IRRIGATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20671, 9 March 1937, Page 6

IRRIGATION

RESULTS ACHIEVED AT REDCLIFF FARMERS ENTHUSIASTIC As the outcome of irrigation the sheep-carrying capacity of the land has increased from li ewes to the acre to 10 ewes and their lambs, more than two feet of clover has grown when only six inches grew before, experimental oat plots have shown a 200 per cent, improvement and productivity generally has increased beyond all expectations.

These facts are enthusiastically quoted by farmers within the Redcliff irrigation area as striking evidence of the benefits derived from the first irrigation scheme to be completed by the Public Works Department in South Canterbury. Built at a cost of £25,000, the scheme was put into operation last September and has now passed through its first growing season.

Farmers who have taken the water have been very satisfied with the results, according to Mr D. Boyd Wilson, whose land is showing exceptionally good results. On his own farm, land which previously carried on an average 1-1 ewes to the acre, Mr Wilson confidently predicted would be able to carry 10 ewes with their lambs. In a 20 acre paddock he had grazed 600 ewes with lambs for three months from October to January and was then obliged to shut the paddock up for seed as the grass could not be kept down. The land, moreover, had not been fertilised. Valuable Comparison Although the season’s rainfall had been six inches above the normal, the growth of lucerne on non-irrigated land had been barely sir inches and only one crop had been taken. On the other band a growth of 25 inches had been secured on land which had been watered. Two crops had already been taken off, a third was ready, and a fourth crop would undoubtedly oe taken before the end of the season. Mr Wilson expressed the opinion that his farm which would be considered heavily stocked without irrigation would not be even half-stocked with irrigation and scientific top-dressing. The promoter of th? scheme, Mr J. G. Ruddenklau, claimed that the results so far achieved were an object lesson and would have proved even more striking had a drier season been experienced. Increased Carrying Capacity

The carrying capacity of the land has been increased three-fold, stated Mr R. Geddes, another user of the water, who has conducted several experiments. Two applications of water brought a mass of trefoil and clover where only scattered jatches of hairgrass had grown before. In another area a scanty growth of clover had given place to prolific and rank growth. Where the water had been used Cross Seven wheat I.ad flourished, producing some of the heaviest sheaves he had seen, with big head and extra grain. The Redcliff Scheme has a net irrigable area of 5000 acres, with a command area, of some 6000 acres.