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CHAPTER III. 



GETTING THE LAND EEADY FOE PLANTING. 

 CLEAEING, FENCING, PLOUGHING. 



The expenses of clearing will, of course, vary 

 according to the nature and density of the natural 

 vegetation. Box lands, as well as pine and mallee 

 country, vary from about 2 to 6 per acre, ac- 

 cording to the size and density of the natural growth. 

 For the grubbing of the more heavily timbered lands 

 grubbing machines and tree-pullers are usually used, 

 and on some of the Government irrigation areas 

 steam traction engines are employed in pulling out 

 .the trees and stumps. 



To protect the orchard from the ravages of rabbits 

 and stock it is necessary to enclose the plantation 

 with a good substantial wire fence, with 3 ft. wire 

 netting. At normal prices for material, a 4 ft. high 

 fence, posts 12 ft. apart, four wires, and wire -netted, 

 will cost about 60 per mile. After the land has 

 been cleared it should be deeply ploughed to loosen 

 the soil and to get rid of the roots of the native 

 tree which occupied the land. The cost of a first 

 4eep ploughing will be about l per acre. 



GEADING. 



As it is essential for the success of an irrigated 

 orchard that there should be an uninterrupted flow 

 of the irrigation water, all irregularities of the surface 

 of the ground which would interfere with the water 

 flow should be graded off. 



Lands having any considerable fall, such as the 

 greater portion of the high lands, require but little 



