610 



Ayricultiiral Gazette of N.S.W. \_^-l~fi(/- o, 1908. 



The leaves turned yellow and dropjx'd oiT, and .several ol the citrus trees 

 died, while all the peach and .Japanese! plum trees died outright. 



"Lime was used in t!ie soil l)y reconiniendatiou of experts to counteract 

 the effects of the salts in the bore-water, but it failed to have the desired 

 effect. I tried lucerne growing, but the young plants which appeared healthy 

 at first soon died, both when the water was cai'ried by furrows through the 

 land, and when it was allowed to flow over the surface. The roots rotted and 

 turned black, and when the plant was jJuUcd up it left a black outside skin 

 in the grouiul. 



" The soil in the (^uand)one gardens is of a rich sandy loam of deep tilth, 

 well drained, a,nd veiy suitable for irrigation. Bore-water had not only the 

 effect of destroying vegetation at the time of its application, but for some 

 considerable time afterwards it would not successfully produce cro])s wdien 

 rain water was used, thus proving that the land was practically stei'ilised. 



" My experience with bore-water, after trying various methods of using it 

 on different kinds of crops, is that it is of little or no value, and by continually 

 using it the soil becomes absolutely barren. 



" I realised the immense value that bore-water would be to that arid part 

 of the country, if fodder crops could be successfully grown by it, and during 

 some four years I endeavoured unremittingly to prove its utility. 



" No doubt the development of the artesian system has done much to 

 render the land more safe for pastoral purposes, as stock are very fond of it, 

 and it can be distributed i<\ drains throughout the countrv, thus saving the 

 stock the otherwise necessity of walking long distances for water; in which 

 case they not only lose their condition by the exercise, but cut up the feed. 



^ " Yours, &c., T. W. SANDS." 



" P.S. — The bore-water had a similar effect upon the flower garden to 

 that on the vegetable garden. When water was turned into natural shallow 

 swamps, the grass grew most luxuriantly for the first year ; the second year 

 not nearly so well; and the third year, scarecely any grass, but in place of 

 grass a growth of rushes aj^peared which are useless for fodder. — -T.W.S." 



Analyses of Artesian Waters, by Mr. J. C. H. Mingaye. 

 Grains per Imperial (lallon. 



Speaking generally, the saline substance in artesian water consists chiefly 

 of carbonate and chloride of soda. The carbonate of soda not onlv dissolves 



