1 May, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 325 
VERKEERDE VALE RESERVOIR. 
The Verkeerde Vale Reservoir is situated near the sources of the Touws 
River at a distance of some 10 miles from the Touws River Railway Station. 
The vale is about 2,500 feet above sea-level. It is sufficiently near the south- 
western corner of the Cape Colony to have its more important rainfall in the 
winter months. The total rainfall is some 12 inches perannum. The reservoir 
itself covers 800 acres, and the average depth of the reservoir is 5 feet. The 
owerful Boksburg Springs flow through the reservoir and help to sustain its 
evel. A gauge has been read here for some fifteen years. The reservoir is 
generally at its highest in October, at the end of the winter season. As the 
winter and summer rains of 1896-1897 failed almost entirely, the reservoir 
continued to fall from the Ist January, 1896, to the 15th June, 1897, and was 
practically dry during the first six months of 1897. As such droughts occur 
periodically in the colony, provision must be made for them in all reservoirs for 
erennial irrigation in the dry regions of South Africa. Such a provision could 
e made for them at this reservoir by raising the floor of the escape sill and 
gradually raising the dam. The Hon. Dr. Smartt contemplated the raising of 
the dam by some 8 feet. Such raising should be done very carefully, as the 
dam is in great part built of porous sand and lies on porous sand. The new 
earth should be thrown on the up-stream side of the existing work after the 
stone has been stripped off the surface. The water should not be allowed to 
tise more than one extra foot per annum. The wash of the waves on the dam, 
according to Mr. Whittaker, the State engineer in charge, is exceedingly heavy 
in summer. In the Touws River Valley in years of ordinary winter rain, good 
wheat crops can be grown on the alluvium of the river. These crops might be 
made permanent by the construction of 15 feet high weirs at suitable sites, and 
the leading off of small canals from the up-stream sides. 
With respect to the Boksburg Springs, I should state that Mr. Whittaker 
informed me that the municipality of Touws River had deepened and increased 
in number the cuttings into the side of the hill where the springs rise, so as _to- 
increase the flow of water. These cuttings had resulted in a decided increase 
of supply, but this increased supply had been temporary and had been followed 
by so serious a decrease in the discharge during summer that they had filled up: 
the new cuttings, and restored the spring to its normal condition. This is. 
common sense, and should not be lost sight of at similar places elsewhere. 
Epvrrorrat Nore. 
It may be asked why we have taken up so much of our space in dilating om 
the advantages of irrigation works in South Africa. To that we reply that 
Western Queensland is in like case. Years ago, Mr. G. C. Watson, Land 
Commissioner, drew up a scheme for irrigation and canal works for the West, 
which, had it been carried out, would have minimised, if not entirely obviated, 
the disastrous effects of the late drought. We hold the belief that the 
statement of Mr. Willcocks, which introduces this article, is applicable to 
Queensland— The permanent development of the agriculture of the Central 
and Western districts will depend upon irrigation, and on irrigation only.” 
Tt is, of course, merely a question of money. Were this State in a position 
to spend one or two millions on irrigation canals, there is no doubt that the 
Government would do everything possible in the way of assisting to clothe the 
West with nutritious grasses and crops of various kinds. The wish to do, 
this is shown ‘in the manifold ways in which agriculturists and pastoralists: 
have been assisted to tide over their difficulties, and it is certain that when the 
present troubles, owing altogether to the disastrous drought, have been overcome 
all that can be done will be done to prevent a recurrence of the losses which 
haye of late so huddled on the heads of the graziers and farmers. 
