Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 Western Australia, Series 3
Volume 5
Number 2 March- April,1956 Article 5
3-1956
Rabbits in the Karri country - Some Recollections of 30 years of Rabbits in the Karri country - Some Recollections of 30 years of Vermin Control in the Lower J South-West
Vermin Control in the Lower J South-West
C. D. Gooding W. J. Rooney
Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3
Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Gooding, C. D. and Rooney, W. J. (1956) "Rabbits in the Karri country - Some Recollections of 30 years of Vermin Control in the Lower J South-West," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 5: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3/vol5/iss2/5
This article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agriculture at Digital Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 by an authorized administrator of Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected].
RABBITS m the KARRI COUNTRY !
!
*
Some Recollections of 30 years of Vermin Control in the Lower J
South-West %
Compiled by C. D. GOODING from Information supplied by W. J. ROONEY •
$ » • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • * • • • • * * * * * *
R
ABBITS first made their appearance in various parts of the Manjimup Road Board District during 1925 and 1926. By 1928, the early arrivals appeared to have con- solidated their position and increased rapidly. The areas where rabbits first appeared in serious numbers were Group 119 in the Quinninup area, Groups 123 and 117 at North- cliffe, and Groups 65 and 26 in the Eastbrook, Pemberton and Channeberrup areas.Middlesex and West Manjimup districts were also becoming: infested.
Foreword by A. R. TOMLINSON, Chief Vermin Control Officer
"Bill" Rooney has become almost a legendary figure in the sphere of rabbit control in the lower South-West. He has worked very closely with the Govern- ment vermin control officers and has been regarded almost as one of them.
He has spent many years of his life in helping farmers in the Manjimup district to protect their properties from the ravages of the rabbit, and has al- ways been a keen advocate of the use of teams of men, with the necessary equip- ment, to assist in control measures.
It was at Mr. Rooney's request for a solution of the rabbit problem in the Manjimup area that the Agriculture Protection Board carried out its initial work in connection with poisoning teams. Mr. Rooney must feel consiaer- able satisfaction at the success of our Rabbit Control Scheme (using the poison 1080) as going a long way to- wards the practical application of his theories.
No real efforts were made to eradicate, or even control, rabbits at this period.
Rabbits h a d not formed warrens and the young were mainly born in short, single- entrance tunnels which were carefully concealed and covered over with fresh earth. This was usually referred to as
"stop" breeding.
At this stage, foxes had not been seen in the districts but they began to make their appearance early in the 1930's and reaped an easy harvest of young rabbits from the blind breeding burrows.
Probably because of the presence of foxes, rabbits commenced to dig in and constructed deep warrens so t h a t it soon became a rare occurrence to find a shallow breeding tunnel.
In the 1930's, when the depression hit the districts very hard, farming was in the doldrums. Butterfat (first-grade) brought 8d. lb. and the lower grades were almost unsaleable.
Group settlers were thrown on their own resources and being unable to feed t h e m - selves, and their families, and a t the same time meet their commitments, they began to vacate their properties leaving many areas of pasture unoccupied as a free gift to the rabbits.
Under these conditions, the rabbit hordes increased alarmingly. Of this period Mr.
Rooney says, "We began to get alarmed at the menace on our own property. I wrote to the Department of Agriculture several times explaining the situation, and to emphasise my argument I poisoned a nearby vacant property with apple and strychnine and sent a photograph of one night's kill to the then Chief Inspector of Rabbits, Mr. Arnold. (The pnotograph is reproduced in this article.) Soon after this the authorities began to take an in- terest in the problem."
! 141
Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956
Fig. 1.—A typical Manjimup scene showing the difficulties associated with rabbit control In this area—the tall karri trees and the bracken fern
—Photo by C. D. Gooding.
Mr. Rooney said that during this period unemployment was rife and clearing gangs were being given part-time work in main- taining clearings on vacant Group Loca- tions. Some gangs were then placed on the vacant properties to lay poison baits and to dig out rabbit warrens.
