WATER FOR PASTURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21805, 21 May 1934, Page 16

WATER FOR PASTURES

AN IRRIGATED FARM One Waikato farmer, Mr. E. F. Peacocko, has solved tho problem of how to keep his pastures green during the dry autumn weather. Ho has installed an irrigation system. Mr. I'eacocke owns a farm of 630 acres three miles to the south of Hamilton. On it he runs 500 cows, 300 sheep, 100 young cattle, 900 pigs and 28 horse's. The property is bounded on the east by the Waikato Kiver, and nt tho riverside lie has installed a 150 horse-power electrical pump, which forces water into a reservoir on the top of a hill overlooking the property. The pump has a capacity of 95,000 gallons an hour, while tho reservoir, which was dug out of the clay, and is not concreted, holds 1,250,000 gallons.

Radiating from the reservoir is a series of channels, from two to three miles in length and of various widths and depths. The water is borne along the channels, which are equipped jvith controls governing the direction and volume of the flow. Owing to the terraced formation of the land, every part of the farm can be thoroughly watered. The installation and operation of the system has been done by the ordinary labour available on the farm. The value of the irrigation system has been well demonstrated during the last few months, and the luxuriant growth on the farm bore a striking contrast when parched conditions obtained in the neighbourhood. The milk supply has been well maintained, and the consequent returns have made the enterprise well worth while.