Tasmania is notorious for the stiff grades found on many of her highways. It is a libel on Scotch intelligence and engineering skill to affirm a man from the 'Land o' Cakes' planned our hilly roads. There are many sins to be accounted for in connection with the laying out of these roads, and want of just consideration for others is one of them. No, a 'mon frae bonny Scot land' never struck 'oot' the road leading from Karoola to Underwood. And there are roads in other parts of the State that give evidence of an "awfu want o' Scotch jidgment" in the laying out. However, farms are found clustering along the sides and summit of the ridge forming a continuation of Brown Mountain.
Mr Box is located on the left side ascending from Karoola railway station. This 100-acre block is much broken, and the soil in places along the rise very sandy, which latter fact accounts for the light crops of oats, peas, and potatoes noticed. Rain in full quantity has been wanting, and is now greatly needed. So far failure has marked Mr Box's effort to make a good orchard, but a better site may perhaps be found on the sloping ground , now under potato crop, just beyond the residence.
On the right hand of this road, and opposite Mr Box's land, and on still higher ground, Mr Dickson has located himself. His farm is not by any means a table land, hence passing from house to field should develop good appetite, and result in a strong pair of pedestrian digits. Crops are not equal to last year's result, although a nice plot of potatoes is found near his residence.
Continuing the upward climb, and when the top is gained, after much perspiring, one takes a breath opposite Mr James M'Gaughy's homestead. This farmer owns a block of 40 acres. The crops are fairly good, and perhaps ahead of last season's standard. Shortage of feed in the district renders cattle unsaleable. His brother William is a next neighbor, and it is upon his land, or a block given by him, that the little Presbyterian Church stands. A number of small holdings follow, the limited area of which does not permit of fallowing, but rotation of crops could well take its place. Being different in composition, the soil along this ridge is of deeper color than along the front. Iron stone is abundant.
Mr Benn is the largest landowner here, his block comprising 176 acres. Really good crops are found on this farm, about 50 acres, including 11 acres of potatoes, representing the harvest prospect. Mr Benn raises Jersey stock, and a cross with Ayrshires represents his milch herd. Up to the present butter has been made on the farm. A great amount of clearing and other improvements have been effected during the past 16 years, when Mr Benn came into possession. The forest on the hill top gives one an idea of the difficulty met in clearing this land for cultivation. Stone fruit is shaping well in the garden, and the trees are healthy. Quite a number of local farmers crop without the aid of suitable manures, depending wholly on the season for results. Where manure is employed a marked difference in cereal and other growths is observable.
Mr Olson does very little farming, but has a fine lot of poultry, chiefly engaging his attention. His block of land junctions with those of the M'Gaughys. Looking down the flat formed by the course of the Piper River one sees a small block of 50 acres owned by Mr Warren Mace, of Launceston, but occupied by Mr C. Jacobs. Small fruit is chiefly grown, with hay for home use.
Rising from the said river, and stretching along its course, lies a block of 250 acres, own ed by Mrs Cameron. General farming is adopted, and the present season's crops are fairly good. A heavy forest clothes the uncultivated land in this locality, and generally the trees are tall. A sawmill is located at the junction of the through road, but report has it the same is to be removed.
Two big blocks of 140 and 150 acres each, and owned by Mrs Hoare and Mr West respectively, complete that portion of the Grubb-Tyson grant junctioning with the Lilydale-Launceston road. General farming is followed, with considerable attention to orcharding. Mrs. Hoare has six acres devoted to apple growing, and Mr West a nice looking area. These farms lie beyond the river.
On the Lilydale side, and following Mr Benn's land, Mrs Jenkins holds a 50-acre block, oats, hay, and wheat being the general crop. Potatoes are doing very well, also an orchard of three acres. Mrs Jenkin has been on this farm about 15 years. Little is being done on the adjoining block of 50 acres, owned by Mr J. Reid, the most of his time being devoted to contract work.
Three sections of 60 and 55 and 60 acres each bring the traveller in sight of Lilydale-road. Messrs. Jackson and T. Linton respectively own the two former, and follow general farming, while Mrs Jones owns the latter. A little section of 26 acres, owned by Mr H. W. Jones, lies in the angle of the roads. Very limited cultivation is seen on this limited area.
Underwood actually begins at Mr Benn's property, but postal communica tion connects that and other farms near with Karoola. Turning toward Lilydale, Mr Thomason holds 42 acres, fronting on the Lilydale-road, and partly within the angle of that and Karoola roads. He has an orchard of four acres in this section, which originally formed a part of the surveyed township of Underwood. Light crops are general, fair and heavy being exceptions. Mr Thomason has secured a good home supply of water by the aid of a good ram, and conveniently placed tank. A second orchard is situated on the homestead section. Early frosts wrought havoc among the orchards when the trees were in bloom, wherever the same were exposed. This gentleman has been a resident of the district for many years, and has had big opportunity for watching its development.