As the work was all done by hand it was costly and not very successful. In most cases the area under pasture on each pro- perty would not exceed 70 acres, but the cost of rabbit destruction on each holding by this method ranged from £10 to £40 in 1933. A Vermin Inspector was employed for the first time by the Warren Vermin Board. He was paid £5 a week and had to find his own conveyance. The Inspector purchased a secondhand motor cycle and rode it over corrugated roads for six days a week. His initial efforts, directed to- wards obtaining co-operation from settlers, were a dismal failure—Group Settlers were vacating their properties in large numbers and those who remained could hardly be expected to carry out rabbit control work on their properties while on every side of them abandoned farms served as breeding grounds.
At this time, settlers were offered free supplies of phosphorus poison and pollard to bait adjoining vacant properties. The gesture was well-meant but hardly prac- ticable, and the Chief Inspector of Rabbits realised this when he visited farms almost entirely surrounded by vacant properties.
An offer was then made to provide the wages for three men and to recoup the Vermin Board for poisoning material used on vacant Agricultural Bank properties.
Three old IXL poison carts were also loaned to the Board.
The first task was to train men to use the poison carts effectively. The usual practice in those days was to run a single furrow as near as possible to the bush sur- rounding the pastures. This method only gave mediocre results.
From experience in handling badly-in- fested areas, said Mr. Rooney, it was soon found that numerous furrows and ample small baits gave the best percentage of kills. As the poison-cart drivers became more experienced, some spectacular results were obtained and Mr. Rooney personally counted over 500 dead rabbits on one small property after the poison cart had been used to lay phosphorised pollard baits.
142
PROVED and IMPROVED because...
THOUSANDS OF DAIRY FARMS THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA
. . . use . . .
SIGMA PENIJEC
•k SIGMA PENIJEC is t h e MASTER T r e a t m e n t for MASTITIS.
* SIGMA PENIJEC h a s c o n t a i n e d p r o c a i n e penicillin since 1949 w h e n i t was f o u n d t h a t p r o c a i n e p e n i - cillin proved m o r e effective i n t h e t r e a t m e n t of m a s t i t i s .
* SIGMA PENIJEC is easier t o use . . . p a c k e d i n
" e a s y - s q u e e z e " t u b e s w h i c h a r e n o t affected by varying w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s . . .
And here a r e some m o r e h a r d h i t t i n g facts why SIGMA PENIJEC for t h e t r e a t m e n t of m a s t i t i s is a byword w i t h t h o u s a n d s of Dairyfarmers—
NATURAL SHAPE NOZZLE.
As p h o t o g r a p h e d on left t h e " n a t u r a l s h a p e * "
nozzle fits easily i n t o t h e t e a t w i t h o u t d a m a g i n g it, a n d SIGMA PENIJEC is i n j e c t e d by simply squeezing t h e t u b e .
PACKED UNDER STRICT SUPERVISION.
SIGMA PENIJEC is packed u n d e r s t r i c t s u p e r - vision t h u s e n s u r i n g a p r o d u c t of t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i t y .
TWO STRENGTHS.
Regular—50,000 u n i t s . Strong—110,000 u n i t s .
SIGMA PENIJEC h i t s h a r d a n d gives g r e a t e r economy.
SOLD ONLY BY CHEMISTS.
Ask for Sigma Penijec a n d get t h e BEST for only 12/6 per dozen.
Refuse all s u b s t i t u t e s
PREPARED IN THE PENICDLLIN LABORATORIES OF
SIGMA CO.
LTD.
MELBOURNE
SP22HP
(SIGMA^
tTATP. GOVERNHtMT INSUkAPQE OFFIC*
THE
STATE GOVERNMENT INSURANCE OFFICE
F o r Motor Vehicle Comprehensive & Workers' Compensation Insurance
TEL. BA9966
194 ST. GEORGE'S TERRACE, PERTH And at Kalgoorlie and all Clerks of Court
:: :: :: :: Telegrams '•WASIO'
Please mention the "Journal of Agriculture, W.A.," when writing to advertiser!
Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956
^i&¥W#b^:^$3!PaHnHMHHH|
Mobilco CHEMICALSPty.Ltd.
DIVISION OF MOBILE INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT LIMITED
Head Office: 410-416 Whitehorse Rd., Mitcham, Vic. - Phone: WU277I (10 Lines) Telegrams : Mobilco, Melbourne - - Branches—Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth Agents : Launceston and Hobart - Authorised Dealers Throughout Australia
Some of the settlers were keenly in- terested in the work of rabbit destruction.
Others were antagonistic a n d their a t - titude towards t h e vermin destruction regulations varied from passive resistance to outright hostility.
Eventually, the Vermin Board took legal action against 13 settlers for n o t destroy- ing rabbits on their properties. The charges were proved and they were fined 5s. each with 7s. 6d. costs. This action forced others to make a t least a show of compliance although quite a few furrows were ploughed which were never baited.
THE BOTULISM OUTBREAK
At about this time, botulism (toxic paralysis) took toll of a number of cattle in the Manjimup a n d West Manjimup districts.
The outbreak was of a particularly viru- lent type and some dairy herds were al- most wiped out. I t was not unusual to hear of cows being milked in t h e evening and found dead outside t h e yards next morning.
As t h e deaths followed fairly closely after the use of phosphorus most people who lost stock were convinced t h a t the
poison was responsible. Confidence in the use of poisons only returned after success- ful vaccination against botulism had proved t h a t the poison itself was not the cause of cattle deaths.
As more properties became vacant, it was necessary to employ more poison cart drivers and from about 1934 onward there were usually five to six operating during the summer months. In districts where most of the properties were abandoned, this wholesale poisoning gave spectacular results and in some areas the rabbits were practically wiped out.
In other districts, the h a p h a z a r d use of poison led to the rabbits becoming "edu- cated" and phosphorus baits were ineffec- tive.
It was decided to follow up the summer phosphorus campaign with a u t u m n poisoning using apples a n d strychnine, but as all the apples for "free feeding" and poisoning had to be cut by hand, this method was expensive and was only used in badly-infested areas.
Later however, a greatly-increased price for rabbit-skins provided an incentive, and experienced men were supplied with apples and strychnine free by the Vermin Board.
Fig. 2.—Some of the rabbits killed by poison on Mr. Rooney's property in 1932
—Photo W. J. Rooney.
145
Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956
U&**:> ^9ff^
Fig. 3.—Furrow cutting and free feeding as it was done in the "early days"
Photo—C. D. Gooding.
Some of these m e n made substantial cheques from t h e sale of rabbit skins and t h e y markedly reduced the rabbit popula- tions.
Practically 100 per cent, kills were ob- t a i n e d a t this time where the correct techniques of free feeding a n d baiting were used.
SOME AMUSING MEMORIES Mr. Rooney recalls some quaint methods of poisoning used by inexperienced settlers.
He found one m a n preparing apple baits by cutting t h e fruit into quarters t h e n gouging out a n e a t hole in each piece of fruit with a pen-nib—being careful to r e - move a cylindrical piece of apple u n d a m - aged. With a fine-pointed knife, he placed some strychnine in t h e hole a n d then c a r e - fully relaced t h e plug—a very n e a t job, but one t h a t h a r d l y made for speed in p r e p a r a t i o n .
Another settler complained t h a t the rabbits would n o t eat phosphorised pol- lard. He h a d mixed t h e poison and pollard n e a t . Given a few hints on the correct p r e p a r a t i o n of t h e baits, he failed again—
t h i s time by using a whole bottle of oil of aniseed as a lure, instead of the required few drops.
Fig. 4.—Today all the furrow cutting and bait laying done by the Agriculture Protection Board is done mechanically. Here oats are being dropped from a Land Rover into a furrow cut previously by the same vehicle
—Photo by C. D. Gooding.
