Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 390, 29 October 1903, Page 2

Farm and Garden.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES. PALMS AND FEKNS. fi%HE foliage should be often sjnsged Vm or sprayed. Where this cannot Cdifcj he done, then use a sponge to keep the foliage clean, These plants will live and grow without direct sunlight, jet most palms and some ferns are bec.fited by sunlight, none more so than the sword ferns; it is customary to give them the sunniest place, and thus they grew stiffer and more rugged, Palms and ferns will live in,the dwelling hoase away from a strong light, but they cannot make good growth if kept long from direct light. The soil usually u:ed for potting these plants is scds cut as for sodding, and the sods turned upside down in a pile until well rotted or the grass is deadj then break it up not too fine, unless for very small pots, mix with one fifth sharp sand and about an equal amount of well rotted manure —> eow manure is preferable. Old hotbed manure does very well mixed with the scds, and sand added. Every grower of plants should keep a pile of such soil ready for me at any time. In potting palms and ferns use drainage at the bottom, such as pieces of broken pots, cinders, charcoal or anything to keep the soil from becoming solid, and to prevent an over amount of water remaining in the pot.

Where another flow of water is not available, the artesian system ia being adopted. A bore is first made into the selected spot to ascertain the depth that water can be obtained, also the quality of it; where these conditions are satisfactory, suitable iron pipes are laid near the source, with numerous lateral or radiating, suction pipes, the irrigation pump occupying a central position with pipes extended on other side; or otherwise according to requirements, with engine closely adjacent in covered engine house. There are many large irrigation works now in course of formation in Qaeensland, which the writer of this article has recently visited. In some instances good water in abundance has been obtained at a depth of between 30 and. 40 feet, with about eight stationary engines in different places on the plantations; and sixteen different pumping eta! imis are contemplated. Those already com pleted are working night and day, and the flow of water is very abundant, causing very quickly a remarkable change in vegetation. It is marvellous how quickly vegetation responds to genial treatment, and in many instances it means great prosperity where previously distress existed.

GRADING FOB IRRIGATION. la setting cut land for irrigation, it is advisable to have as much grade as possible, consistent with preservation * of the water channels. But care mußt be exercised that the velocity of the water does not produce destructive eroßion of the basks of the water channels. Some soils of a tenacious character will, withstand much more water pressure than other kinds of soils. This matter should be carefully considered when the amount of water neeied for a special traot of land is being arranged for. Different formß of watercourses and varying grades adapted to the various soils should be adopted. As an example, supposing there are two and a half cubic feet of water a Becond delivered by a channel throe feet wide on top, two feet at bottom and one foot deep, with a grads of four feet to the mile, the same amount of water is can iad by a channel four and a half feet wide at the top, three feet at bottom, one and a half f6et deep, and with a grade of six inches to the mile. In passing along a soil which washes away easily the latter grade is the better. .•