217 
Crops possess different degrees of thirst, their exigencies in 
this respect running approximately in the following order:— 
1. Meadows and artificial pastures. 
2. Maize and sorghum, for green crop. 
3. Lucerne. 
4. Rape and root crops. 
5. Tares, oats, and peas. 
6. Fruit trees. 
7. Wheat and rye. 
8. Grape vines. 
In the course of an ordinary season, the climate and the soil 
of the bulk of the South-Western division of Western Australia 
has been proved to possess sufficient rainfall and sufficient absorb- 
ing and retentive power to supply all requirements of the last four 
of these groups of cultivated crops. After a dry season, however, 
even these more pronounced drought-resistant crops will suffer 
more or less, and fail to yield a full crop, except at especially 
favoured spots, or unless artificially watered in the proper season. 
Under the climatic conditions experienced in the moister parts 
of the South-West of this State different crops would require water- 
ing at different intervals. 
For summer crops, the seed bed must be moist, otherwise apply 
‘water before or after ploughing with a second watering a fortniglit 
after sprouting, and a third in another four weeks or so as the 
season requires. 
For fruit trees, two or three waterines for vines and three 
or four at most will do for fruit trees, 
For Lucerne a watering immediately after cach cutting and 
then harrow. This, with favourable conditious, may mean five 
waterings or more. 
For market garden cro}s, more frequent, but lighter water- 
ings. 
The volume of water varies with the kind of soil and with the 
rooting character of the crop. Tomatoes and Lucerne, for instance, 
require different volumes. The most usual depth is 7 inches, but 
it may vary from 3 to 20 inches. 
The age of trees, too, and the distance apart they are planted, 
influence to a very marked degree their ,moisture requirements. 
Evidence is not lacking of a number of orchards established in 
various parts of the country which, when young, produced crops of 
first-class fruit, and which as the trees became older and the space 
between the trees decreases with their growth, bear a class of fruit 
inferior in size, appearance, and flavour. In such instances watering 
often proves very profitable. It is simply reduced to a question 
of ways and means. 