Aisfoalia's most modem engineering Australia's lowest price
F O R D S O N M A J O R H A S M O R E F A R M - R I G H T F E A T U R E S T H A N A N Y O T H E R T R A C T O R
PER U N I T O F D R A W B A R O R B E L T H . P . F O R D S O N M A J O R IS T H E
L O W E S T P R I C E D D I E S E L P O W E R E D W H E E L E D T R A C T O R
NOT TOO BIG—NOT TOO SMALL.
Fordson Major is right for broadacre or small farm alike. Its engineering is absolutely practical, its power is absolutely adequate and its versatility is absolutely time and labour-saving.
Its price, low running costs and the availability of service and genuine parts combine to mean both lower capital investment and lower upkeep.
That is the kind of power-farming equipment you need for it means profit to you.
F O R D M O T O R C O M P A N Y
HYDRAULICS-WITH NEW MEANING Fordson Major's "touch-control"
h y d r a u l i c s — and a r a n g e of tillage implements and many-job equipment matched to this completely modern system of one-man operation
—mean power farming in its newest, most labour-saving form. Available, too, is Fordson's NEW Remote Control Kit which, in implements or equipment where remote hydraulic control can be used, applies it whether the unit is mounted or trailing.
O F A U S T R A L I A P T Y . L T D .
MODEL £1091
complete and including:
• 2 Speed Belt Pulley • Power Take Off • Electric Lighting and Starting Equipment • Tachourmeter T Y R E S : 14 x 28, 6 ply, rear 7.50 I , . x 16, 6 ply, front.
Optional equipment extra:
Mvrlrinli.- I lb 1 _ » : _ . i :.i ,-,.
Hydraulic Remote Control Kit (SAE/ASAE Standard) £73. Raised
Power Take off Asssmbly £30 Prices F.O.B. Ford Plants.
CDL^I
Australia's greatest name in modern, low-cost power farming
Y o u r Fordson Dealer can supply a full range of implements and f a r m equipment for every usage.
Your local Fordson Dealer will supply further details.
LISTEN TO THE FORD S H O W ON ANY OF THE 65 STATIONS IN THE NATION-WIDE WEEKLY BROADCAST
Please mention the 'Journal of Agriculture, W.A.," when writing to advertisers Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956
Your OWN Grain Storage!
LYSAGHT READY TO ASSEMBLE
G r a i n Silos
AND AUGERS
SILOS
0 H e a v y g a u g e g a l v a n i z e d sheets
0 Easily e r e c t e d — p e r m a n e n t
# Rodent a n d w e a t h e r p r o o f 0 Steel e a r t h rings a n d l o a d - ing p l a t f o r m s a v a i l a b l e as extras if required
# Prompt delivery
AUGERS
• Designed to fill a n d empty Lysaght Silos
9 Segmented construction for easy assembly a n d versatilitv
• Unique vertical f i l l i n g avoids congestion
• Vertical sets c o m p e t e with wall brackets, chute tubes etc
S5W.A
A U G E R S priced as low as £114.
Popular Type for Standard 2000 Bushel Silo on ground level, £152.
(Motors not provided.)
S I L O P R I C E S
EX L Y S A G H T ' S F R E M A N T L E S T O R E
£ 5 1 200 Bushel Silo
500 Bushel Silo 1000 Bushel Silo 2000 Bushel Silo 2000 Bushel Silo ( S q u a t ) 3000 Bushel Silo 3500 Bushel Silo 4500 Bushel Silo 8500 Bush. Silo
£83
£144
£223
£223
£283
£317
£486
£749 MANUFACTURED BY
LYSAGHT'S WORKS PTY. LTD., NEWCASTLE
One man complained that putting out phosphorised pollard was the most tedious job he had ever encountered. He had mixed it as a thin gruel and was trying to splash it into the furrow with a stick!
A German settler suggested that it might be a good idea to throw superphos- phate down the rabbits warrens. When asked why he thought it might destroy rabbits, he said, "Veil, she always make my eyes leak."
