April 2, 190S.] J gricultural Gazette of N.^.W\ 293 



of land from A. H. Aiitill, E.sq., and erected tall poles, with outstanding 

 spir-; to cin-y hoses and sprinklfi-?.-. The vegetaMes are growing; luxuriantly ; 

 but I he method does not appear an unqualified success, and probably the 

 furrow system of watering would be just as effective, and more economical. 

 Surface sprinkling, although extensively practised iti suburban gardens, only 

 gives best results when the soil is covei'ed with a good mulch or lieavy foliage 

 of plnnts. Unless a thorough soaking is given, most of the moisture is 

 evaporated by the next day's heat. tSprinkling when the sun is scorching 

 hot, although often practised, is certainly unnatural, and has not nearly such 

 a good effect as on a dull day or at night-time. 



Theoretically, the best time to apply water is when the weather appears 

 like rain, as the moisture in then received under natural conditions of 

 atmospheric pressure and evaporation. In practice, however, water must 

 be applied whenever the leaves of the plants show that the moisture content 

 of the soil is below their requirements. This is one of the reasons for the 

 frequent statement, that "a shower of rain is better than hours of sprinkling." 

 Another reason is that the first showers of rain after thunder (especially 

 hailstorms) generally contain a small quantity of ammonia and nitric acid 

 from the electiic disturbances, and this has a stimulating effect as an immedi- 

 ately available plant food. The initial cost of pipes and tai)S is another 

 disadvantnge of the hose and sprinkler method, which may be dismissed, as 

 seldom applicable for farm crops. 



The floodirg an 1 check system of watering, as practised in many parts of 

 America, has not been generally adopted in this State, excej^t for lucerne 

 and permanent pastures. Flooding invariably leaves the land very hard and 

 sodden, and requires more preparation of the land. Grading and levelling 

 is generally necessary to prepare any extensive irrigation area, l)ut the 

 process is rather expensive, and not always easy for the average faimer. 

 Where the soil is shallow, as in most parts of Cundjerland and Camden, 

 extensive grading operations are not practical, for it is e\ident that if 

 18 inches of the surface soil is scraped away, it will Ije years before the bare 

 patch of subsoil Avill produce profitable cro})s. 



How to Irrigate. 



By the furrow system, which is the best for most crops, land can be 

 irrigated even on a hillside, provided the contour of the land is considered 

 when striiiing the drills. The distance apart of these furrows depends on the 

 kind of sotl and the fall. If the newly sown land is of a clayey natur-e, and 

 very dry, the furrows ma}' be (i to 9 feet apart, as the water will spread out 

 in a lateral direction. With a steeper fall, or more porous soil, the furrows 

 must be closer together. The furrows can be made with an ordinary plough 

 or a cultivator, and should l)e parallel. All dead furrows or "clean outs '' 

 should be ploughed in before the ci-oss furrows are made. Having succeeded 

 in bringing a supply of water to the highest point in the main channel, the 

 next object is to get it info the soil. To distribute it evenly to each furrow, 

 xhort lengths of pipe or turfs ai'e necessary. Sluice-boxes, or pieces of board 



