24 THE farmers' handbook. 



Generally speaking, water is obtainable by sinking in the Tam worth' 

 district, at depths of from 20 to 150 feet. In the Gunnedah district it is 

 stated to be found at an average depth of 80 feet, and in the Coonabarabran 

 district at from 40 feet to 150 feet. The cost of well-sinking is about £1 

 per foot. Boring plants are coming into use in the Coonabarabran district 

 at a cost of from 7s. 6d. to 10s. per foot. The cost of excavating tanks runs 

 from 8d. per cubic yard for large tanks to Is. for smaller ones. The cost 

 is somewhat higher in the hilly country than on the plains. 



There is plenty of timber in the district, especially on the ridges, and a 

 great variety of timber is represented. In the eastern portion box, apple, 

 red gum, stringybark, peppermint, yellow jacket, and a little pine and iron- 

 bark are the principal timbers. 



In the Coonabarabran district, box, pine, gum, apple, ironbark, blood- 

 wood, yellow jacket, and peppermint, with ironbark on the ridges are- 

 obtainable. 



The black soil plains about Gunnedah originally carried myall, which is 

 now dead ; the balance of the flat country is principally pine, box, and scrub, 

 such as belah, &c, with ironbark and gum on the sandy country. 



Clearing costs from 10s. to 15s. per acre in old dead box country ; and from* 

 20s. to 25s. in recently dead timber. In green country clearing costs from 

 £2 to £5 per acre, according to the timber. Ringbarking costs from Is. 

 to 5s. per acre. In nearly all cases the country is ringberked some time 

 before clearing. In the Gunnedah and Quirindi districts traction engines- 

 have been tried and found to be a cheap and effective means of pulling 

 down both dry and green timber. 



The supply of fencing material is generally fair. In the eastern part of 

 the district it is becoming somewhat scarce. There are hardly any post and 

 rail fences except in paddocks about dwellings. Ironbark, bloodwood, and box 

 are the best for pests, and are not attacked by white ant in this district. 

 Belah may be used for rails, but is no good for posts. 



Cattle and sheep proof fences (six-wire) cost from £45 per mile and 

 upwards ; rabbit-proof fencing from £85. Rabbits are prevalent throughout 

 the central and western portions of the district. 



Transport is fairly good over the whole district. The main roads are good, 

 and transportation is easy, except in the mountainous country and in wet 

 weather on the black soil plains, which are impassable when wet. The- 

 gradients are not steep, and the roads are for the most part fairly hard. 



Wagga Land Board District. 



This district includes the Riverina, and is bounded on the south by the Murray. It 

 includes Young, Cootamundra, Junee, Gundagai, Tumut, Tumberumha, Albury, 

 Corowa, Berrigan, Finley, Jerilderie, Urana, Wagga, Koorowatha, Murringo,. 

 Harden, Murrumburrah, and Stockinbingal. 



Wagga Land District. — This district includes a variety of country,, 

 from the mountainous country on the Great Dividing Range in the eastern 

 part to the plain country in the west. It is watered by the Murray and 

 Murrumbidgee Rivers and creeks such as the Billabong and Yanco. 



About Wagga itself, and in the portion to the north and north-east, 

 including Junee, and Young, the country is fairly uniform, being for 

 the most part gently undulating, with ranges, hills, and stony ridges, but no 

 mountains. About 80 per cent, of this country is level to moderately undu- 

 lating, and can be profitably cultivated. The remainder is fair to pool 

 grazing country. 