The mixing of baits in tins that had contained kerosene or sump oil was not uncommon and it took much patient ex- planation to persuade some of the settlers to adopt tried methods of poisoning.
Fig. 5.—Mr. Rooney inspecting a furrow to check on the poison "take," after a successful "1080" poisoning
—Photo by C. D. Gooding.
The poisoning of vacant properties by the Vermin Board with some assistance from the Central Vermin Authority was completely justified. Each poisoning season the majority of settlers would lay poison at the time poison carts were operating, or would ask to have their pro- perties poisoned by the Board's carts. This latter procedure eventually became a .severe embarrassment to the Board. Some
settlers were inclined to place the sole responsibility for complete control on the Board and became demanding and critical.
There would also be a clamour to have the work done at certain times and there was also several claims for damages for stock lost, presumably from eating poisoned baits. Nevertheless, with all its drawbacks, the poisoning of privately- owned properties was justified inasmuch as it gave settlers a working example of the results that could be obtained by using sufficient furrows and ample baits.
During the middle and late 1930's, rab- bits had been building up in the Northcliffe district and as about two-thirds of the properties there had been vacated, poison carts were sent each year to poison ail these blocks, although, with the exception of a couple of areas, the infestations were generally light.
Whether the initial poisoning campaign took effect before the rabbits became firmly established, or whether some other factor exercised control, is not clear—but the fact remains that rabbits are scarcer in the Northcliffe area today, than they were 20 years ago.
MINERAL DEFICIENCIES
Some years ago, rabbits increased almost to plague proportions on some South Coast grazing leases. The country was good coastal run with numerous flats and gul- lies carrying various native grasses. The rabbits cleaned out the grasses leaving only the scrub.
Assistance was given the owners to poison with apples and strychnine and while carrying out the free feeding pre- paratory to poisoning, several freshly dead rabbits were picked up.
They were in poor condition and ap- peared anaemic. Most of the coastal coun- try is deficient in copper and cobalt, and stock could only be left on the area for a limited period or they developed "coast disease." Rabbits have decreased in num- bers over most of this area and mineral deficiency could be the answer.
It is noticeable that where stock were subject to "wasting disease" and "falling sickness," prior to the introduction of Denmark lick, rabbits which built up to nuisance numbers at times, usually de- creased gradually.
of agriculture Vol. 5 1956
In the Walpole area, rabbits were be- strychnine were particularly good. As the coming very numerous in 1936 but after years passed, the rabbits apparently be- the area was swept by a severe bushfire came more wary and could only be con- in 1937 they disappeared almost com- trolled by carefully-planned and well- pletely and have not reappeared in large executed campaigns.
numbers since. This area is also deficient T h e latest chapter of the story of man's in certain minerals. w a r a g ain st the rabbit is now being
Looking back over the years, the early written, and the new poison—"1080"—is results obtained with both phosphorus and achieving excellent results.
AGRICULTURAL SEED PRODUCTION
Favourable conditions for the harvesting of subterranean clover seed continued during February and in most districts good yields are being obtained and production of certified seed to the end of the month was as follows:—
Tons.
Dwalganup 630 Mt. Barker 60 Yarloop 162
852
More t h a n 700 tons were tested and sealed during February, the largest tonnage handled by the Department in any one month. The Great Southern and lower Midlands contributed largely to this total.
The large local harvest and satisfactory yields in other States have resulted in prices being considerably lower than in previous seasons. Quantities of all strains have already been exported to the Eastern States.
Several lines of the Yarloop strain submitted for certification have been rejected because of a germination below the requirement of 70 per cent. This has been due to a high proportion of the seed being scorched when burning to destroy the top growth prior to rolling. Burning of the Dwalganup strain can be carried out with safety as the burrs are buried, but with the later strains varying proportions of the burrs arc formed above the soil. A large amount of trash not only causes a severe fire but induces a greater amount of the seed to be formed above ground level. Under such circumstances, if burning cannot be avoided it should be regulated to cause the minimum of heat such as when moist with dew. Firing in sections rather t h a n having a complete severe burn also helps. Where possible the top growth should be removed by other means.
