Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Function And Use Of Sulphur Dioxide In West Australian Winemaking, D Mann

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

THE judicious use of sulphur dioxide is perhaps the most important of the fundamentals of winemaking in a hot climate.

Western Australia's vintage, centred in the Swan Valley just a few miles north-east of Perth, is subjected to some of the highest summer temperatures experienced by a quality wine producing district.

In this environment, it is important to make good use of sulphur dioxide to avoid wine spoilage.

Multiple Cropping Will Increase The Erosion Hazard, W J. Burdass

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

WITH the low price of wool and the price of wheat high in comparison, farmers need little encouragement to increase their acreage of crops.

Unfortunately with increased cropping comes the risk of increased erosion—unless there is a simultaneous increase in the use of conservation practices.

Private Irrigation Systems : Do They Pay?, G D. Oliver

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA, with 71,000 acres under irrigation, can hardly claim to have an important irrigation farming industry.

However, irrigation is daily growing in importance, especially through private schemes. These account for almost half the present irrigated area.

Cattle : And The Ord Irrigation Project, W M. Nunn

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

No abstract provided.

Water Blooms, T E H Aplin

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

WHEN a body of water becomes discoloured with a super-abundance of free-floating, microscopic plant or, in rare cases, animal life, it is said to develop a "water bloom."

This article discusses some aspects of the appearance of water blooms, particularly those caused by algae, and with the effects that certain toxic algae have on livestock.

Land Grading In South West Irrigation Areas, 1966-67, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Land grading in the South West Irrigation Areas with modern earth moving equipment first commenced in 1949.

The advantages of land grading are well recognised by farmers and this season grading operations were carried out on 208 farms.

The Hamel Nursery, K S. Cole

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

A LITTLE known, but highly productive use of irrigation water occurs at the Forestry Department Nursery, Hamel.

Seedlings of trees and shrubs are raised during the summer for sale the following winter.

Sales are made to the farming community and many trees are used by the Forest Department in its reafforestation programmes.

Pumping And Horsepower, R P. Harington

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

WATER is vital to the survival of plants and animals and its availability will influence the site of the homestead and the farm layout generally.

This article describes some of the factors involved in the installation of a pumping outfit for domestic and stock requirements.

New Soils Chief Appointed, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

The appointment of Mr. S. T. Smith to the position of Commissioner of Soil Conservation and Chief of the Soils Division in the Department of Agriculture was announced last month.

Phalaris Staggers : Prevention By Cobalt Bullets, Bryan J. Gorddard, P. P. Mann, A. J. Hadlow

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

FARMERS in the south west of Western Australia are familiar with the use of cobalt for the prevention of ill-thrift and deaths due to cobalt deficiency in sheep and cattle.

Less common is the use of cobalt for the prevention of chronic phalaris poisoning, known as phalaris staggers.

This condition is well known in eastern Australia, but only isolated cases have been recorded in W.A. no doubt due to the relatively small area sown to phalaris in this state.

The Effects Of Shearing Time And Stocking Rate On Wool Production, R J. Lightfoot

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

THE results of the first experiment comparing "autumn" versus "spring" shearing over a two-year period were published in 1960.

In this experiment the autumn-shorn ewes cut heavier greasy fleeces (even though they also reared considerably more lambs) with less tender wool, resulting in a higher average return per head from this group.

The autumn-shorn wool carried more seed, was less attractive and contained relatively more pieces than did the spring-shorn wool.

The Ord River Catchment Regeneration Project. 1. The Nature, Extent And Causes Of Erosion In The Ord River Catchment Area, K Fitzgerald

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

OF the 17,800 square miles of Ord River catchment area, an estimated 1,450 square miles of country is subject to varying degrees of erosion.

This lies astride the Ord River and its major tributaries, the Elvire, Negri, Stirling, Panton, Turner, Nicholson and RB rivers.

The bulk of the eroded country lies in W.A. but part projects into the Northern Territory.

Recommendations For The Establishment Of Harbinger Medic In The Northern Wheatbelt, R J. Parkin

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

Harbinger is an early-maturing medic that has met with success on some soil types, especially in the northern wheatbelt.

Similar to Cyprus barrel medic but best suited to different soil types, harbinger adds to the range of pasture legumes available for sowing in under 16 in. annual rainfall areas.

The Australian Field Cricket, J A. Button

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

THE Australian field cricket, or the black field cricket as it is sometimes known, is a native of Australia and is widely distributed throughout the south western, south and south eastern sections of the continent.

Fisheries Report No 3 - Western Australian Freshwater Fisheries, Donald D. Francois

Fisheries Research Reports

Most of the Australian States have a comprehensive system of inland waterways, Western Australia, however, is in a less fortunate position. True, the maps of the State show many rivers, but in much of the southern, more populous part, with no summer rain and no winter snow, the majority are virtually a chain of waterholes during the long summer months. At the same time, in a relatively small section in the south-west corner, there is a series of permanent streams flowing through what was originally dense forest. But apart from the three indigenous freshwater crustaceans, the marron (Cherax tenuimanus), the …

Salinity And Farmhouse Water Supplies, T C. Stoneman

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

PROVISION of a satisfactory water supply for the homestead is one of the many problems which have to be faced by all farmers.

