ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY

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OF
AGRICULTURE AND HOME Economics

 

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Issued under the Authority of the Minister for Mines and Agriculture.

NOTES ©

od
ON THE

COMMERCIAL TIMBERS

OF: * |

NEW SOUTH WALES:

BYY

Joe DL. SLATDEN, F.Eas,
CONSULTING BOTANIST TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF -AGRICULTURE AND FORESTS.

‘

SYDNEY: CHARLES POTTER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, PHILLIP STREET,

1898.
[ls 6a.)
Issued under the Authority of the Minister for Mines and Agriculture.

NOT.

ON THE

S

(T]

 

COMMERCIAL TIMBERS

OF

NEW SOUTH WALES;

BY

J. H. MAIDEN, F.LS,, &c,

CONSULTING BOTANIST TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTS.

SYDNEY: CHARLES POTTER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, PHILLIP STREET.

1898.

4q 128—95-6
TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY ... ae ae or es ie aa ar
Forrest WEALTH OF THE COLONY ... ‘i sss cer ie
TIMBERS FOR Export ... ds Ship bbs bee oo ee
SupstircuTion oF Inrerron Kryps or Trueer... wee

MERITS OF MANY OF OUR TIMBERS AS YET UNKNOWN... ste
SUPPLY OF SEasONED CoLoytst TIMBERS TRUE TO NAME eer
SEASONING PROCESSES ... is sot ee: ae sae vee
Feviiinc oF Trwper at Prorer SEASON... a nes aes
Common Names oF TIMBERs ... nae by ve aie a6
BotayicaL NaMEs OF TIMBERS ied she se ave ae

CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMERCIAL TIMBERS...

TrmBERS FoR SeecraL Purposes eh ae 28 wes we

INDEX sia ose ee es cor ch ee was aiaie

PAGE,

a

26

31
Notes on the Commercial Timbers of New
South Wales.

By J. H. MAIDEN,
Consulting Botanist,

Introductory.

Tue object of this pamphlet is to give information in regard to the principal
commercial timbers of New South Wales, in language as devoid as possible
of scientific technicalities.

Only those points are touched upon that are of practical moment to the
timber-getter, saw-miller, merchant, or user. ;

I have endeavoured to give an impartial statement of the merits of our
timbers as we know them in 1895. In course of time some of the estimates
of the qualities of particular timbers may require to be modified, and other
timbers, not at present employed, may be shown to be useful for special
purposes. If I have erred in my estimate of the usefulness of a particular
timber, I shall be glad to be set right.

For the last fourteen years I have been almost daily occupied in the
diagnosis and critical examination of colonial timbers of all kinds; I have
been a large user of many kinds of colonial timbers for miscellaneous
purposes, and I have visited most of the principal forests and saw-mills of
this Colony.

Forest Wealth of the Colony.

I have no desire to use the language of exaggeration, but I can safely say
that New South Wales is one of the most richly-endowed countries in the
world as regards its forest wealth. I should be sorry to say that our timber
supplies are unlimited, far from it, but with our small population we have
immense areas of practically virgin forest, and in many places, as the trees
are cut out, numbers of young trees are coming forward, and flourish
without hindrance, thus ensuring the stability of our timber supply.

With few exceptions, most of our trees require no artificial replanting ;
what is simply required is conservation—protection of the young growth
from damage by animals, fires, &c., and, in certain cases, what is called
“thinning,” which consists in destroying or weeding out sickly, malformed,
or overcrowded saplings.

Most of our valuable timbers are found in the coast and coast mountain
districts. A few, eg., the cypress pines of the western districts, and the
ironbark of Dubbo (and thence to the north-east), are found in the drier
parts of the Colony.

A
2

Timbers for Export.

