most important agents for cross pollination in apples and other fruit trees.

Potato Early Blight And Storage Rot, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

POTATO Early Blight and storage rot are different phases of the same disease.

Both symptoms are caused by the fungus Alternaria solani.

Controll Of Eelworm Diseases Of Bananas In Western Australia : A Review, O M. Goss, M. G. Hawson

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

During the 1950's, a decline in bananas in plantations in Carnarvon, caused by heavy infestations of eelworms, prompted investigations into eelworm control.

The work was started in 1955. The results and recommendations based on experiments have been published in Department of Agriculture Bulletin 3532.

Fertiliser Recommendations For Apple Trees, N H. Shorter, J. E. L. Cripps

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

THE increased use of irrigation and chemical thinning in apple orchards and the planting of trees in light soils have resulted in responses to regular fertiliser dressings.

Future Trends In Apple And Pear Production, Frank Melville

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

Review of a recent survey of apple and pear plantings in Western Australia.

SINCE the early 1950's the area of apples in Western Australia has continually increased and this has been accompanied by an equally important change in variety emphasis.

On a lesser scale the position has been much the same with pears.

Four Mobile Picking And Pruning Platforms For Orchards, J C. Rowbotham

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

Shifting ladders around the orchard takes a great deal of time and effort at picking and pruning time.

This article describes four home made labour savers which take most of the ladder work out i f these operations.

King Size Onions Not Wanted On The Local Market, M Hardie

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA produced 3,500 tons of onions in 1955 and 7,000 tons in 1964. This 100 per cent, increase was achieved with only a 39 per cent, increase in acreage, so that crops produced much higher yields.

Chemical Thinning Of Plums And Peaches, J E L Cripps, K. T. Whitely

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

DURING the past decade the acreage of Japanese plums in Western Australia has increased by 10 percent, and production has risen by nearly 40 per cent.

Furthermore, almost 30 per cent, of our trees were still classified as non bearing in 1966, so rapid increases in production are certain to be recorded within the next few years.

The Pear Leaf Blister Mite, G D. Rimes

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

THE pear leaf blister mite* may be causing widespread but undetected damage in Western Australian pear crops.

A bud-dwalling form exists which shows none of the leaf blisters normally associated with this species.

Local Marketing Of Citrus Fruits, K T. Whitely

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

CITRUS fruits are always popular on the local market but recently supplies from South Australia have made the market a very competitive one.

The situation demands the marketing of high quality citrus from growers in Western Australia.

The need to harvest the bulk of the Navel orange crop over a rather limited period and the resultant tendency for oversupply during that time also necessitates high standards of presentation to maintain firm prices.

Fertiliser Responses With Newly Planted Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

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

AN outstanding response to phosphate and a worthwhile response to nitrogen have been obtained in the Donnybrook area on a new orchard site on the property of Mr. A. Cross of Argyle.

Pressurised Soil Fumigation Equipment For Control Of Eelworm, C W. Robartson

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

THE treatment of soil infested with eelworms involves the use of chemical fumigants usually in the form of volatile liquids.

This article gives details for the construction of a simple pressurised fumigator which could be easily made by most orchardists, vignerons and market gardeners.

The Carob Moth [Replaced By Farmnote 156/83.], P J. Michael

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

THE CAROB MOTH* was introduced from the Mediterranean region where it is an economic pest.

Under Western Australian conditions its importance is limited to almond crops although it occasionally attacks other fruits.