iYov. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



115 



deficient — are essential. For the most part the soil is of deep alluvial 

 formation, but in parts it is more of a fine sandy loam. In parts the fields 

 are a very few feet above river level, but still well drained, whereas in 

 others they are so low as to demand systematic drainage; in fact, there are 

 farmers on this river with whom drainage is such a material consideration 

 as to be their chief business. 



The prospects of an extension of the area on this river cannot be said 

 to be very great. Frost is a strictly limiting factor, and production is 

 confined to the banks of the river and its many creeks and channels. At 

 the same time, the improved prospects will no doubt bring once more under 



Sugar Cane at Chatsworth Island, Clarence River. 

 A heavy crop of Badila. 



cane many acres that in recent years have been diverted to dairying. 

 Indeed, one of the most profitable means of renovating land that has been 

 over-cropped is by putting it under grass for a few years, and some of the 

 most successful growers owe a good deal to their combination of sugar 

 cane with dairying. The method adoioted by some is to allow couch grass 

 to take possession of the land after ploughing the cane stools out, and 

 simply to graze the pasture without further treatment, while others have 

 found that perennial rye grass and clover sown in autumn on the ploughed 

 land quickly take possession in a fair season and form a fine sward. When, 

 in a few years such ground is broken up again, it generally responds well 

 to sugar cane. 



