June 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 403 



Improving the Drainage. 



It must not be supposed that the main drain thrcjugh the swamp areas is 

 to effect all the drainage necessary. Much assistance must be given, in most 

 cases, on the individual fai'ms by the cutting of headland drains and shallow 

 open drains across paddocks at intervals of about a chain on the swamp land 

 — all in a system connected with laterals which pour into the main drain. 



In many cases these lands are still subject to a little overflow from the 

 surrounding high land after heavy rains, and wl^ere this is the case con- 

 sideration should be given to its prevention by the construction of small 

 drains round the edge of the swamp. 



The accompanying sketch shows the type of drain suggested. 



UPLAND 



SWAMP 



; 



It should be made about 8 feet wide and 2 or 3 feet deep with a mound 

 built up (with the earth removed) on the swamp side of the drain. The 

 construction of the drain in this form renders its fencing off from stock 

 unnecessary, and it will be found to be very efficient in preventing orerflow 

 from the hill lands. Such a drain should be constructed, for best results, by 

 co-operation between the individual farmers on the subdivision areas, or by the 

 company or person owning the land, so as to get the required fall and outlet. 



It is important to facilitate the drainage on the individual farm for the 

 benefit of cultivation, for with the comparatively high prices of such land, 

 (due, in many cases, to the cost of the drainage scheme) and with its 

 possibilities under proper treatment, ita use for pasturage alone cannot be 

 considered highly profitable, and special efforts should be made to use the 

 land for the growth of such cultivated fodder crops as it may be particalarly 

 suitable for. 



Cultivation on Swamp Land. 



Still further sweetening of the land and assistance to drainage is required 

 for cultivation, and to effect these conditions special methods are advisable. 

 Some difficulty is usually experienced in properly ploughing this land, and 

 the type of plough recommended is one with a long mouldboard, which 

 will be more effective in turning the furrow-slice owing to the rery loose 

 nature of the peaty surface soil. Where stiff" clay subsoil underlies the 

 peat within reach of the plough it is desirable to bring up a little at each 

 ploughing. The application of quicklime while the soil is still bare is to 

 be recommended, rather than agricultural lime or slaked lime, for although 

 the quicklime has a caustic action which is extremely harmful in burning 

 out the organic matter on ordinary soils, this loss can be easily sustained 

 on peat soils which are so rich in this constituent. The quicklime has an 

 advantage over agricultural lime in this case, because of its quicker action 

 in sweetening the mass of sour organic matter, and in weathering down 

 any sour subsoil which is turned up by the plough. From 5 to 10 cwt. 

 quicklime per acre will be sufficient. 



