SUCCESS OF IRRIGATION

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 157, 13 March 1939, Page 4

SUCCESS OF IRRIGATION

NO FEARS FOR DROUGHT CANTERBURY SCHEME Two. years’ testing under practical fanning conditions have established all tiie claims made for irrigation in Canterbury. Two schejnes are at present in operation, one at Redcliff. near Moreen, and the other in the Levels area between Teinuka and Timaru, and the production made possible at ridiculously low cost Inis turned farmers who were at iirst definitely sceptical into ardent enthusiasts. At one farm 1200 sheep have been eairied for a year on 36 acres. Another farm of 20 acres, which a lew years ago with difficulty carried three dairy cows, is now carrying nine milking cows, and four dry stock, has five acres under a fine crop of red clover, lias 00 tons of hay. and has small areas under lucerne and swedes. The owner, who until irrigation was available, spent almost his whole year labouring for.'.other people, isr now nearly selfsupporting;- and in two years he will be taking .CSOO annually off hi& fa-nn. Another small farmer who until recently spent about' nine months a year working for other people, now works off his farm only three months.