Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons^™

Testing Grain Crops, H M. Fisher

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

TODAY'S competitive markets for crop products stress the need for greater awareness of buyers' requirements and more detailed knowledge about our ability to supply them.

Crop varieties and their performance in different environments are important aspects of production potential.

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.

Alternative Crops To Wheat : An Assessment, H M. Fisher

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

INTRODUCTION of wheat production quotas in 1969 promoted widespread interest in suitable alternative crops.

The only other crops grown on a significant scale in W.A. were barley and oats and farmers were quick to substitute these cereals in their cropping programmes.

Recommended Crop Varieties : 1972, H M. Fisher

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

RECOMMENDATIONS on crop varieties for 1972 continue to place emphasis on grain quality in relation to the requirements of overseas buyers. Gamenya, Falcon and Bokal wheats, Dampier and Beecher barleys, Swan oats and Kameniza linseed are the main varieties recommended.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia, J A. Parish, G. H. Jones

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

SINCE 1956 a number of collaborative wheat quality surveys have been carried out in Western Australia by Co-operative Bulk Handling Co. Ltd. and the Department of Agriculture.

The work was undertaken to provide facts which may be used to determine the possible advantages to this State's wheat industry of alterations in the receival and marketing arrangements.

The various surveys are described in this article.

Barley And Oat Yield Tests In W.A, H M. Fisher

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

BARLEY production has increased sharply over the past two seasons to compensate reduced wheat acreages.

The change over to barley has been supported by the availability of suitable varieties, notably Dampier, and a good demand for West Australian barley overseas.

Wheat Yield Tests In W.A, H M. Fisher

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

WHEAT production is the major crop industry in Western Australia so emphasis has been placed on this crop in variety tests.

Over the last 5 years 61 wheat varieties, including 30 named varieties from various sources, have been tested in variety trials.

Rapeseed Production In Western Australia, M L. Poole

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

RAPESEED production began in Western Australia in 1968 when a few acres were grown. In 1969, about 20 growers ptanted small acreages for about 80 tons of seed. In 1970, up to 20,000 acres will be grown, and a total of 40,000 acres seems possible within the next few years.

Lucerne Establishment In High Rainfall Dairying Districts, R Sprivulis

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

LUCERNE is one of the oldest of perennial forage plants. It originated in the Middle East and because it flourishes under a wide range of climatic and soil conditions it is being grown in many parts of the world.

Lucerne was introduced to Australia in the early years of British settlement. The original introductions proved suitable for the alluvial flats of the Hunter and Peel River valleys of N.S.W.

Lucerne is basically a summer growing legume with or without winter dormancy.

Recommended Crop Varieties-1971/Vol11/Iss12, H M. Fisher

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

Cereal and linseed varieties recommended for 1971 should give the best returns to growers and benefit the industry in general, The main varieties are Gamenya, Bokal and Darkan wheats, Dampier and Beecher barleys, Swan oats and Kameniza linseed.

Growing Barley For Grain In Western Australia : Varieties And Production Methods, H M. Fisher

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

BARLEY is an adaptable crop which can be grown successfully throughout the cereal areas of Western Australia. It is more suited to the wetter areas than wheat and tolerates the drier, shorter season of the eastern cereal districts better than oats.

Recommended Crop Varieties, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

RESULTS of variety trials carried out in 1968 by the Department of Agriculture were considered by the State Wheat Advisory Committee and the State Coarse Grains Advisory Committee in making recommendations on leading varieties of wheat, oats and barley.

Details of the recommendations are set out below.

Recommendations on linseed varieties have been included in view of the growing significance of the industry and representations from farmers for consideration of this crop along with the cereals.

Lupins In Western Australia. 1. Species And Varieties, John Sylvester Gladstones

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

First in a series of articles on the varieties, cultivation and uses of lupins in Western Australia.

Lupins are ideally suited to the climate and soils of many districts of Western Australia and their cultivation here dates from the early years of the century.

However, although there were some 500,000 acres of lupins growing in the State in 1968, their cultivation in recent years has been largely limited to infertile sandplain soils where other legumes usually fail.

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.

Pastures For The Pastoral Areas, D G. Wilcox, K. Fitzgerald

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

The pastoral areas lie generally outside the zone where cultivated crops are grown.

The rainfall is erratic and the basic pastures for sheep and cattle consist of native plants.

In some favoured areas however, and in particular situations, sown pasture species are becoming increasingly important.

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.

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.

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.

Wheat Diseases In Western Australia, W A. Shipton, W. R. Tweedie, K. J. Locke

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

DISEASES caused by pathogenic organisms can seriously affect the yield of wheat. Some diseases are comparatively rare whereas others occur over a large area of the wheatbelt year after year.

Papaw Varieties For Carnarvon, Michael Gregory Hawson, D. W. Thomas

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

PAPAWS grow very well in the Carnarvon area of Western Australia and throughout the north of the State.

Some produce quite well as far south as Perth.

New Strains Of Subterranean Clover : Prospects And Problems For The Seed Producer, B J. Quinlivan

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

THREE new strains of Subterranean clover—Daliak, Seaton Park and Uniwager—have been released.

In Western Australia, in other States and perhaps some overseas countries, the next few years will see many farmers or graziers summing up the merits and demerits of these strains and subsequently making a decision to change or not to change their present strains.

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.

Canberra Creeping Lucerne Outyields Hunter River In Denmark Trial, F E. Ryan

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

LUCERNE is successfully grown as a fodder crop in high rainfall areas in Western Australia without irrigation and there is scope for expansion.

Establishment problems can be largely overcome by choice of a well drained site, spring planting to avoid weeds and pests, an application of 1 ton of limestone to the surface 5 to 6 inches of soil before sowing, and sowing of innoculated and pelleted seed.

Identifying The Grain Of Barley Varieties In Western Australia, J L. Mcmullan, H. M. Fisher

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

THE identification of varieties of plants depends on the existence of a number of visual characters which have recognisably different forms in different varieties, but are relatively unaffected by environmental conditions.

For many species the characters of the whole plant may be required to arrive at a satisfactory identification and seed must be grown and the resulting plants compared with known varieties.

New Varieties Top 1967 Yield Tests, H M. Fisher

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

LARGE gains can result from using improved cereal varieties and in recent years activity in breeding varieties adapted to local conditions has increased.

The varieties available and their suitability for different areas and conditions need constant review.

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.

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.

Oat Variety Trials, 1965, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish

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

M l 2 8 , an early midseason fixed crossbred bred at the Merredin Research Station, Avon and P8304, a late midseason fixed crossbred from N.S.W, were the highest yielding oats in last year's trials.

Irwin was the highest yielding oat of early maturity.

Barley Variety Trials, 1965, J L. Mcmullan, J. A. Parish

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

The highest yielding varieties in the 1965 barley variety trials were the two-row crossbred A l l , the white grained six-row varieties Arivat, Gem and Glacier and the recently-named two-row variety Dampier (previously known as W45).

Assessment Of New Potato Varieties In Western Australia, D. C. Hosking

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

THE Mediterranean type of climate and low elevation of land in the South-West of Western Australia permits a year-round cycle of potato planting.

An early crop is planted in frost-free areas in June and July for harvest between October and December.

This is followed by a midseason crop, planted in August-October for harvest between December and March, and a late crop, planted November-April for harvest between March and September