BREEDE RIVER IRRKiATIOX WORKS. 97 



l>ed of the canal cleaned and a portion of the canal has been lined 

 with cement concrete at a spot where the percolation of water was 

 great. Year by year the \^'orks are improving, the canal banks are 

 becoming more stable and the flood waters coming off the adjoining 

 mountain slopes pass away, causing little, if any, damage where the 

 canal cuts across the drainage lines. There are still a large number 

 of minor improvements which can be made ; these are coming 

 steadily, if somewhat slowly. 



Irrigation Board. 



The construction of the scheme by means of an Irrigation Board 

 consisting of farmers who are all interested in its success tends to 

 economical working, not only during the building of the works, but 

 the maintenance charges are also kept low. Co-operation amongst 

 irrigators under the jurisdiction of a Board has. in the Breede Valley, 

 proved unquestionably to be a gratifying achievement. In this 

 valley are found enterprising farmers who are prepared to embark 

 and guarantee the interest upon expenditure connected with works 

 of irrigation, jirovided they can be shown that the works will prove 

 beneficial and remunerative. The Engineer must have sympathy 

 with the farmer ; with the man who has to patiently toil through 

 long days, and to withstand and overcome many disappointments 

 and failures, before the reward for his labours can be wrestled from 

 mother earth. 



Eeectiox of Board. 



The purely honorary office of a member of the Irrigation Board 

 is a post for which there are many nominations every three years 

 when the election takes place. The results are keenly scrutinised 

 by the shareholders residing under the scheme. 



Sub-Division of Farms. 



An established Irrigable holding, 20 morgen in extent, when 

 ])laced under lucerne, is large enough to support a family in comfort 

 in the Breede Valley : but I do not think that any farm should be 

 sub-divided into a less area, otherwise than under exceptional 

 circumstances, such as being close to a local market. An owner 

 cultivating 40 morgen of land with mixed farming, including vine- 

 yards producing vines, brandy and raisins, in conjunction with 

 ostrich farming, must lead a busy life to efficiently supervise the 

 varied operations and the necessary labour upon the propert5\ 

 With ostrich farming alone double the above area under lucerne is 

 about the extent of ground one man should work to obtain the best 

 results from intensive farming. Of coiu-se there are many properties 

 having more than 80 morgen of irrigable lands under one ownership 

 — but these are not worked to the best advantage. Many of the 

 owners are averse to disjiosing of their irrigable lands, wishing wisely 

 to retain the properties for the next and rising generation. 



The sub-division of the irrigable land is coming about gradually, 

 and there is every likelihood that within another decade farms will 

 have reached reasonable dimensions, to be followed by a superior 

 class of farming, with more levelling of the lands, more attention 

 given to drainage, and better use made of the water generally. 



