40 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



done with two men and a team and the stumps were dead. Of course, to take out 

 green stumps it would have cost a good deal more. 



The various operations of clearing have been described in such detail that, at 

 first sight, it will appear to be a very much bigger and more expensive undertaking 

 than it is in reality. Leaving out the cost of taking out the big stumps, which is 

 not essential and is usually considered a " frilling," it is astonishing how small 

 the cost actually is. The bulk of the work is done by the farmer himself, in spare 

 time between seeding and harvest, or in winter. He also, in many cases, makes a 

 profit on the cordwood, or, at least, good wages ; besides which, the farm becomes 

 remunerative as pasture land after the first year. 



In estimating costs no account is taken of the underdraining, as on the average 

 timber land there is so little of it required. Where there is any considerable amount 

 the cost, as a rule, is far more than offset by there being much less stumping to do. 



This land-clearing, though not costly, is a rather slow business at first, but the 

 farmer has the satisfaction of seeing his farm gradually grow from the forest to the 

 field ; he feels that he himself has made all these rough places smooth, and although 

 taking out the big stumps is usually the work left to the last, there is no part of the 

 clearing operations so thoroughly satisfactory. This is the finishing touch ; the 

 stump once out is out for ever. 



No doubt there will be many old hands at land-clearing who will think of the 

 number of ways they could do it better, and others again who would say that it 

 would be impossible to follow out exactly the instructions given. The system out- 

 lined is by no means perfect, and is only intended as a general guide to the beginner, 

 and no doubt in practice many variations may be necessary; but the amateur of 

 to-day is the expert of to-morrow, and experience will, without question, suggest 

 many improvements. The cost, however, if the work is done systematically, is 

 nowhere near what is generally supposed. 