I n one case further grading was necessary because of the presence of the Guild- ford grass seeds.
One hundred and fifty-two bushels of Westralia bean seed have been certified so far this season and one half ton of Phalaris tuberosa temporarily sealed, awaiting germination tests.
Increased production of both Western Australia and New Zealand blue lupins has resulted in a large number of samples being received at the seed testing labora- tory. There h a s been an improvement in pure seed content from previous years but the germination of the Western Australian species has, in the main, been unsatisfac- tory. Harvesting and cleaning methods are being investigated with a view to improving quality.
The germination of most lines of New Zealand blue lupin produced in the Boyup Brook and Bridgetown districts has been satisfactory. The experience gained no doubt will result in seed of higher quality in future years and it should be possible for production to at least meet the State's requirements.
THOROUGHBUiLT when FREIGHTER-BUILT
is no idle boast!
The high precision standards of every Freighter-built product begin on the drawing board. The design is engineer- planned and first laid down by highly skilled draughtsmen who have been specially trained to their job of designing trailer equipment which will be a credit to the name it bears. Prototypes are put through the most rigid tests and trials before any vehicle
2-Ton Capacity
goes into production.
Even then the job is not finished —
Freighter engineers are constantly striving to improve the already high standard of every Freighter-built product, and the needs of the users are carefully studied to ensure that every vehicle is the best possible for the jobs it is asked to do.
. FREIGHTER
Titan Tipper Trailer
Saves man hours and cuts costs on busy farm and construction site. Keenly priced and ruggedly built for years of hard work.
May be hauled by Utility, Truck or Tractor.
Deck size 9 ft. x 6 ft. — flush at rear. Quick-release tipping catch. Loading height under 3 ft. 12 in.
hinged sides. Tailgate hinged top and bottom.
1 . FREIGHTER
Baby Quin
Toughest 4-wheel trailer of its type ever built.
Adaptable to do five different types of job.
Incorporates many new and improved features.
3. FREIGHTER
T r a c t o r Trailer
Rugged construction and care- fully designed balance give m a x i m u m t r a c t i o n u n d e r toughest conditions. Specially designed Drawbar Jack if desired. Special hitch avail- able for all types of tractor.
3-Ton Capacity
Axle adjusts to 2 positions.
FREIGHTERS build them better to last longer!
Please send
details of\. .3...
I
1 Name I Address I TFTSSI-Za —
FREIGHTERS SALES & SERVICES
(Division of Trailer Sales & Service (W.X.) Pty. Ltd.) 160 Albany Highway, Victoria Park, W.A.
Phone: M 2141 - M 2298
Also at Melbourne, Sydney. Brisbane, Adelaide, Launceston
SEE Y O U R NEAREST A U T H O R I S E D FREIGHTER DEALER
t
Please mention the "Journal of Agriculture, W.A.," when writing to advertisers Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956Mighty features that made
GOODYEAR SURE-GRIP
first choice the world over
>
1 Ruler-straight edges
They pull a g a i n s t the soil evenly, wear more evenly a n d lengthen tyre life.
2 O p e n C e n t r e T r e a d
F a m e d for its self-clean- ing action which allows the ruler-straight lugs to bite deeper with Increased pulling power.
3 W e d g e G r i p
S t r a i g h t l u g s a r e s e t closer together a t the shoulder to give wedge- like grip on the soil for unequalled t r a c t i o n .
Those 3 f f a t u r e s combine
to give MAXIMUM PUL- L I N G POWER. W i t h
Sure-Grip, less pulling energy is wasted through slip; you get the a d d e d traction t h a t means so much in time a n d money.
N o wonder more farmers orefer t h e m .
G O O D Y E A R
Sure-Grip Tractor Tyres
VD7B
