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Effect of destruction of trees upon the water supply and growth of 

 grasses. There is a decided consensus of opinion that the destruc- 

 tion of timber improves both the water supply and the growth of 

 the native grasses. Mr. Throssell writes in reference to the latter : 

 " Especially is this noticeable on the salmon gum country, which, 

 prior to killing the timber, is devoid of herbage. The effect is 

 marvellous, as different species of grasses put in an appearance the 

 first winter after the timber has been ring-barked, and grow 

 luxuriantly. Owing to this 'discovery' the salmon gum country is 

 coming into great favour." 



Cost per acre of ring-barking and sapping. From Is. 3d. to 

 Is. 9d. for ring-barking, and Is. 6d. to 2s. for sapping. 



Cost per acre of clearing before and after the destruction of the 

 trees. The highest price quoted for clearing before the timber has 

 been destroyed is <3, and the lowest 2 per acre. The highest 

 quotations given for clearing after the timber is dead is 2 10s., 

 and the lowest <! 10s. per acre. The average per acre of the 

 returns is, before ring-barking, <2 14s. ; after the timber is dead, 

 1 17s. 6d. Mr. Throssell writes : " Referring to the value of 

 killing timber as a preparatory measure to clearing for agriculture, 

 it requires to be explained that in setting down the saving at only 

 10s. per acre, that I refer to landowners who let out their clearing 

 by contract at so much per acre. But for the farmer who 

 thoroughly ring-barks or kills off the timber some years before 

 clearing, and then clears his land with his own or monthly hired 

 labour, under his own supervision, the saving, I am confident, would 

 be fully one-half." 



TOODYAY DISTRICT. 

 Varieties of Trees. White gum, jam, York gum, red gum. 



Method and time of destruction. White gum, r ing- barking ; 

 York gum, ring- barking or sapping ; jam, sapping ; red gum, not 



stated. 



White gum should be destroyed from September to October ; 

 York gum, February to March ; jam, at any time ; red gum, not 

 stated. The secretary adds in a note : " The branch is of an 

 opinion that the red gum should never be interfered with on the 

 pastoral lands, as these trees do not do any harm to the feed and 

 are invaluable as shade." 



Effect of the destruction of trees upon the water supply and the 

 growth of native grasses. The destruction of the timber has a most 

 beneficial effect in increasing the water supply and the growth of 

 the native grasses. 



Cost per acre of ring -barking or sapping. Is. to Is. 6d. per acre 

 for either operation. 



Cost per acre of clearing before and after the destruction of the 

 timber. Before, =3; after, 2 10s. to 2 15s. The secretary 

 writes as follows : " For agricultural purposes, the branch is of the 



