IRRIGATION AND SALVATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11540, 29 March 1898, Page 3

IRRIGATION AND SALVATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“What shall we do to be- saved ” from the Bankruptcy Court? After the last eighteen months’ drought this is what is reluctantly being forced on the attention of the producers, the majority of them here in Canterbury, and there is only one answer —Irrigation. Crops nor grass nor anything else can grow without moisture, and we do not get enough of it. Nature has tilted up the plains land at the perfect angle to use the water, and Nature has supplied the water copiously all ready to put on the land, and of the farmers of Canterbury there are only about half a score that have been able to utilise these natural advantages. Surely all the go has not been dried out of us quite. Why, it has even reached the Premier’s ears that this season over seventy bushels have been grown to the acre at Norwood by irrigation ; and alongside where the water did not reach the same land, with the same cultivation, the same chances, but without irrigation, was not cut, because it was not worth it. With clovers it is the same wherever tried ; but why -re-tell what we all know, or ought to know ? Perhaps, though, all are not aware of the cost of putting the water on to the Norwood crop. One man, one hour a day for three days for fifteen acres was the cost of one watering; the conducting of the water from the prepared water-race at the top of the field to the thirsty roots of the crop—less than per acre. To this must be added the share of interest on cost of bringing the water on and the share of Vater rate. This is the cost of the difference between seventy bushels and less •than none, as the land that bore none had the same cost of cultivation and seeding. It is to be hoped that all the incredulous farmers that have any pluck left after the scorchings of the last two years, will go and prove these facts for themselves. And then, Mr Editor, you may bet your all, down to your old, hard-worked pen that there will be a chance for their and our salvation through irrigation.—l am, &0., FAITH.