80 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ave., 1902: 
The channel in question has an extent of 2C miles from this orchard, havit 
a fall of 4 feet per mile, which serves to carry a good and sufficient volume of walt! 
for general purposes. The channels altogether extend for some €0 miles from tH 
head works, furnishing all along this route water for the various purposes of mining 
manufacturing, domestic use, and irrigation. 
A few facts as gleaned from Mr. Warren will give evidence of the value of watt! 
to the fruitgrower. 
Taking our profits on the basis of 75 trees per acre, as is the case in this orchard 
we can figure for ourselves the net result. Cherries yielded about 10} cases ea 
tree; plums, 15 cases per tree; pears, about 154 cases; apples, the sam 
Trees thirty to forty years old are known to yield as much as 25 to 3) bushels 
These calculations based upon 75 trees to the acre, allowing for loss from damaged © 
low-grade fruit, and even owing to depressed markets, will realise a return of from # f 
to £100 per acre, a sum, I am informed, quite within the scope of realisation, 4! 
amply justifies the inauguration of irrigation schemes wherever local conditions art 
favourable and the right class of people are ready to take advantage of the splendi 
systems for the development of rural occupations. Another feature of irrigation mut 
in vogue in Victoria, and particularly in evidence in the Doncaster district, 18 
system of impounding water by means of tanks or dams. In this district, where 
national scheme of water supply exists, the old adage of necessity being the moth 
of invention comes to us as proof of that piece of philosophy. ‘There is, in th! 
method of conserving water, no feature that is not practicable for almost every ma 
engaged in fruitgrowing. Itis very hard to conceive of an area of land adapted " 
fruit culture wherein there is no means of storing water either in excavated tanks ” 
dams. This the enterprising settlers in the Doncaster and Boxhill regions hav’ 
practically demonstrated. 
This system of irrigation is, of course, dependent on a local rainfall; thus it is nol 
quite so reliable a method as if the water came from a more elaborate system 
conservation. However, the experience for some years past of the settlers concernel 
in this question substantiates the contention that itis practically within the reach 
even the poor man to conserve such necessary water as will tide him over the perio 
of Taped so common to all engaged in horticultural pursuits all over Australi 
Taking as a representative holding the orchard of Mr. W.8. Williams, of Doneasteh 
I will briefly point out the salient features of his system. He cultivates about 
acres of fruit trees, chiefly lemons. Next in order, pears, cherries, and apples. Mr 
Williams’ main source of water supply is from a dam constructed across a valley 
situated about the centre of his orchard. This was a work of some magnitude, but th? 
results accruing from the financial point of view amply justified the expense. Th 
water is raised from this dam by a 6-horse power boiler and pump. The water 
conveyed to a dam constructed, on the highest point of the land, and then, in the usual 
way, reticulated as demand may arise. Windmills are also in some instances use 
lift water or force it to dams set on a sufficient eminence to profitably reticulate. 
With many growers the sole dependence is placed on water conserved in tank 
entirely depending on the catchment in wet weather. Although to some this syste! 
may at first glance appear a precarious one to lean on, nevertheless in practice? 
works out very well. In these regions so keen are some on this object that I hav’ 
observed a good-sized dam constructed depending entirely for its catchment on a fet 
chains of a public road. This speaks for itself as to the value set on this cheap for 
of water conservation. As these dams or tanks are mostly excayated by means af 
plough and scoop, the actual cost is not heavy, especially as this kind of work 
usually done at such times when other matters of importance are not pressing. 1} 
value of every irrigation system is, as I have before stated, gauged b financit 
returns to those engaged, and here, no less than elsewhere, is to be seen the value ° 
the application of water in the heavily-laden fruit trees as well as in the hous 
comforts and general affluence of the cultivators. 
Mr. J. W. Lex (Zillmere) said he was a believer in irrigation. Whi 
might suit Victoria might not suit the climatic conditions of Queenslant 
Moreover, he was not in favour of irrigation by throwing water on the surfac® 
of the ground or by running it through the land in rows of open surface drain® 
He had had a system of his own in operation for about ten years. This syste!’ 
he described at some length. 
Mr. OwEn Jonus (Peachester): Mr. Jones went pretty fully into tht 
subject of his paper, but there was one thing he did not mention, If you waa 
See 
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