Vol. XIX. Part 8. AUGUST 3, 1908. 



Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales. 



Artesian Irrigation. 



An Antidote for xIlkaline Waters. 



E. S. SYMMONDS. 

 Chemical Laboratory, Department of Agriculture. 



The injurious effects of alkaline artesian water on vegetation and the soil, 

 when used for irrigation purposes, are unfortunately too well established. 

 A perusal of the evidence given by pastorahsts and others before the Royal 

 Commission on the Administration of the Lands Department, shows clearly 

 the difficulties met with in their attempts to utiUse artesian water for agri- 

 cultural purposes. In this connection, Exhibit No. 334 is of particular 

 interest, and is as follows : — ■ 



"82, Pitt-street, Sydney, 21/9/05. 

 " His Honor Mr. Justice Owen, 



" Lands Commission, Lands Office, Sydney, 

 bir, 



" May it please your Honor : as much evidence has been tendered in 

 connection with artesian bore-water and its influences on the soil and vegeta- 

 tion in the Coonamble district, I should like to state the result of my own 

 personal observations. 



" I have had some four years' experience with bore- water on Quambone 

 Station, and took particular interest in practically testing its efficacy when 

 used for irrigation purposes. My late employer, Mr. John Hain, was very 

 anxious to make a success of irrigation by bore-water, and had it used in 

 various ways, but without success. 



" In the first place, I might state that when first emitted from the bore, 

 it gave off a rather offensive smell, similar to burning sulphur. I also noticed 

 that it had a similar action to that of sulphur on brass, as it turned it nearly 

 black. The water also leaves a white deposit along the banks of the drains 

 for several miles, and when allowed to spread over the land it forms a crust 

 of blue-black colour, similar to that made by exploded gunpowder. 



" It is almost impossible for young plants immediately after germination 

 to burst through, and those which do are either very stunted or die altogether 

 after a very short time. Owing to the dam on the creek being washed away, 

 it became necessary to use bore-water on the Quambone vegetable garden, 

 but the effects were disastrous. Strong healthy plants soon became smothered 

 with aphides. Seeds were germinated with rain water, and the plants raised 

 therewith until fit for transplanting, but when the bore-water was applied 

 they died off. Fruit-trees, which had hitherto thriven in dry seasons, under 

 the influence of creek water, became unhealthy when bore-water was appUed. 



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