Plant Biology Commons^™

Phosphate Applications Affect The Coumestrol Level Of Medics, T Marshall, R. J. Parkin

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

Western Australia has a million acres of medics including various cultivars of barrel medic, Medicago truncatula, and strand medic, M. littoralis. Both species contain coumestrol, a chemical thought to have caused delayed conception and reduced twinning rates among grazing ewes in New Zealand.

No infertility has been reported among ewes grazing medic pastures in Western Australia, but coumestrol levels in both species have often been high enough to suggest the possibility of oestrogenic responses among sheep grazing them.

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.

Lupins In Western Australia. 4. Composition And Feeding Value Of The Seeds, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

PREVIOUS articles in this series have discussed the varieties of lupin available in Western Australia, and their cultivation.

This article deals with the composition and feeding value of the seeds.

Weed Control Research Pays Dividends, G R W Meadly

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

On my bookshelf is a handbook entitled "War on Weeds" or "How to Double our Food Supply."

In many of these countries experiments have been made to ascertain as far as possible the exact damage done by weeds to crops.

Result: In all the experiments, whether made in England or abroad, the mean loss was over 50 per cent.

The level of loss is equally true today, but the methods at our disposal for handling weeds have improved tremendously.

Stem Canker Disease Of Red Flowering Gums, W P. Cass Smith

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

Of the many native Eucalypts in Western Australia few are more attractive than the red flowering gum.

It flowers generally during the Christmas period and provides a beautiful display for several weeks, with blossoms of several colours including dark red, scarlet, orange and pink.

Growing Barley For Grain In Western Australia : Barley Quality, J A. Parish

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

Plumpness and absence of pinched grain are desirable for both malting and feed barley.

This is a brief discussion of various Quality standards in barley and how they may not be met.

Promising Results On West Kimberley Pindan Country, A L. Payne

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

IN the 22 to 28 inch rainfall belt of the West Kimberley area of Western Australia are extensive areas of what is locally known as "pindan" country.

The term "pindan" refers to a light red or yellow sandy soil type supporting scattered Eucalypts, sparse-dense wattle scrub and grasses such as curly spinifex, ribbon grass and native sorghum.

Growing And Marketing Yates For Profit, Frank Melville

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

THE YATES APPLE is a late maturing red variety which because of its good storage qualities enjoyed a prominent place on the late market for many years.

The trees grow and crop well, the only disabilities are insufficient colour under some circumstances, small size fruit and a tendency to shrivel.

All these troubles can be successfully overcome by appropriate management.

Recommended Cereal Varieties : 1969, H M. Fisher, J. T. Reeves, J. A. Parish

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

Cereal varieties widely recommended for growing in 1969 are Gamenya and Falcon wheats, Dampier and Beecher barleys and Swan oats.

Other varieties include the new wheat Darkan, which is recommended only for the higher rainfall areas, the rust resistant wheats Mengavi and Gamut, and Irwin oats for late sowing in northeastern districts.

Pasture Improvement In South Western Australia, J W. Malcolm

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

"There is no doubt that Australia's enhanced prosperity in the last 30 years has been dependent in no small measure on the use of legume-based pastures." E. M. Hutron, June, 1968. *

THE LAST 30 years have seen an increased interest in pasture improvement which has transformed much of Western Australia. Large areas have been sown to new and improved pasture species—as a result productivity of both livestock and cereal enterprises has risen.

Dehulling And Scarifying Serradella Seed, J R. Weeldenburg, R. W. Smith

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

YELLOW FLOWERED SERRADELLA is growing in popularity as a pasture legume on coastal sandy soils in Western Australia, and its use may increase further when new selections become available.

However, its rate of entry into commerce has been limited by the poor germination of the seed available.

Control Of Clover Infertility In Sheep, H G. Neil, H. E. Fels, C. M. Francis

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

A summary of practices recommended for the control of infertility caused by subterranean clover in West Australian sheep.

PROLONGED grazing of green subterranean clover pastures often reduces ewe fertility. In more extreme cases, obvious signs of clover disease occur.

Wren Wheat Unimpressive In West Australian Trials, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WREN WHEAT, the subject of current controversy in the Eastern States, has been tested in trials in Western Australia and the results have indicated that it is not likely to yield well in this State.

Lupins In Western Australia. 2. Cultivation Methods, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

While lupins are by and large plants of lighter and less fertile soils, important differences exist among them in their soil preferences.

There may also be some differences in climatic requirements. Present knowledge of these differences is summarized in the Table below.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Berry Poison (Gastrolobium Parvifolium Benth.) Spike Poison (Gastrolobium Glaucum C.A. Gardn.) Hook-Point Poison (Gastrolobium Hamulosum Meissn.) Scale-Leaf Poison (Gastrolobium Appressum C.A. Gardn.), T E H Aplin

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

This article deals with four species which, apart from spike poison, may be distinguished by their small leaf size. Scale-leaf poison is found in the Irwin district, and the other three are present in the Avon district.

Fertility Build Up Under Northern Wheatbelt Pastures, M L. Poole

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

Experiments on two farmers' properties demonstrated that legume pastures increase the fertility of northern wheatbelt soils.

