clearing the vast forests was a formidable task that took the settlers years of back-breaking toil. the original selections were limited to 130 hectares, but some held less. even to clear 40 hectares with an axe, saw and shovel was too big a task. the method they followed was to partly cut through the trees as they worked up the side of the steep slopes. at the top, they would fell a large tree that, by its own weight, brought down all the trees below into a giant tangled mess. the scrub and trees would be left to dry and then were lit on a hot day in january or february. the success depended on getting a clean fall and a good burn. and if left unchecked, the scrub and weeds quickly reoccupied the cleared ground before pasture could be established.