Getting the Land Ready 1 1 



face 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 

 grading, which will be mostly restricted to. the 

 removing of small bumps or rises. On no considera- 

 tion should more soil be removed than is absolutely 

 necessary, as experience has shown that where from 

 six inches to one foot of the surface soil has been 

 graded off and trees planted on the exposed sub- 

 soil, that their growth has been slow and unsatis- 

 factory for years. On the blue-bush and box flats 

 and on other lands where there is. but little fall, the 

 grading has to be more thorough, as the slightest 

 rise will stop, the flow of the irrigation water. 



Lucerne and fodder plots are usually graded quite 

 level, and are surrounded by an earth check-bank to 

 keep enclosed the irrigation water. 



INITIAL COST. 



The cost of preparing the land for planting will, 

 of course, vary with the nature of the land. On the 

 State irrigation areas of South Australia, the Gov- 

 ernment make advances to settlers for grubbing, 

 fencing, grading, and channelling up to 15 per 

 acre. Not every block, however, will cost as much 

 as this to prepare for planting, and 12 per acre 

 may be taken as a rough average. 