For those served by the Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme, the solution is fairly simple.

For others, finding an adequate supply of good quality water can often be quite a headache.

Piggery Septic System, N E. Macintyre

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

ONE of the problems of intensive houses for pigs is the disposal of the dung and urine.

If proper arrangements are not made to remove this, it soon accumulates in an offensive pile at one end of the piggery, making an excellent breeding ground for flies.

Egg Shell Quality, R J. Bishop

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

Recent overseas work and local industry developments indicate that the calcium content of feed for laying hens in Western Australia should be increased to achieve satisfactory egg shell strength.

Age, temperature and breeding are other important influences on egg shell quality.

Ammonium Nitrate Blasting Agent (Anfo) For Land Clearing, G A. Greaves

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

The introduction of "prilled" AN has revolutionised explosives practice and made possible safer and cheaper methods of blasting.

This article outlines the methods of handling and using ANFO blasting agent for land clearing.

The Relationship Of Flooding And Saline Water Tables, Stanley Thomas Smith

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

IN Western Australia there are several ways in which salt manifests itself but the most serious and extensive of these is in the valley systems where shallow saline water tables occur.

This type of salt problem is called "valley waterlogging" and occurs in most of the flat valleys throughout the wheatbelt of W.A.

Summer And Autumn Rainfall In Relation To Epidemics Of Wheat Stem Rust In Western Australia, W A. Shipton

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

High summer and autumn rainfalls, followed by rust infection of volunteer plants and favourable conditions during late winter and spring, lead to rust epidemics.

WIDESPREAD outbreaks of wheat stem rust are rare in Western Australia.

Cultivation : Does Haste Mean Waste?, H M. Fisher

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

Many farmers believe that increasing the speed of cultivation and seeding implements will cause deterioration of soils and reduced crop yields.

In a three-year trial on clover ley land at Wongan Hills higher cultivation speeds tended to increase rather than decrease wheat yields. There was some deterioration in the physical structure of the soil.

Irrigation In The South-West : Report On Government-Controlled Areas, 1965-66, G Gauntlett

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

LARGE scale irrigation in the south-western part of Western Australia is confined to the coastal plain, west of the Darling Range where the three irrigation districts of Waroona, Harvey and Collie have been established.

Leaf Scorching, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

DURING the summer months, leaves of many plants develop browning and scorching which progresses inwards from the leaf margin or downwards from the leaf tip.

The affected parts become dry and brittle and may break away from the remaining green areas.

Fruit Growing In Western Australia, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture, Western Australian Tourist Development Authority

Horticulture published reports

Revised 1965.

The Mediterranean type climate of the coastal belt of the south-west of Western Australia is suitable for the commercial production of apples, pears, various stone fruits, oranges, grapes, and several other less important fruits. The warm dry summers (November-March), are too severe for the profitable production of many berry fruits and the winters too cool and wet for most tropical fruits. Figs, mulberries and olives all flourish in this climate but, for economic reasons, few are grown commercially.

A small tropical fruit industry, mainly bananas, has been established along the banks of the Gascoyne River at Carnarvon, which …

A History Of The War Service Land Settlement Scheme Western Australia, A, R. Barrett

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

In writing a history of the Western Australian War Service Land Settlement Scheme, it is pertinent to remark that land settlement projects have ever been difficult and, in fact, to date very few have been really successful. However, there has always been the necessity to accede to the desire of returning men to go on the land, also in States such as Western Australia there was and still is the need for further land development. Therefore, when the Commonwealth Government offered to provide the funds for servicemen's rehabilitation on the land the State gladly accepted and agreed to take responsibility …

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Soil Fertility And Plant Nutrition, D B. Parbery, R. Wetselaar

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

BEFORE 1963, very little work, other than that described in Burvill's original report, had been done on the analysis of Ord soils, nor had their fertility status been clearly defined.

Contour Planting For Hillside Orchards. Part 1, N H. Shorter

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

FRUIT growers intending to plant an orchard on sloping land, would be well advised to consider the suitability of the block for planting on a contour system.

Leaf Scorch Of Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

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

BEFORE the 1964-65 fruit season, sections of a number of orchards in the Donnybrook district were converted to systems of permanent overhead sprinkler irrigation.

In several cases, however, leaf scorch occurred where these overhead sprinklers were used during the day time.

The Starling, John L. Long

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

Despite their pretty colour and their song, starlings cannot be considered beneficial, especially in the fruit and grain-growing areas of W.A. where they are declared vermin.

MILLIONS of starlings inhabit the settled parts of eastern and south-eastern Australia, but so far they have not reached Western Australia.