Journal of Agriciiltn/c. [lo Aug., 190J 



Irrigating was done from tiie river tlirough large open channels, with 

 breaks made every cham till the whole was flooded. One of these channels 

 is shown on page 499, and on the rising ground in the distance the home- 

 stead can be faintly seen. The pumping plant consists of a 130 h.-p. 

 marine engine and boiler, driving a pump that delivers 6,000 gallons per 

 minute. This is erected on a large barge moored in the river ; and can 

 thus be moved up or down the water-way by motor launch as required. 

 With regard to the soil, the opinion is that much of the salt which the 

 analysis showed to be present in it was carried away by the water in 

 draining, and each subsequent flooding further assisted in this. The 

 appearance of the maize before it was first flooded is said to support this 

 suggestion, it apparently not being the ordinary wilting that follows lack 

 of moisture; and it is thought that at this stage the roots had penetrated 

 sufficiently deep to reach the salt below, and this the subsequent fioodings 

 leached out. Whether this theory is correct or not, the result at least is 

 that from a 65-acre paddock of salty ground growing a rough grass of 

 little feeding value there has been harvested something like 550 tons of 

 green maize without any manuring ; and on appearance that land now can 

 be classed as equal to anything in the district, which is saying a lot. 



CUTTING MAIZE WITH SPECIAL MAIZE CUTTER. 



The water from this and all the rest of this 600 acres is to be carried 

 to the river bank by the main effluent drain that runs along the south side 

 of this area. This channel at time of writing was not completed, the 

 teams being at work on it. The road-making machine, or grader, was 

 used to remove the lighter material from the top, and the plough and scoop 

 for the clay below. At the point where this channel reaches the river, a 

 flood-gate is fixed, which will lift with a heavy flow of water from the 

 land side, but is held closed by the river water. Near to the flood-gate, 

 a well is sunk beside the channel, and into which it drains ; and this is 

 emptied by a 6-inch c.f. pump driven by a 6-h.p. oil engine. It is 

 intended later on to provide for the removal of this drainage water as 

 far as possible by wind power. 



Above where the maize was growing, a 50-acre field of barley is showing 

 well, and lower down the river a 60-acre block has been shut ofi^ from the 



