Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

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.

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.

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

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

No abstract provided.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How To Measure The Capacity Of Farm Dams, G Gauntlett

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

AT some time or another nearly every farmer needs to be able to measure the capacity of an ordinary farm dam of the "excavated earth tank" type and many requests are made for a method of calculating this volume.

This article describes how this can be done.

Seed And Pasture Rates For New Dairy Pastures, F E. Ryan

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

THE success or failure of pasture establishment on new land often depends on the interaction of rate of seeding and rate of superphosphate application.

Every year large areas of virgin land are cleared and sown to pasture in the higher rainfall areas, and all-too often the new pasture is not as successful as it should be because too little super is applied, and, in some cases, too little seed.

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.

Wheat Quality Surveys In Western Australia. 2. Variation Between Seasons And Localities In The Production Of High And Low Protein Wheat, J A. Parish

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

Although the protein content of West Australian f.a.q. wheat averages only 9.4 per cent., often substantial amounts of comparatively high protein wheat are contained in this mixture.

However the quantity varies widely from year to year and is obtained from widely scattered areas of the wheatbelt.

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.

Puccinellia : Outstanding Saltland Grass, C V. Malcolm, S. T. Smith

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

"Puccinellia" is a tussocky perennial grass with an outstanding ability to survive salty and waterlogged conditions.

Considerable areas of saltland in Western Australia are suited to its growth.

Seed is now available commercially and in this article the conditions to which the grass is suited are described and establishment and management methods are suggested.

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.

Lot Feeding Of Beef Cattle. 3. Facilities Required For A Feed Lot, W J O Wilkie

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

MANY THINGS must be considered in planning a feed lot.

The site must be well chosen, fencing, gates and yards must be adequate for the cattle carried and feeding and watering facilities should be of a high standard.

Other things to consider are the provision of shelter and shade for the cattle and buildings for feed storage and other purposes.

Kimberley Research Station Progress Report, 1964 : Climate, Jan Jerzy Basinski, E. A. Fitzpatrick, W. R. Stern

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

A review of recent research in climate, soils, tropical crops and pastures, weeds, insect pests and cattle husbandry at the Kimberley Research Station.

EXTENSIVE climatic data are recorded at the Station and analysed in relation to crop performance, irrigation requirements, and farm management practices.

Salt Land Survey, 1962 : Report Of A Survey Of Soil Salinity In The Agricultural Areas Of Western Australia, L C. Lightfoot, S. T. Smith, C. V. Malcolm

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

IN Western Australia there are within the agricultural areas about one million acres of salt land, largely within the 14-25 inch rainfall area used for cereal and wool production.

In March, 1962, farmers in 68 shires in the agricultural areas of Western Australia estimated that on their properties 305,270 acres of land previously cropped or sown to pasture had become salt affected. Of this total, 59,203 acres had gone salt in the seven years immediately before the survey.

Set Stocking Has A Place In Soil Conservation Farming, J E. Watson

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

Set stocking of sheep at increased stocking rates is rapidly becoming popular with farmers in the agricultural areas of Western Australia.

But will set stocking increase soil erosion hazards? It should do just the reverse, according to Soil Conservation Adviser J. E. Watson, B.Sc, who claims that set stocking has a place in soil conservation farming.

Agriculture In The Lakes District : Report Of A Survey Of Farm Practices, A W. Hogstrom

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

At the request of the Central South Zone Development Committee a survey which covered 58 farms in the Lakes District was carried out by officers of the Department of Agriculture. Field work for the survey started in 1961.

The Lakes District supports about 70 holdings adjoining a chain of salt lakes to the east of Newdegate and Hyden but west of the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence.

The chain of lakes is about 70 miles long running in a N.N.W. to S.S.E. direction. The lakes are O'Connor, Carmody, Hurlstone, Varley, Gulson, Fox, Camm, King, and Pal lamp.