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t 
winter rains; but, evaporation being more active inland than op the 
coast, that store of moisture is more rapidly exhausted in the first 
instance as compared with the second. 
This perspiration of the leaves keeps the plant cool when 
everything else around is scorched, but as soon as that perspiration 
ceases leaves and fruit get burned. Whenever, therefore, perspira- 
tion threatens to stop for want of moisture rising from the roots 
we find in watering and in irrigation a ready means of. stimulat- 
ing it. ‘ 
ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION, 
In the coastal districts of Western Australia, where fruit- 
vrowing is more generally earried on, little or no heed has, until 
some nine or ten years ago, been paid to the advantages of irriga- 
tion. The reason is that within that zone which is more directly 
under the beneficial influence of monsoonal and maritime climate, 
that climate is consistent and not capricious. The ground receives 
a deep and a thorough soaking every winter, and the air is, except 
in the latter part of summer, charged with a sufficiency of mois- 
ture which checks a too rapid or too prolonged evaporation or pers- 
piration through the leaves. Further inland, however, these con- 
ditions are not noticeable to the same extent. The rainfall is not 
so abundant and the evaporation is greater; furthermore, adequate 
and suitable water for irrigation is often deficient. 
Numerous spots, however, are found dotted over the country 
where irrigation can be applied with profit. In such places, and 
wherever deep and thorough drainage is associated with it, irrigation 
eliminates any risks arising from any freaks and anomalies of the 
season. Such privileged spots are always, for that reason, much 
sought after. Although alive to the value and potentialities of 
these spots, few owners have hitherto taken advantage of their 
sources of water supply and led them along suitable channels to 
where they can double or treble the production of the ground. 
Tt is greatly due to the exertions of Mr. H. Scott, who some 
ten years ago was appointed to organise and take charge of the 
Irrigation Branch of the Department of Agriculture, that the benefit 
of applying water to growing crops of fodder and _ fruit trees 
has been brought under the notice of settlers in this State. A 
special Bulletin, prepared by Mr. Scott, can be obtained on appli- 
cation to the Department of Agriculture; the questions involved 
are more fully treated in that publication than it ean be in this 
chapter, and those desirous of gaining further information must 
be referred to it. 
Water channels on graded land, 
