Australian Irrigated Farms

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 December 1914, Page 4

Australian Irrigated Farms

Large areas in Australia hitherto regarded as of little value, possibly on account of the scanty rainfall in those parts, or of the absence of any comprehensive and effective means of water conservation, are now being made highly productive, and consequently very valuable by the irrigation schemes carried out under the supervision of the various State Governments. In this respect New South Wales and Victoria are conspicuous, an-d lu-day settlers are making- good headway on the irrigated lands. Orticial reports show that miners from Broken Hill, who had had no previous experience in working irrigated land, are making a success of their holdings. Additional factories are being established to deal with the cream from the areas devoted to dairying. The | stock is increasing steadily. The Government provide pure-bred bulls for stud purposes, ami those are available at a. small fee. Bacon factories are also established in connection with the butter factories, j for pig breeding may be profitably carried on in conjunction with dairying. Crops are grown in abun- ! '.lance, and it has been found thai the natural grasses grow luxuriantly j under irrigation, and arc, of course, well suited for the stock, j Ai the present rate of progress there will soon be niai.y thousands of successful irrigation farmers on ; areas that had previously been re- j garded as of little value. As the] areas are taken up the irrigation, j schemes are extended, arid there- \* I always available land for the j newcomer within range of the irri- j I gation works and within reu.ch of! j the markets. j