68o Journal of Agriculture. [lo Nov., 19 lo. 



initial stages to small areas will go far towards popularizing the practice, 

 and it is generally conceded that the policy of the country towards that 

 end is a wise one and calculated to have a very considerable influence in 

 securing substantial additions to our very sparse population. 



Soil Conditions. 

 No matter what branch of Agriculture may be undertaken, the first 

 and greatest consideration is the adaptability of the soil to the object con- 

 templated, and in irrigated culture the aspect and configuration of the 

 natural surface as well. I propose to deal chiefly with those soils of 

 Victoria where my irrigation experience has been obtained and where 

 similar conditions have presented themselves to me. 



These localities are Mildura on the River Murray, and Wyuna on the 

 Goulburn, the latter being included in the lands embraced in what is 

 known as the famous Goulburn Valley. The geological formation of the 

 country about Mildura, and indeed of the greater part of that vast and 

 for a long time neglected portion of the State known as " The Mallee," 

 is chiefly calcareous, light sandy soils overlying lieds of niarly limestone, 

 rich in carbonate of lime, much of which under irrigation is readily 

 soluble. The soil varies from a depth of 3 or 4 inches to at least 1 5 feet, 

 and on the shallow areas is generally much clo.ser in texture than the deep 

 soils which are largely composed of moderately fine sand. 



The greater areas under consideration are of a rich red colour, chang- 

 ing to grey in the lower levels, and particularly where the herbage consists 

 of " Bluebu-sh." The character of the land is easily determined from 

 its natural vegetation, the higher lands being clothed with Pine {Callitris 

 robusius), Belar {Casuarina glauca), Sandalwood {EremofJiila longifoUa), 

 Hopbush {Dodonaa viscosa), etc. ; that somewhat lower with Mallee 

 {Euculyptusi incrassata, E. oleosa, E. gracilis, E. uncinata) and Sandal- 

 wood, below that again the Bluebu.sh {Acacia hakeoides) and Green Blue- 

 bush {A. osswaldi), while the flats adjoining rivers, beds of old water- 

 courses, and flats where water lies, is covered with a more or less dense 

 growth of Redgum {E. rostrata), and Yellow Box {E. largif.orens) trees 

 and Polygonum {Muehlenbeckia Cunningliami). 



The limestone sub.soil carries magnesia and other harmful salts in 

 greater or less degree, and while it is no great difficulty to one having 

 experience of these soils to know^ from inspection where these are likely to 

 occur in quantities dangerous to agricultural operations, yet it is difficult 

 to define it in writing. Generally speaking, there is little to be feared on 

 the higher, and particularly, pine covered, land, but it is well to be 

 cautious in respect of bluebush areas. Some of these, even after moderate 

 irrigation, soon reveal the presence of this deleterious matter in the form 

 of a white efflorescence on the surface, in some extreme cases giving the 

 impression that it had been strewn with fine salt. It may develop slowly 

 at first, and if not checked will certainly kill most plants with which it 

 comes in contact. The exi)en.se of leaching the ground is considerable and 

 is one that an owner will do well to avoid. The mechanical composition of 

 these soils is very favourable to agriculture and they are readily and 

 effectively worked with light implements. 



The Goulburn Valley soils are an altogether different proposition, being 

 of much closer texture and overlying a stiff retentive clay containing in 

 parts a small amount of scattered pieces of limestone, mostly insoluble 

 with irrigation. The pre.sence of hurtful salts is a negligible quantity, 

 thouorh occasionallv a close observer mav detect a faint efflorescence in 



