IRRIGATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1776, 25 February 1888, Page 3

IRRIGATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The present state of the country ories out for us all to do our beßt for its advancement and to enable us to compote with other colonies and countries This Bpocial county can be made to produce at least double, I believe, at a not very heavy cost, by oarrying out the scheme, which I believe you advocate, viz., Irrigation. Believing that several farmers are. not of that opinion, I think discussion on that subject might, perhaps, induce them to change their opinion, or show good reason why the sohemo should not be tested. I have had a little experience m the matter, and thoraforo think I may venture to express my views. On a farm formerly rented by myself m another district I had a paddock known as "The Gravel Pit Pad- | dock," owing to Hb having a gravol reserve ' m it, and several parts of the soil being only from four to six inches deep, and an ironstone and gravelly bottom. In an ordinary dry season the paddook was completely baked and burnt up. Having it m wheat one year I determined to try what irrigation would do, water being obtainable without much trouble, and had the satisfaction of threshing a thirty six bushel crop, instead of most probably twelve to fifteen ; one part og the field which I did not irrigate bein nearly all blighted off. I think, however, that the effeot of the constant rains this last spring on the plains oovering the pasturo with a luxuriant growth of grasses and clovers where sown, ought to be convincing to any sceptical farmer. For I find that all admit that where rich clovers can bo grown, good wheat orops will follow, the only drawback being if dry weather comes on and no water available, the rioher and stronger the growth of the straw and flag the more does the crop shrivel and blight ; indeed, any manure without moisture to aid is worse than useless. I have not seen the ground our County Counoil are experimenting on, but understand it is a very poor worked out and sorrelly piece, and until laid down m pasture for a year or two can hardly bo a Buoceßß tor oropping. When the soil ia fairly good, the success will be much more marked. The effect, however, will bo that on these plains where one sheep per aore is maintained, at least three may be kept, and where from 12 to 15 bushels of wheat are grown, 30 bushels will be more likely the return per aore, and where one family is vow struggling, three will be living m comfortable homes with gardens and plantations, modifying to a large extent the effectß of the north- westers. I am, etc, O.T.D.