Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/198

 out trees to fell for posts several things must be considered:— First, be sure it is the right wood, almost any kind of gum tree will do, but I would advise a new chum to ask some old bushman to give him the names and peculiarities of the different trees. Bushmen have certain signs to go by, unknown to others, and which, though absurdly simple, are quite as valuable and as dependable as any botanist could give you. An hour or two's conversation with an old "timber getter" will give you more knowledge of trees, their uses, the signs of soundness and suitability than all the books you could read.

I should have mentioned these before anything else, as of course you cannot do anything without them. However, it is not too late, and unless you are the happy possessor of a complete tool chest the following list contains all that are required for splitting and building. I may mention here, that an emigrant who purposes settling and making a home for himself directly he comes to the country (of course provided he can spare the money to buy them), cannot do better than bring tools with him, for one thing he will get them very much cheaper in England and possibly better, and if he brings them he will not have freight to pay. But unless he meditates settling at once, or within a short time of arrival, it would be foolish to bring them as he may need the money he would spend in their purchase, and they will not improve by lying by, and if he sells them here it will most likely be at a considerable loss. With the list I give the probable price of each tool, so that a man purposing to build can have some slight idea of the outlay he must go to. A cross cut saw 10/6 to 25/-, they are to be had even cheaper, but it is not wise to get too cheap an article, as a good one will last longest.

This last can be easily made by melting down some old tea chest lead. Get a sound half egg shell, sink it in the ground carefully, pass a piece of wire, bent at the top, through the shell and into the ground to form a handle for your line, then pour in the melted lead till level with the surface, let it cool and you will have as good a plum bob as you could buy.

Now to pick out the best trees for splitting, &c., &c. Most likely you will have these on your own land, or close to it, and it