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practice before one can become master of it. So much is this the 
ease that if the inexperienced settler has the money at his com- 
mand, it is wise for him to get this most laborious work done by 
contract. 
If he has not, and is compelled to do the work himself, the 
hints conveyed in the following notes may be of use to him. If I 
now give, in skeleton form, the outline of a specification for clear- 
ing, it will, I think, with a little explanation, convey to the mind 
of the new settler the chief features of the work that has to be 
done, and the proper way in which it should be performed :— 
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 serub 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 serub, 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 filled 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 hefore . 
9, If the contract is not completed on or before the date 
abovementioned a penalty of shillings per day 
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 elearing contract. The first clause is self-explanatory. ‘The 
secoud 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, 1.here the 
leaves sheot from the bole wil! continue to spring up perennially. 
Clanses 4 and 5 need no explanation, unless it is to say that 
the reason for having the ashes spread is that they are a 
valuable potash manure, and should be made as much use of, and 
