494 



THE AORICULTUBAL JOURNAL. 



been more fully developed, either of these 

 two sources might fail to some extent in 

 the lower reaches of the rivers. 



29. We may, I hope, look forward to 

 some period in the future when the 

 afforestation of some of the many bare 

 acres of Natal may have had some bene- 

 ficial effect on the permanence of the 

 supplies of water on and near the surface 

 of the country. But the future of such 

 afforestation is doubtful, as is also the 

 degree of advantage that might be gained 

 from it in this direction. 



29a. The question of periodical grass- 

 burning is one that, with my limited ex- 

 perience, I can at present only briefly 

 allude to as necessarily affecting the 

 hydrographic condition of the country. I 

 believe that some writer has even sug- 

 gested that it is responsible for the 

 diminished rainfall of late years. 



29b. It is hardly necessary to remark 

 that agriculture cannot be developed to 

 any great extent, either with or without 

 irrigation, without railways. 



Legislation. 



30. The question of legislation with re- 

 gard to water-rights should be borne in 

 mind, though, perhaps, it will be well to 

 wait a year or two, unless the necessity 

 for it comes prominently forward. This 

 question has lately been so fully dealt 

 with by Mr Ham. Hall for the Cape 

 Colony that I will not now enlarge upon 

 it. After analysing the water-rights and 

 laws of all nations, he makes two distinct 

 recommendations to the Cape Govern- 

 ment : — 



(1) To provide for a water-supply 

 and irrigation survey. 



(2) To provide an Act to define water- 

 rights and to provide for ad- 

 ministration and organisation of 

 irrigation matters. 



Mr. Hall drafted a very complete Act, 

 on the lines recommended in his report, 

 but the Government decided to begin with 

 the minimum of legislation, and to allow 

 it to develop gradually. Accordingly, a 

 short Act was passed in October, 1899, 

 providing for the establishment of Water 

 Courts for the administration of irrigation 

 works, also for advances to Irrigation 

 P>oardB. Very much the same measures 

 will, ])robably, be advisable for this 



Colony, but I would prefer to postpone 

 definite recommendations in this direc- 

 tion as long as possible. 



31. Recommendations as to the future 

 action of the Government with regard to 

 irrigation generally, surveys, gauging of 

 rivers, etc., will be made later on. 



Recommendations for the Present. 



32. For the present I recommend as 

 follows : — 



(1) Ascertain the approximate rate 

 per acre that it would cost to 

 acquire the land about the 

 " Colenso fiats " likely to be com- 

 manded by the proposed Tugela 

 Canal. 



(2) If the land can be purchased at a 

 reasonable rate, make a prelimi- 

 nary survey of the line of canal 

 and prepare a sketcli estimate. 



Further procedure will depend on the 

 results of the above operations. 



(3) If enquiries establish the fact 

 that a plant for boring down to 

 100 feet for water would be 

 welcomed by the farmers in 

 Natal, and suitable fees paid for 

 its use, such a plant should be 

 purchased, with a force pump. 

 This plant should be under the 

 charge of the Commissioner of 

 Mines, who originally proposed 

 its purchase, and who has a staff' 

 to look after it. Cost not above 

 £100. 



(4) If enquiries establish the fact 

 that it would be rented, purchase 

 a " Noria " pump for about £60 

 or £70, suitable for animal 

 power — horses, mules, or oxen — 

 charging a suitable fee, perhaps 

 £2 per month, or something less. 



(.5) I think that wind-engines should 

 be given a fair trial, but post- 

 pone recommending the purchase 

 of one until I can name the 

 pattern and price. 



( To he continued.) 



Since the middle of ihe nineteenth century 

 ihe annual production of cheese in the United 

 States has risen from 100 million pounds to 300 

 mil ions, i f which 96 or 97 per cent, is made in 

 factoiies. From 30 to 50 million pounds are 

 exported annually. 



