4 Fruitgrowing under Irrigation 



One of the chief factors making for soil fertility is 

 due to the dryness of the climate, as owing to the 

 absence of heavy rains the various plant foods of a 

 readily soluble form have not been leeched out of 

 the ground on the virgin lands. 



Water Supply. Water is applied on most of the 

 Murray irrigation settlements in four or five irriga- 

 tions, ranging from August to March. Owing to 

 the chief waterings taking place during the period 

 of greatest plant activity, trees and vines grow with 

 a rapidity and vigour iinknow r n to most horticul- 

 tural districts of Australia, where they have to 

 depend upon the natural rainfall. For the same 

 reason once the fruit has set a crop is practically 

 assured, absence of rain making no difference to 

 the crop when water is artificially applied at the 

 right time. . 



Heavy Average Yields. Owing to the favourable 

 conditions of water, soil, and climate, it is safe to say 

 that trees and vines reach maturity two years earlier 

 than they do in the temperate regions of Australia 

 where they are dependent upon the natural rainfall. 

 As the summer irrigations can be arranged at the 

 right periods to fill out the fruit, heavy average 

 yields are the rule. The average yield of grape 

 fruits in about one ton to twenty-five cwt. of dried 

 fruit to the acre, and of stone fruits about ten to 

 fifteen cwt. dried to the acre, which are equivalent 

 to about four tons of fresh fruits of these kinds. 



MARKETS. 



Dried Fruits. Owing to the difficulties of trans- 

 portation in the past, most of the fruit grown in the 

 Murray Valley has been dried, in which state it 

 could be kept until conditions of navigation were 

 favourable for shipment. 

 . The fruits, which in the dried state have proved a 



