The Press. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1892. IRRIGATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8128, 23 March 1892, Page 4

The Press. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1892. IRRIGATION.

Tim prevalence of dry seasons during the past four years has had the natural resale of rousing the attention of farmers to the question of irrigation.' They h&vQ beea. asking whether it ia practicable to get a permanent and; sufficient supply of water to irrigate the land, and |tfso £ , if; %h,e : ,cost per annum per, acre will justify such an outlay. The success of the water race system has Jbeen so striking, and the resulting r|ngjsskabie, that the; question is ; naturally asked: wi 11; the benefits be equally great if the israter is utilised for grass aud crop purposes as well as for stock. As bearing on this point we refer pur readers to a letter on the subject from the pen of Mr. Thomas Pashby which appeared in our issue of the If th instant. From that letter our readers will see that a vigorous scheme ol irrigation to extend over the greater portion of 160,000 acres of laud between the "VYaimakiriri and the Ashley Rivers, was agreed upon by five Boad Boards at h meeting held in Rangiora more than sii months ago. The estimated cost of the works is £27,000. The district mapped out for the purpose ia for the moat part the kind of aojl which benefits most from a complete system of irrigation, The importance of such a work is evident from Mr. Pashby's state, meat that the land, by such meanswould be rendered capable of carrying one sheep extra to tho acre." In other words, the district would carry 160,000 more sheep, which at 10a per head represents aa addition to the production of the district of $80,000 ; per annum. This would surely be a very substantial return for the original outlay of £2T,000 S and would teave ample margin for 'contingencies. In his letter Mr, Fashby compl&ina of tbe delay iv carrying out tho work, which means a serious loss aot only to the farmers, but to the vngc-eamers, who would have ia the carrying out of tho work a reliable source of income for several aaoMths. Ms. Pashby blames the Government for their neglect but according to Mr. Luoar Ministers are sot alone to blame for what has taken place. But •it is certainly inexcusable tbat an important work such as this promises ' to be should be so long delayed.

. There are those who maintain that tha climate of New Zealand is sufficiently moist to render the artificial: application of water to t\\Q land unnecessary. But we cannot agree with thia view. There are many thousands , of acres ia Canterbury, the value of which would be more than doubled hy an efficient system of irrigation. The constant demand for fat ! sheep aad- iambs necessitates a eon'tiuuous growth of grass, and this , cats only be secured in many districts by the application of water when | necessary. The problem which the New Zealand farmer in the future must solve is, how best to secure the I continuous growth of green feed, and 1 irrigation must b»s one of the factors on Ihe dry lands. Then, there is the dairy industry, which is daily increasing ia importance. Thero are thousand* of acres which,' with the application ol water, would carry dairy stock at a pro St. Just now there is a boom in sheep, and loag may it continue. But booms, as a rule, do not last for ever. Whsr, things are equalised it will, we believe, be found I that increasing" attention will be 'given- to th© dairy Industry, We have long aad frequently wged in these columns a mora scientific and business-like division of labour, in eoniiestiosx- with this iadu&try. For years we have insisted oa the Importance of a large factory being, established in a central position, such &o Addington, fed by ere&mertea located wherever there wera suSlcientt cows ■ to warrant the building of one. Bufe irrigation would prove valuable sot only in connection witli the sbeap aad dairy industry, it wonld i\lm greatly encourage the fruit industry of the colony.' The result oi a periodical soaking upon orchard trees is masked. Cases have been brought ;tmdßr our notice during the past season illustrating la a striking manner the gaia tQ be derived from a . -liberai mm of mates'. The tress are not only kept by that means ia a vigorous state of growth aad so matar© their fruit better j fchey sr-8 also &ble to better resist the attacks of parasites. The growth of 'apples for expert if* fast annualag tha Irlrpgrfcsace • of a great industry. It may be fcras that locally apples are a drug in the market, bpt so would qt& sattttoa and batter ifid outside markets asl Uom ®f&mH up fey ©^^filaf-'tis^fii&'ite'i^fe; the purpose * -®f : devtlopiag , . tlif - tmM * The same cos«© will have to be

pnnmad Ist ooaaeofcioa wfcfc fruit before the indnsfeKy caa redly flourish. Ths people of Tasmania sooa found thu out, and were not slow to form froit iesportlag companies. It is fjcsaifela the !&t© runs m&y render some of our formers less enthasiasfcls fchswi they wot® oa the sublet of irrigation, mi perhaps Igad to further delajs. Wo «owever, that this will mb be tbe oaaa. "In seasons " ©yea there are, oomaiderable areas'of oaff plains which would- be greatly benefited fey irrigation, aad far more thaa repay .the: outlaj. What the watorraoea have done for our thirsty sheep and cattle, an irrigation scheme would do for our oraps, our grasa aad our orchids.