Crops on legume pastures had higher yields than crops on volunteer pasture.

The experiments also indicated the most productive legume species for each situation and demonstrated that nitrogen added by legumes has a residual effect in the soil.

Saltland Pastures, C V. Malcolm

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

FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENT of Agriculture in Western Australia considerable areas of highly productive land have become salt affected to the degree that normal crops and pastures cannot be grown.*

However, species and establishment methods are available which can bring at least some of this land back into production.

Pasture Seed Production In Western Australia, B J. Quinlivan

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

Pasture seed production in Western Australia is an industry with a somewhat turbulent past. Booms and slumps have been the rule rather than the exception.

However, during the past few years there has been some degree of "stability"—if not in price, at least in terms of total production.

Dormancy And Life Span Of Saffron Thistle Seeds, B J. Quinlivan, J. R. Pierce

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

RESEARCH in the Geraldton area has indicated that seeds of the saffron thistle (Carthamus lanatus) spread their germination over some seven years but most germinate in the first two years.

Factors influencing the rate of germination and the survival of seeds are the depth of burial and the presence of termites in the soil.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Champion Bay Poison (G. Oxylobioides Benth.), Sandplain Poison (G. Microcarpum Meissn.), Cluster Poison (G. Bennettsianum C.A. Gardn.), Hutt River Poison (G. Propinquum C.A. Gardn.), Gilbernine Poison (G. Rotundifolium Meissn.), T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with five species of the genus Gastrolobium. The plants look rather similar so in the past have often been confused. They occur over a considerable area of the agricultural region of Western Australia.

Poison Plants Of Western Australia : The Toxic Species Of The Genera Gastrolobium And Oxylobium : Net-Leaf Poison (O. Racemosum (Turcz.) C.A. Gardn.), Brother-Brother (O. Tetragonophyllum E. Pritzel), Rigid-Leaf Poison (O. Rigidum C.A. Gardn.), Slender Poison (O. Heterophyllum (Turcz.) Benth.), Round-Leaf Poison (G. Pycnostachyum Benth.), T E H Aplin

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

THIS article deals with five toxic species, all of which are found in the Eyre district of the South-Western region of Western Australia.

More Butterfat Per Acre At Denmark Research Station, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

STOCKING rates on dairy farms are generally too low and can be substantially increased, but unfortunately there is no satisfactory measurement to indicate the potential of a particular pasture or environment.

A trial carried out on Denmark Research Station in 1966-67, to obtain information on carrying capacity of a dryland kikuyu-subterranean clover pasture.

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.

Control Of Cape Tulip, Geoffrey A. Pearce

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

CAPE TULIP is the worst weed in the Avon Valley and northern areas of the Great Southern districts.

It occurs elsewhere to a limited extent but even then it is regarded as a serious weed.

West Midlands Development : Poison Plants In The West Midlands, T E H Aplin

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

TOXIC plants have caused considerable economic loss to stock raisers since the early days of settlement in Western Australia.

Although much is now known of the toxic materials contained in such plants, and although most of the plants have been thoroughly publicised, losses are still occurring in many areas.

The History And Characteristics Of Troodos And Olympus Rose Clover, E T. Bailey, N. B. Gayfer

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

ROSE CLOVER is being produced and used in increasing quantities in south-western Australia. The first line named was designated Kondinin and five lines have now been given cultivar (variety) names.

One of the first samples of rose clover, C.P.I. 13949, introduced into Western Australia proved to be a mixture of two very similar types, differing visibly only in leaf markings.

The mixed sample was named Troodos,* and the selection from it, Olympus.

This paper describes the origin of the two varieties, their history and characteristics.

The Dalmation Green Graft, D Mann, H. R. Rodda

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

THE GREEN GRAFT, introduced to the Swan Valley by Dalmatian vignerons many years ago, is carried out in late November or early December, at the stage when the pith of the growing shoot is beginning to whiten.

Because stock and scion are green at this time and the shoots have not started to ripen, the green graft calluses quickly.

Watsonia (Watsonia Spp. And Chasmanthe Aethiopica (L.) N.E. Brown), G R W Meadly

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

AS the t i t le implies, the vernacular name Watsonia is applied, not only to several species of that genus, but also to the related Chasmanthe aethiopica. At times some small flowered types of Gladiolus are also included.

Bussell Barley, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish, H. M. Fisher

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

BUSSELL is a new high yielding 2-row barley variety named early in 1967.

An early maturing variety, with white grains of good quality, Bussell has short and extremely strong straw.

It has yielded more than any other variety under test in areas of Western Australia which receive more than 18 inches of annual rainfall.

It has yielded more than Prior in all areas.

Subterranean Clover Establishment In The Wheatbelt, M L. Poole

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

Care and attention to detail will greatly increase the chances of establishing good subterranean clover pastures in the wheatbelt.

PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT usually takes second place to cropping in the wheatbelt, with many farmers "bunging in a bit of clover" and hoping for the best. The worst often transpires, with either patchy stands or complete failure resulting.

Using "cheap" methods of establishment is a short-sighted approach and a waste of energy and resources.