IRRIGATION AND WATER STORAGE. 149 



When Plants are at Rest. Mistakes in the watering 

 may be made during the resting as well as the growing 

 period. Nearly all tropical and most of our Australian 

 native plants rest during seasons of drought, and start into 

 growth with the advent of rain ; the contrary being the 

 case with plants of temperate and cold regions, where the 

 soil contains the greatest amount of moisture during the 

 winter or resting season, and they are thus well provided 

 for on the advent of spring, which is the time when 

 irrigation would be most useful in Australia. 



Temperature of Water. The temperature of water is 

 very important. It is best when the same as the air for the 

 time being, and may frequently be higher with advantage, 

 but water that is much colder than the air temperature is 

 injurious to plants. 



XIV. LIVE STOCK IN AUSTRALIA. 



GRAZING-FARMING. Agriculture as practised, and as be- 

 lieved to be best for the warmer sections of Australia, differs 

 considerable from that followed in other parts of the world 

 similarly situated with regard to climate. In many 

 parts of the country it would be considered folly to attempt 

 cultivation without sheep ; and cattle help in much the 

 same way. It is only the larger grazier or squatter who 

 depends upon the native grasses for his herds or Hocks ; and 

 cultivation is receiving more attention from graziers every 

 year, for no branch of agriculture is at the mercy of the sea- 

 sons to an equal degree with that of the squatter who depends 

 solely upon indigenous vegetation. The agriculturist 

 who combines cuttle or sheep with his tillage ope- 

 rations is not only secured in the benefits incidental 

 to live stock, but the manure made by them 

 lessens the effects of bad seasons by increasing the fertility 

 of his fields and the capacity of his land to withstand a 

 dry spell. 



