246 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



A SETTLER'S EXPERIENCE IN THE IRRIGA- 

 TION AREA OF THE STATE OF 

 VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. 



By Thomas Bunbury Ballendella, Victoria, 

 Australia. 



ARTICLE NO 2. 



The writer in sending this, the second article 

 on Victoria, cannot do better in the first instance 

 than confirm number one, as he fails to find any 

 reason to alter any representations made therein, as 

 in all cases any apparent destructive criticism 

 must eventually be overcome by honesty of pur- 

 pose, and this is applicable not only to the members 

 of any government collectively and .ndividually, 

 of this or any other country. Having in number 

 one started the new settler on a Block, with a 

 -capital of $2,000, and after expending it to the best 

 and most necessary advantage, left him with $430 

 in the bank and an assured income from cows, 

 which when estimating it might have then been 

 stated that such income included butter, milk and 

 cream, which might be used by his household, and 

 it would be only also right to add as well the profits 

 made by calves and pigs. Out here the latter are 

 almost fed solely on separated milk and thrive well 

 on it. Young pigs are bought at about from $1.50 

 to $3.00 and kept between three and four months 

 and sell at from $12 to $18 each. 



A settler arriving in Victoria about March, the 

 following would be about the class of work he 

 would have to do for a start: The first thing will 

 naturally be to fence in his holding, and if need be, 

 dig a water tank and see to getting his house built. 

 Of course, it might be that all this had already been 

 done. Meanwhile, -if it were not, he would live in 

 tents. The next thing to do would be to get his 

 land in order for crops of all kinds. Alfalfa is gen- 

 erally seeded in August or September ; the land will 

 have to be got thoroughly into order by plow, har- 

 row, grader, etc. ; the distributing water channels 

 will have to be dug according to the levels of his 

 land. This latter is an important item so that when 

 the time for irrigating comes no delay will occur in 

 taking and using the water, which it must be re- 

 membered, is a compulsory charge upon his prop- 

 -erty. 



It may be that when the settler arrives good 

 rains have fallen and his land plentifully supplied 

 with natural grass feed. This being the case, he 

 might, with safety, start and buy his cows right 

 away, but should that not be the case, it would be 

 better to wait a bit and get in with his plow and 

 start seeding such crops as oats, barley and peas, 

 and field peas at once, in say from three to five-acre 

 plots, and fence off accordingly. Oats and barley 

 can be grazed out here several times and then give a 

 splendid crop; meanwhile the barley and peas and 

 the field peas will be coming along so that when the 

 other crops are done grazing with they can be cut 

 with the mower and fed to the cows. On no ac- 

 count can anyone depend upon the natural grass 

 feed for cows. At first, of necessity, it may be 

 all right, but as time goes on and things become 

 more ship-shape, it will be found that there won't 



be any room for such a commodity. The hot winds 

 and dry weather soon do away with the grass, and 

 it is therefore absolutely necessary to make sure 

 of stock having plenty of feed the more varied the 

 better. Alfalfa seeding commences here about Aug- 

 ust ; rain comes about that time, but failing rain, the 

 irrigation water will be there, and after a good 

 irrigating it can be seeded and in a very short time 

 germination begins, and given good weather its 

 growth here is remarkable. A cutting should be 

 obtained about November, and it is quite safe to 

 reckon on four to five tons per acre in the season. 



Grazing of alfalfa is not much gone in for any 

 way; it is not advised as wisdom on the first sea- 

 son's growth, but when established many settlers 

 do so, dividing what they may have into small pad- 

 docks. One great danger which arises from grazing 

 is that cows are liable to bloat from it ; that is, they 

 get suddenly filled or blown up with gas, and die 

 in a very short time unless remedies are immediately 

 applied, and which, if at hand, have proved cures, 

 such as carbonate of soda, kerosene and Stockholm 

 tar. While on the subject it would be very inter- 

 esting to note if the above occurs on the alfalfa 

 fields of America, and if so, what remedies have 

 been found there to be the most effective. 



The writer is of the opinion that when alfalfa 

 is firmly established, fenced off into small paddocks 

 and grazed in rotation, the cows get sort of ac- 

 climatized to it and are not so liable to bloat, but 

 if they are taken off it for a period and then are put 

 on it when hungry, and it be wet from either dew 

 or rain, the danger then seems to be doubly accele- 

 rated. Horses are not affected, but sheep frequently 

 are. The surest safeguard is to carefully watch 

 one's stock, and put them off at once when such 

 symptoms appear. 



Sugar beet thrives well here and is generally 

 seeded in August and becomes fit for use in the 

 following March and April when other feed is get- 

 ting scarce and alfalfa on the wane, though this 

 season the latter is still growing merrily. Of course, 

 weather conditions have to do with this and all other 

 kind of crops. Maize can be put in about the end 

 of October, also millet, sorghum and amber cane. 

 Opinion here is that millet is a better milk producer 

 than maize. Sugar beet as feed has not yet been 

 given a fair trial, but the writer hopes to try it this 

 year. 



Potatoes here will give two crops in a year 

 the first may be planted in January, to mature about 

 April, and the second in August, to mature in De- 

 cember. Some settlers last year had splendid crops, 

 which no doubt this year will be surpassed, as an 

 early crop means money. Last year they went up 

 to $125 per ton. 



Vegetable seeds of numerous kinds can be 

 planted here every month of the year. Tomatoes 

 put out early also bring good returns, and many 

 settlers have done well with early tomatoes, cab- 

 bages, peas and French beans. They always com- 

 mand a good sale and prices when grown for the 

 early markets. 



The planting of orchards is greatly on the in- 

 crease here. Apples, pears, apricots, etc., are planted 

 (Continued on page 257.) 