The last decade has introduced many changes, and, on the whole, for the better. Mr W. Harrison joins Mr Thomason on the hillside. This property of 50 acres contains one of oldest orchards in the whole district. Trees of a good age are bearing excellent yields in several places, and show remarkable vitality in young growth.
It is patent to those familiar with Tasmanian forests that the pioneers of this, in common with other heavily timbered localities, had great difficulties to contend with in their early settlements. One might begin a recital of incidents, pathetic and humorous, that would extend these pages to great length. Courage and fixedness of purpose enabled them to overcome uncountable hardship till brighter days dawned. Dwellers in cities unaccustomed to rural life in its most primitive form, have no conception of the surroundings of a home within a bark hut. Perhaps many can with difficulty realise that mid all so far removed from comfort and artificial life hearts beat true, and love is one round of charming confidence. These far away days found every man his neighbor's helper, though long miles of almost trackless forest lay between their homes. Is there a degree of hard ship sometimes experienced in a city home, where the breadwinner brings home 30s, 35s, or £2 per week? There may be, but contrast these circumstances with bush life miles away from market, bruised corn for food, the roughest clothing, the sick wife or child, the heavy burdens to be carried where a horse could not travel, why enumerate, for there is no comparison but a wide contrast only.
Mr Burn's land lies behind that of Mr Thomason, and he follows orchard ing and farming. Messrs. J. and T. Gunn have a sawmill in the tiers be hind, a light tram bringing the timber to the road for carting to Lilydale railway station. Clearings extend to the township, and miles beyond in a continuous chain of uneven links.
The axiom, "Too far east is west," applies to this locality, for one does not know where Underwood ends, and Lilydale begins, there being no visible line of demarcation. Mr Brewers property might be in either division. The country is very hilly along this route, and farms climb the side of Brown Mountain, and form a fringe of forest, like great eyebrows overhanging the sloping face. The road winds through a narrow valley, with cultivated land on either side. Oats, peas, and potatoes are the general crops. Mr Brewer has some choice shrubs and flowers in the front garden, and a couple of beau tiful holly trees, with a mass of green berries showing among the crimson fruit of last year.
Mr Angus Campbell and Mr Power, Council clerk of Lilydale municipality, have their respective properties in the vicinity. A short distance beyond the road to Mount Arthur branches off. At this point Mrs Somerville has a farm, comprising 130 acres. Early oats and peas yielded good crops. Another block of 700 acres, known as Glenmark, and located in Wyena district, belongs to Mrs Somerville. This latter farm carries 1000 sheep in addition to land under crop. That the said farm is of good quality may be gathered from the fact of last season's oaten crop attain ing a height of 7ft. There small fruit grows in abundance. Mrs John Somerville has a nice grain show, and follows general farming.
Mention has been made of the Brown Mountain in these notes. It is a ridge of hilly country, separating Karoola from Underwood and Lilydale. At first sight one might conclude it is one of those eminences that represent only waste Iand, and serves no useful purpose in the configuration of the district. However, such is not the case, for beside a number of open fields seen along its slopes there are many water courses making for the valley below. Nature intends these for some useful purpose, and they give evidence of a great mind behind the seeming accident. Till these forces are utilised men will probably esteem them purely the result of Nature's caprice but when harnessed they will resolve themselves into providential settings.
There is no reason why water should not be utilised for irrigation purposes by mean s of gravitation, when the expense of raising the precious element from lower levels is compensated by resulting fertility. The class of machinery is dissimilar for the separate schemes. Hortus siccus is a condition that need not prevail along the said hillsides. To find householders carrying water from a creek or spring under conditions favorable to the installation of a good supply service savors of want of adaptability, or simple constructiveness. Perhaps necessity will eventually cause the full employment of Nature's abundant re sources.
The fact of cultivation having replaced forest wildness, indicates progression, and one industry is generally the parent of a second.
If this hill slope is worth anything, then Mr Kowarzik is possessed of its wealth in large measure, he owning hundreds of acres, with a goodly portion cleared. The lay of the land catches the sun's rays throughout the best part of the day, and as eastern winds are not harmful in this district, vegetation may be said to be well sheltered from chilly blasts. Mr Kowarzik has been associated with the district for a great many years, and is in a position to recall many changes and to gauge the progress arrived at up to the present.
For convenience sake, it would be well to include further remarks under the heading of Lilydale.
UNDERWOOD (1909, January 26). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), , p. 3. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151946554
Same page has article on Turner's Marsh windy harvest.
TURNER'S MARSH (1909, January 26). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), , p. 3. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151946551
Articles on Lilydale, Lebrina and Wyena from the Daily Telegraph in 1909 follow in the week after in 1909. To be posted here soon.