66o Joiinial of Agriculture, Yicioria. [ii Nov., \g\z.. 



a jet or hose. He is, therefore, determined to irrigate the rest of the- 

 farm upon the Italian principle, or a modification of it. This consists. 

 in conveying the water along small open channels from the main pipe on 

 various le\-els, allowing the liquid to flow gently and continually over the 

 surface. 



" Last summer the works were not completed early enough to test the 

 full value of irrigation. Mr. Ricardo states, however, that he had a crop 

 of turnips ready two months after sowing the seed. 



' ' In reference to expense, he puts down the cost of pumping — that is, 

 for fuel and attendance of one man — at 15s. per day. Two men, with 

 hose, can water 5 acres per day. The whole cost of the works amounts 

 to about ^3,000 ; but a great deal of this sum might have been saved 

 had all parties concerned posses.sed more practical knowledge of the sub- 

 ject, and had Mr. Mechi's stand-pipe system not been followed. The 

 chief outlav should consist in raising the water to the required height, 

 wnere such is necessary, and in making arrangements for its distribution- 

 by gravitation. 



" At the present time the works in question are incomplete, and until 

 next summer it will be impossible to say what will be the gain. Mean- 

 while, Mr. Ricardo has secured the services of a " duly qualified " Italian 

 — one who thoroughly understands the practice followed in Italy, and 

 he hopes, and, may we add, is certain, to obtain great results." — 

 (7th July, i860.) 



Further particulars are given in the issue of 20th October, of the same 

 year — - 



" The necessity for irrigation in this country is now a recognised 

 fact. One of the first to discern this want and to take measures for 

 supplying it is Mr. Ricardo, on whose farm at Heidelberg a system of 

 irrigation by underground pipes, hose, and jet, .similar to that practised 

 in our streets, has been for some time in operation. This plan was 

 projected by Mr. Mechi, the well-known agriculturist, of Tiptree Hall, 

 Essex, but whatever the amount of success that may have attended its 

 use under his auspices, it is now being discarded by Mr. Ricardo, on 

 the ground, we believe, of its expensive working and general inefficiency. 

 In its stead he has adopted the Italian system, which can be carried out 

 at considerably less expense than the plan adopted by Mr. Mechi. The 

 most difficult part of the ground, which, on account of its irregularity, 

 requires a great amount of work in the way of levelling, has been under- 

 taken for £iK, per acre, while the more level portions of the farm will 

 be completed for about £6 per acre. Mr. Mechi's system, on the other 

 hand, co.sts something like ;^ioo per acre. 



"A portion of the works being sufficiently advanced to allow of a 

 trial, the water was laid on last Tuesday, and the trial was in every 

 respect a success. A steam-engine erected on the bank of the Yarra 

 pumps the water into a tank capable of containing about 20,000 gallons. 

 This tank is merely an excavation in the ground, and is, therefore, very 

 inexpensive hi its construction. It is 45 feet in length, 22 feet in width, 

 and 4 feet in depth. From either end proceeds the main channel, 3 ft. 

 6 in. wide at top, i ft. 3 in. wide at the bottom, and 15 inches deep. 

 Twenty-five chains only of this channel are yet finished, and they are 

 intende;! f->r the irrigation of about 10 acres of land. The whole len^^th 



