II Nov., 19 1 2.] Irrigation in tlic Early Days. 661 



of main cliannel required for the supply of the flat portion of the farm 

 (about 100 acres) will be no chains. The experiment consisted in testing 

 the efficiency of the part already completed. Several portions of land 

 of about half-an-acre each having been ploughed, a flood-gate at the tank 

 was raised and the channel was speedily filled to overflowing, irrigating 

 the land regularlv and most completely." 



While claiming for Mr. Ricardo the honour of being the first 

 irrigationist on a large scale, the names of Messrs. Robinson (Dutson), 

 Eason (Buninyong), Vince (Bridgewater), Miller (Lerderderg), Pearce 

 (Bacchus Marsh), Troy (Gannawarra), and Patchell (Kerang), should be 

 placed on the roll of honour. The two first-named, though only irrigating 

 on a small scale from springs, commenced in the fifties, the others not 

 until the next decade. Any reference to the beginnings of irrigation in 

 Victoria would hardly be complete without mention of Mr. Garden, of 

 Cohuna, who, though not starting until 1882. was probably the most 

 successful of all. 



Footnote by the Hon. Geo. Graham. M.L.A.. Minister of Agriculture and Water Suppli/. 



I do not think the name of Messrs. Learmonth Bios., of Ereildoiine, should be 

 omitted from any list of early irrigators in Victoria. As far back as lS(i(), Mr. Thomas 

 Learmonth j)repared a piece of land about 1^ acres in extent, and, after carefully 

 grading the same, had it planted with lucerne. He watered it by gravitation from a 

 large reservoir situated on a hill at the back of the station, and irrigated with a S3'stem 

 of mitre drains about 9 feet apart. To my personal knowledge he supplied a dail\- 

 ration of lucerne to over 200 pigs for five months in the year ivom this small plot. 



I saw the crop growing in February, 1861, when thej' were just preparing to take 

 off the fourth cutting, and the lucerne was from 18 inches to 2 feet high. 



What Mr. Kenyon has stated with regard to Mr. Ricardo is perfectly correct as I 

 had the information from Mr. Ricardo himself many years ago. Mr. Ricardo was a 

 very advanced and enthusiastic agriculturist, and was one of the very first men who 

 purchased land in the Ballarat district foi- farming jjurposes. 



Milk contains 4! per cent, of sugar. This milk sugar is not so sweet 

 as cane sugar. On standing, bacteria form lactic acid from the milk sugar, 

 and when the quantity becomes sufficient this acid causes the casein to 

 coagulate. Casein can also be curdled by rennet, but the product is dif- 

 ferent to the curd produced by acid. 



