FARM LANDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2S> 



The country immediately to the east and beyond changes abruptly into high, 

 rough, steep, and mountainous, the geological formation, for the most part, 

 being slate, with large intrusions of limestone at Yarrangobilly, and basalt 

 and granite further out. This part of the Tumut district is very interesting 

 in that it possesses some of the finest snow clad belts and scenery in Australia. 

 and in which is situate the highest mountain, Kosciusko, to the south-east of 

 Tumbarumba. These hills are practically immune from droughts, and are in 

 big request for relief grazing in times of stress elsewhere. The pasturage,, 

 however, is unsound and fluky. 



The chief timbers are messmate, mountain gum, snow gum, mountain ash, 

 stringybark, and highland apple on the hills. On the lowlands the timber 

 consists principally of box, lowland apple, stringybark, and red gum. Of all 

 these timbers, only the following make good fencing posts and stand 

 satisfactorily in the ground : — Red gum, box, stringybark, and snow gum. 

 The others mentioned are useless for that purpose. 



The cost of clearing green timber for the plough is so high that it becomes 

 unprofitable and prohibitive, being as much as £40 per acre about Batlow. 

 To clear old rung country for cultivation varies, according to the density of 

 the timber and the locality, from 20s. to 30s. per acre on the lowlands,, 

 and up to £10 per acre on the highlands. 



A good 6-wire fence now costs about £60 per mile, and a good rabbit- 

 proof fence about £150 per mile. The Tumut district is magnificently 

 watered by running streams and springs, and consequently there is no need 

 for artificial supplies by well sinking, dams, tanks, &c. 



Gundagai District. — This is mostly hilly to undulating good grazing and 

 agricultural land, with rich soil Hats along both sides of the Murrumbidgee 

 River, which river is also its main water supply, together with permanent 

 creeks and gullies. Consequently, there is very little artificial water-supply 

 in the district. 



The timber is mostly box and stringybark on the hills, and red gum on the 

 flats. Around Gundagai the timber is scarce, but is plentiful further out, 

 and being of a kind which is durable in the ground, it makes good fencing 

 posts. 



The cost of a good six-wire fence is about £60 per mile, and of a good 

 rabbit-proof fence about £150 per mile. 



Western Division. 



Including the country to the west of an irregular line through from Mungindi through 

 AValgett, Coolabah, Euabalong, Booligal, Balranald, and extending to the Queensland, 

 South Australian, and Victorian borders. 



The country is nearly all flat, chiefly open plains, with red sandy soil, or 

 black-soil plains along the watercourses. There are the Barrier Ranges and 

 some undulating country in the western portion, and some low ranges of hills 

 to the east of Wilcannia ; also north and west of this place. There are stony 

 ridges in the north of the district. The district is lightly timbered with 

 rather small trees. On the open plain country the red soil is very often 

 wind-swept, and the surface soil carried away by the strong westerly winds. 



