224 Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. [Mar. 2, 190S. 



My iiai-ilfii is situatcil mi a irciitl-- slope, tin- Infuse being on liic higliest 

 point, will: the land I'-illini,' a\v;(\' in tVnnt. 



Residing in a subui'li wliicli is not c(inn('iti<l uitli any system of sewerage, 

 the problem of liow best to dispose of refuse watfr fr<ini kitehen, laundry, and 

 bathroom oi'opped up, and as a temporary expeflient it was carried by pip^s 

 into vacant bind, where it was consumed by a young growth of native vege- 

 tatioji. Subsequently, the necessity arising for a better arrangt^ment, t^vo 

 lines of l-indi drain jiipes wei'e carried do^^l the shipr. one connectin:^ with 

 the bathroom, and tlie other with kitchen and laundry ; these were so graded 

 as to discharge on the surface at suitable points in the garden. To pre\ent 

 any one spot becoming sodden and pi'ol)ably ofVensive. the discliaige was 

 directed by means of some lengths of ordinary galvani/ tl guttering, lirst to 

 one point, then to others as desired, and by running furrows across the slope 

 with a Piane,t Junioi' Hand C'nlti\ator, the water was still furt her distriliuted, 

 resulting in a simple, inexpensive, and t hoi-oughly etlective system of irriga- 

 tion on a small scale. 



As a jiractical result, i may give two instances. Potatoes were planted 

 under precisely similar conditions of cultivation on op])r)site sides of the garden, 

 about 25 lb. of seed in each case. Bed No. 1 could not l)e irrigated, but bed 

 No. '1 had the water run Itetwcen the rows several times durinir the ""rowinc 

 period. The crop from No. 1 was almost a failure, giving little but marbles, 

 while No. '1 gave a full, even crop of large tubers of extra hue ipiali'y, 

 sufficient to sujtply all family wants for several months, and this at a time 

 when good potatoes were both hard to get and expensive to buy. 



In the second instance, two plum trees, of the varipfy known as October 

 Purple, receiv(>d similar treatment to the potatoes. In the ca.se of no water 

 a small crop resulted, averaging about 1] oz. per fiuit ; in the other ca'^'e, 

 where the tree was irrigated, a full crop of fruit was carried, a large propor- 

 tion of which ran 3.^, oz. per fruit, wliile fruit trees of othei- varieties benefited 

 in like degree. 



If re=iults such as thos(> instaneed can be ohtained in a disastrous season 

 like the pr.'sent, which has been almost without jiarallel in the metropolitan 

 coastal district for its droughty conditions, sui-ely the small initial outlay 

 ivtpiisite should not deter the gai-ih iier fiom placing himself in a jiosition, by 

 simple means, to thus turn waste and no.xious material into luscious fruit 

 and wdiolesome vegetables. 



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