Hie Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
535 
the media by which the water is conducted wherever the level 
allows, and so perfect is their action, and so porous the peat, 
that after the water has been held up for a short time it can be 
found anywhere within this limit practically at the same level 
as it stands in the ditch. This is a most valuable arrangement, 
ensuring a supply of moisture to the roots of the grass and 
increasing the growth, especially in dry hot seasons, and is 
preferable to surface irrigation, which would render the surface 
spongy, and require also removal of the stock when the water was 
being applied. Although this is the first really dry spring since 
Mr. Batho's tenancy, he considers that irrigation adds largely 
to his resources of summer food ; and, curious to relate, his pre- 
decessor never availed himself of irrigation, and would not 
hear of the water being dammed up. The fresh appearance of 
these meadows in July, and the abundance of grass notwith- 
standing the heavy stock, was evidence of the great value of 
this irrigation. The water is applied first on May 12th and 
the dams are shifted about throughout the summer. Bones have 
been tried repeatedly on the peat, but do no good whatever. 
We were pointed out a portion of the cow pasture where five 
years since 8 cwt. of bone-meal was applied per acre ; no effect 
was visible. Mr. Batho finds -4 or 5 cwt. of a highly soluble 
mineral phosphate most efficacious, but even this fails to produce 
clover. The worst field of the lot, 21^ acres, was in meadow 
this vear. It was bo?2:ed and burnt during: the winter — 
indeed the work was proceeding at our first visit — and in the 
spring dressed with 3 cwt. mineral phosphate and ^ cwt. of 
nitrate of soda. A vast mass of tree-roots, mainly fir, have been 
stubbed out, and it is evident that this and probably most of the 
low land was at one time in forest, and the present herbage is 
nothing more than the wood pasture improved by cultivation. 
The drainage was done 21 years since, with Government 
money, pipes and collars being used. Recently these have been 
dragged out by the landlord, and were in many cases blocked up 
with Red Rag (Peroxide of Iron), which is usually abundant 
in peaty soils. This opportune work will greatly increase 
efficiency both for drainage and irrigation purposes. We were 
particularly struck with the good management of this grass- 
land, which was covered with good herbage and evenly grazed, 
whereas, if neglected and starved, it would rapidly degenerate ; 
and we were surprised to learn that it is perfectly safe for sheep 
at all times of the year. The mowing ground comprises 25 
acres of meadow and 12 acres of clover, as nearly as can be 
arranged. 
Labour is economically managed, and a total of 330/. a year, 
VOL. XX. — s. S. 2 N 
