April i, 1892.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
MILDURA AND ITS SYSTEM OF 
INTENSIVE ” IRRIGATION. 
RespeotiDg tbe greet end promieing experiments 
in prooess of trial on the banks- of the River 
Murray, at Mildnra in Victoria and Benmark in 
South Australia, ne have deemed it our duty to 
supply our readers with a good deal of most in- 
teresting and suggestive information. A soil, good 
in its physical obaraoter and ohemioal constituents 
but in a climate where tbe average rainfall rarely 
exceeds eight inohea. is first well cleared, ploughed 
and prepared for a foot and a luilf in depth, and 
then soaked with water raised by pumps of enormous 
power from lagoons in the river, such water con- 
taining in suspension doubtless much fertilizing 
matter- Fruit trees and vines are grown in the 
land thus treated* ; and the grand difference between 
the “ intensive " system of irrigation and 
that with which we are familiar, as applied 
to rice, is that at Mildura the effect of 
one thorough soaking of the soil lasts for many 
months, in some oases for the greater part of 
year. We have now received for publication a very 
graphic account by our correspondent " Aber- 
doneosia" of a personal visit to and inspection of 
tbs Mildura settlement. Our oorrespODdent’a 
identity is well-known, and in this notice of the 
system of irrigation adopted at Mildura he specially 
alludes to the great but disappointing experiment 
made by his father, tbe late Mr. Robert Boyd Tytler, 
to irrigate coffee in Dumbara valley. We well 
recollect Mr. Tytler's telling us that to him and 
his partner ths difference between a wet year and 
a year of drought was that of £10,000 in their 
receipts. As years of drought were the rule in the 
valley, an expenditure of £20,000, on a canal, 
turbines and pumping machiuery which by raising 
tbe water of the Mahaweliganga to tbe highest point 
of tbe estates, whence it would be distributed over tbe 
coffee, so as it was hoped, securing tbe advantages 
of a wei year, seemed prudent and justifiable. 
But dilliaulties which had not been calculated on 
marred the eucceBS of this really grand scheme, 
of which, at the time, we gave a full account in 
the Observer, embodying the details in the account 
of the Dumbara Valley contained in the Handbook 
tor 1850, the first of the series. Our correspon- 
dent, after seeing tbe Mildura syslem of water 
allowed to soak into soil loosened and comminuted 
to a depth of eighteen inches, recognized at once 
the fatal defects of the Dumbara scheme. Tbe 
soil was not, and being already planted could not 
be, properly prepared to receive water from channels 
Which were equally impossible from the nature of 
the ground. At the height to which the Maba- 
weliganga water was raised, the pressare was such 
that it burst in devastating jets from tbe pipes, 
cutting up and carrying away the soil it was in- 
tended gently and Bteadily to irrigate. The Dum- 
bara experiment was therefore (alas I) as much a 
failure as;lhat at Mildura is likely to be an assured 
Buccess. The only doubt now felt is the same as 
that which besets tea growers in Ceylon, lest the 
Bucoess should bo too great, ending in over-produc- 
tion. But, happily, fruit, like tea and even more 
than tea, is a necessary of life, an article of daily 
food to a large portion of mankind, while multitudes 
Bfe waiting to become consumers whan the pleasant 
and wholesome and nutritious fruits are plaoed 
Within their reach. Even more in a preserved, 
canned and cook d state are fruits accepiablo as 
ood constituents j and the tendency of the day is 
* 1.0 exception of apples, which grow well in 
TcBmanU*' Australia, and especially iu 
71S 
towards a diet consisting less of meat and more 
of fruits and vegetables, than is at present tbe 
rule, especially in countries like Australia, where 
beef and mutton are so plentiful and cheap, 
Uur oorrespondoDi’s visit to Mildura took place 
on a day exoeptionaliy unfavourable in me- 
teorological conditions ; but while he honestly 
slates the impressions he received under such con- 
ditions, bis verdict agrees with the favourable 
opinions delivered by all unprejudiced visitors to 
the Irrigation Colonies founded in Australia by 
Messrs. Chaffey Brothers, with the advantage of all 
tbe experience previously obtained in connection with 
similar settlements conducted on similar principles 
in Oal fornia, where “ Riverside " is a monument 
of well-directed enterprise, eoienco, skill and in- 
dustry. The beat proof our correspondent can give 
of the sincerity of his fa roursble opinion of Mildura 
is his earnest desire that he had the means to 
purchase a block and become one of tbe settlers. 
We sincerely regret that bis father's eon should 
not be in a position to gratify so modest a wish. 
But we trust b> tter succesa may reward his real 
ability than wb< the case in Oeylon. Meantime 
tbe lively end interesting account of Mildura will 
interest all our readers and may be of special use 
to some. 
THE RICE TRADE FOR 1891. 
Messrs. Fraser and Co.’s annual review states The 
trade fur tbe past twelve months does not afford very 
much scope for an interesting review. Indeed, fur the 
first Seven months of the year, nothing ot importance 
arose to clond the horizun, and there was a minimum 
flnetuation in prices, thereby ullowing purchases and 
sales to proceed on tbe even lenour of their way with- 
out any extraneous exottemmt. 'J hi-re appeared to be 
tbe prospect of rice enough and to spate, notwith- 
standing that the expected surplus availablt for 
shipment of 400,000 tons from Japan turned out to bo 
over 300,000 tone short, and the “ good pioapeota” 
cabled from Sa'gon resulted only in 33,565 tons I A 
larger quantity from Bntmah, however, bad to be 
reckoned with, and an extra amount from Bengal, 
while even Persia sent a tew Ibonsand bags mure than 
in tbe previona year to swell tbe liet. Bull the rice 
trade bad its little flutter, os most trades have just to 
relieve tbe monotony of registering what had almost 
come to be considered as standard qnutatious. Ac- 
cording to the publisbetl statistics frum certain 
European ports, it was evident (hat consumption bad 
wondorfuily increased in several districts, and with tbe 
end of Jnly came a breath of enspicion that this 
inoruBsed demand might exceed the probable supply, 
and before summer was over prioea were Is. per owt. 
dearer! Tbe Angust boom wsa not so short-lived, as 
snoh sudden advances generally are ; miilezs had 
rushed iu where oven specnlacors feared to tread, and, 
eonseqnently, a level of rates above 8s. tor Ran- 
goon riou was maintained to the end of tbe 
year, Onoe more steamer shipments have in- 
creased in comparison with the quantity taken by 
sailing ships. 100,000 tons ever last year is a large in- 
oressu, tire actual figures tei g 677.700 Ions against 
506,800 in 1890, 460,480 tons in 1889, and 378,890 tuns in 
1888. Fri'ghts fluctuated between 32s 6d and 40s 
during the year, and similar rates have been paid lor 
tbe O' ming season. Gleaned Rica i Speaking generally, 
we tbink we may describe tbe trade of tbu past year 
aa very satisfactory, both to millers and dealers, and 
it must be noticed that so far as London and Liver- 
pool are oonoerned, millers are fast adopting the posi- 
tion of dealers, there being, in face of continued 
and increasing sbipmenls from Burmah, but few 
oppcf tuniiies left to them to mill rough rice to 
advantage. They therefore meet their altered ciroum- 
stances by purohosing the cleaned instead of tbs 
rough article, as formerly, from Bormab ia large 
