ly penetrated by the roots of trees and plants grown thereon.
Occasionally the subsoil is more compact, in which case it is not so
good for fruit-tree growth, but is better adapted for that of
sugar-cane, corn, grass, &c. These basaltic soils are usually rich, and
are covered in their virgin condition with what is termed scrub--a dense
mass of vegetation closely resembling an Indian jungle. The scrub growth
is totally distinct from forest growth, which will be described later,
in that the bulk of the timber growing in it, much of which is of large
size, is of a soft nature, and once cut down soon rots away. Imagine a
dense wall of vegetation, consisting of large trees running up to 100 or
150 feet in height, with trunks ranging from 2 to 8 feet, or even more,
in diameter, and between these trunks an impenetrable mass of smaller
growths, all of the most vivid green colours, together with innumerable
vines and creepers that are suspended from the branches of the trees,
hanging in festoons, creeping palms and bamboos, ferns and orchids of
many kinds, both on the ground and growing on the tree trunks, as well
as many beautiful foliage plants only found in hothouses in England, and
you will have a faint idea of what a virgin scrub in coastal Queensland
is like. Much of the timber of the coastal scrubs is of considerable
commercial value for building purposes and furniture making, and is, or
should be, so utilised prior to felling and burning off.

True scrub lands are not by any means the most difficult to clear,
though to a "new chum" the work will appear at first of a Herculean
character. Brushing the dense undergrowth and then felling the timber at
a face costs from L1 10s. to L2 per acre, according to density, size of
timber, and proportion of hardwood trees contained in it, and once this
is done the fallen mass is allowed to become thoroughly dry, when it is
burnt off. A good fire is half the battle, as the subsequent work of
burning off the heavy timber left from the first burn is comparatively
light. No stumps are taken out, as the bulk are found to rot out in a
few years, and their presence in the soil is no detriment to the
planting of such crops as bananas or even citrus fruit trees. No special
preparation of the land, such as breaking up, &c., is necessary prior to
planting. Holes are dug, trees or bananas are planted, and the whole
cultivation for the first few years consists in keeping down weed
growths with the