22 5 



1. All trees to be grubbed completely round and out to a 

 depth of not less than 18 inches, and all roots to be run to the same 

 depth or until they can be broken by the hand. 



2. All underground blackboys to be grubbed out below the 

 crown. 



3. All zamia palms to be grubbed and completely removed from 

 the ground. 



4. All scrub large enough to impede the progress of the plough, 

 or that cannot be completely turned in in ploughing, to be grubbed 

 out. 



5. The timber and scrub, after having been grubbed, to be 

 burnt and the ashes spread as far as they can be cast. 



6. All wood not absolutely required for burning the butts and 

 stumps of trees, to be left on the ground. 



7. No holes to be tilled in until they have been examined by 



or his agent ; when passed, to be filled in three 



inches above the level of the surrounding ground. 



8. The whole of the ground to be left ready for the plough, 

 and the contract to be completed in a workmanlike manner on or 

 before 



9. If the contract is not completed on or before the date 



above-mentioned a penalty of shillings per clay for every 



day over the specified time, to be paid by the contractors, and 

 deducted from any money that may be due to them. 



Such is the rough framework of a specification for a grubbing 

 and clearing contract. The first clause is self-explanatory. The 

 second and third clauses refer only to that part of the country where 

 zamia palms and underground blackboys are to be found. The 

 latter, if not grubbed well below the crown, that is, where the leaves 

 shoot from the bole, will continue to spring up perennially. 



Clauses 4 and 5 need no explanation, unless it is to say that the 

 reason for having the ashes spread is that they are a most valuable 

 potash manure and should be made as much use of, and spread over 

 as large a surface of ground, as possible. Clause 6 is inserted at 

 discretion, If work is very plentiful and the settler has a large 

 area, it may be omitted ; but if the area is 100 acres or less, the 

 economy of firewood cannot begin too soon. It may appear to the 

 settler that there is plenty of wood for all the \vorld, and for ever ; 

 but even if there was, there is no sense in wasting it. There is no 

 sense in wasting anything, so far as my experience goes. But, as a 

 matter of fact, it does not take very long, if clearing is vigorously 

 pursued, to exhaust the wood supplies on a loo-acre farm ; for it 

 must be borne in mind that even with the most careful management 

 about 80 per cent, of what would otherwise be available for fire- 

 wood has to be used in burning the trunks and butts of trees that 

 cannot be utilised. 



It is important that no holes should be filled in until they have 

 been examined for roots, and when they are filled in they should be 



