FARM LANDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 27 



The climate is warm in the western portion, being about the same as the 

 Urana district. Cold in winter. Rainfall about 20 inches. 



Sheep farming and wheat growing are the principal agricultural operations. 

 A good deal of wine is made, and some of the principal vineyards in the 

 State are situated here. Orchards are also plentiful, and fruit does well. It 

 is a good agricultural district, especially suited for mixed farming. Lucerne 

 is grown for a considerable distance along the Murray frontage. The 

 principal timbers are grey and yellow box, gum, and pine, with red gum on 

 the Murray flats. The grasses are good ; trefoil is especially good. Barley 

 grass is plentiful but not much thought of in this district. 



The cost of clearing dead timber for grazing is about 4s. per acre. For 

 ■the plough dead box costs about 17s. 6d. to 30s., and dead pine about 20s. 

 per acre. With green timber no return can be expected for three years, 

 jOiiid it would thus cost about 30s. per acre to bring it under cultivation. The 

 -supply of fencing timber is only fair. For posts, grey box, red gum, and 

 pine are all good. 



Cattle and sheep fence (six-wire), costs £75 per mile. Rabbit-proof fencing, 

 four- wire (one barbed) with 12-inch netting, costs £160 per mile. 



Well-sinking costs 15s. to 20s. per foot with timber. Tanks, Is, per 

 ■cubic yard for excavating ; drains, 2s. 6d. per chain upwards. 



For transport most of the district is level and firm, with good bottom in 

 -wet weather. 



It is now watered by tanks, wells, and bores. It is a good wheat district, 

 but subject to dry spells. Good stock water is obtainable over about half 

 the district by boring to a depth of about 120 feet. Near the Murray good 

 water is obtainable at depths of 20 to 50 feet. 



Albury Land District. — About a quarter of this district is high land 

 and hilly, becoming mountainous in the eastern portion. It is fairly watered 

 by the Murray and by billabongs and other creeks. The balance is undu- 

 lating with fairly rich grazing and agricultural land. The soil varies a 

 good deal, being derived from granite, slate, and basalt. There are also rich 

 alluvial flats along the rivers and creeks. The climate is temperate, very 

 healthy, and the rainfall is regular and assured, the average being 22-24 

 inches. On the western side the rainfall is less certain, but absolute failure 

 of crops from drought is unknown. 



This is an old settled district, wheat, and all cereals except maize are 

 •grown successfully ; fruit, vines, and mixed farming are carried on, as well 

 as grazing. 



There is a great variety of timber of good quality, the principal being box 

 messmate, stringybatk, peppermint, gum, and pine, with red gum on the 

 Murray. 



Clearing for agricultural purposes costs about 15s. to 17s. 6d. per acre in 

 ■dead pine or box country. 



For grazing, about 4s. to 5s. for the above timbers, and from 7s. 6d. up to 

 10s. for other timbers, or in denser country. 



In green timber clearing costs about 40s. to 45s. per acre in ordinary 

 •country, and up to £3 5s. in stringybark country. 



The usual practice is to ringbark so as to kill slowly, keeping the sucker 

 <down. 



