246 ] oiirnal of Agriculture, \kloria. [10 April, 191 i- 



with scrub, and lying idle, only require to be inspected under favourable- 

 conditions to be appreciated. Compared with timbered country, the out- 

 lay to work the Mallee is comparatively small, and returns are so much 

 sooner obtained. 



Selection of Mallee Land. 



It is not to ba wondered at that there is such a rush of applicants 

 for Mallee blocks, when thrown open for selection, when one takes into- 

 consideration the present financial position of some of the pioneers. 

 Numbers started as labourers some ten or fifteen years ago, and are to-day 

 worth many thousands of pounds. Properties valued at from ;^5,ooo 

 to ;^io,ooo are common. One property that came directly under my 

 personal knowledge consists of 1,200 acres. It was purchased nineteen 

 years ago for the sum of jQ"]oo. For this and an adjoining property 

 of 480 acres, bought ten years ago for ^550, no less than ^8,400 can- 

 be obtained by the owner. There are numerous instances of the land 

 being sold for twice its original price during the past three years. 



The remaining available Mallee land to be thrown open will be in 

 areas of from 640 acres to 1,280 acres under a 20 or 40 years' tenure. 

 Any eligible person, eighteen years of age, mav take up these Crown- 

 lands when thrown open for selection. Applications are dealt with bv 

 a local Land Board, and successful applicants may receive a permit to- 

 occupy the land immediately after the first rent has been paid. The 

 annual rental charged is according to the valuation of the land, at the 

 rate of is. in the jQi for a 20 years' term, or 6d. in the £^1 for a 40^ 

 years' term, when the freehold is obtained. The freehold is also obtain- 

 able at any time after the first six years on payment of the balance of 

 the purchase money. The prices for the different qualities of land are 

 ^1 per acre for first class, 15s. per acre for second class, and los. per 

 acre for third class. (Where found necessary to clear the roads or make 

 provision for the conservation of water, 2s. 6d. per acre is added.) For 

 the 40 years' term the instalments to b^ paid by the selector work out. for" 

 first-class land, in yearly payments of 6d. per acre ; second-class land, 

 4jd. per acre; and third-class land. xc\. per arre. Further particulars 

 mav be obtained on application to the Enquirv Oliice, Lands Department, 

 Melbourne. 



Rolling and Burning Off. 



Rolling the Mallee scrub is the first thing to be considered when 

 taking over a block of land. This can be done by contract at from 

 3s. to 4s. 6d. per acre. In some cases, horses are used, but this is not 

 advisable on account of the continuous risk of injury. Bullocks are 

 more reliable and more satisfactory to do the rolling. The construction 

 and cost of roller and other valuable information regarding the prevailing 

 methods of dealing with the scrub are supplied in the December Journal. 

 Experienced settlers recommend rolling during the winter or early spring- 

 months, selecting the lightest timbered portion of the block of land on 

 which to commence operations. 



^Vhen the timber is rolled down during the winter months it is ready 

 for burning off about February, and it is found that, owing to the young 

 shoots having made good headway, a fire at this period acts as a .second' 

 burn by destroying this new growth and any live stumps. If the work 

 is done by the farmer and hired labour it generally costs 4s. per acre for 

 the first burn ; the picking and snagging afterwards, is. 6d. to 2s. per- 

 acre. February. March and April are the three months of the year set- 

 aside for burning-off operations, and it is not legal at any other period' 