As regards the export trade, as the merits of our hard woods become
more fully realised, a largely increased demand may reasonably be expected to
set in for them. Our soft pine can probably be largely utilised for butter-
boxes. Our figured brush timbers have to win their way to recognition in
the world’s markets. This will necessarily be slow, but we have much
valuable evidence as to their merits to encourage us to make them more
widely known. ;

May I, at this place, insist that timbers of a kind should be kept together
in wood-paving? No two timbers are of such similar texture in all respects
that they wear absolutely ‘equally wheri formed into a roadway. A road
engineer would never dream of laying together stone cubes of various
materials. The irregularity in wear of a wooden roadway is especially detri-
mental, and I desire to raise my voice against the pernicious doctrine that
our timbers may be mixed in’ the same stretch of roadway. There is no
excuse for mixing them, as they can be readily separated by any man who
has devoted some attention to the subject, and timbers not of the first class
would stand a better chance of useful employment if they formed strips of
roadway by themselves.

Substitution of inferior kinds of Timber.

Too great care cannot be exercised in seeing that timber which is sent to
market, and particularly that intended for export, is not only good of its
kind, but also belongs to a species of acknowledged merit. In the case of
trees or timbers-which bear a resemblance more or less strong to valuable
timbers, the greatest care should be exercised. Let no messmate, swamp,
white, cabbage, ribbon, or apple gums be sent forward, no matter how
well they may look, for such timber as these, which decay readily, bring our
timbers and the whole Colony into disrepute. Some of our good timbers are
admittedly difficult to diagnose, particularly to the European buyer, and just
as they are winning their way to recognition on their own merits, it is a cruel
thing for careless or unprincipled suppliers to injure the trade. The pro-
mises held out as to the merits of our timbers are very carefully inquired
into in Europe, and the successful substitution of inferior timber can only
be temporary. To those of our millers who are situated near forests of our
best timbers it may seem ludicrous to issue a warning about swamp gum,
for instance, but many cases of the substitution, in this and other colonies,
of the most inferior timbers have come under my personal notice. The
system of Government inspection of timbers for export, recently inaugurated,
may be valuable in creating confidence amongst buyers, but such a system,
to be efficacious, should be compulsory in regard to all shipments, at all
events for a short term of years, by which time buyers might be expected to
be conversant with our timbers.

Merits of many of our Timbers as yet unknown.

So few of our brush and other timbers have been tested by experts as
regards their merits for special uses, e.g., carving, wood-engraving (see
“Timbers for special purposes,” page 26), that we are not yet in a position
to speak definitely in regard to them. The circumstances of a new country
have caused our timbers to be examined rather as materials of construction,
and so it is that we are far more fully informed as to their merits for
engineering and architectural works than as regards their less important,
(though not to be despised) minor uses.
3

A number of our timbers are, however, being tested as regards their
suitability for wood-carving, and there is reason to suppose that we possess
a fair number of timbers useful for this purpose. My own feeling is one of
regret that the art of wood-carving has been so neglected in this Colony, as
it is a useful art, and, as time rolls on, a considerable amount of employment
will be available, both to men and women carvers of decorative work, for
fittings of buildings, furniture, &c., to say nothing of more purely art
objects for the decoration of the home, &. And not only will wood-carving
prove a remunerative occupation for many people, and a useful accomplish-
ment for persons of leisure, but it will be the means of drawing public
attention to the texture and properties of our native timbers, and of utilising
some of those which at the present time are put to no particular purpose.

Supply of seasoned Colonial Timbers, true to name.

As a consistent advocate for many years of the use of colonial timbers, I
‘have become familiar with the oft-repeated objection, ‘‘ What is the good of
advocating the use of colonial timbers when we rarely can buy any already
seasoned?” It is a fact that very few varieties of seasoned eolonial
timbers are kept in stock by our timber merchants. Timber merchants are
like other tradesmen in endeavouring to keep a stock of any article that
may sell, but we cannot expect them to run their business on sentiment; in
other words, to convert their timber-yards into sample museums. Conse-
quently, in the first. place, we require to educate our own people in regard
to the merits of our timbers, and then they will endeavour to use more of
them. I think that, as regards the general public, a certain amount of
sentiment would not be out of place in endearouring to encourage the use
of colonial timbers. I mean that, having satisfied himself that a certain
colonial timber is suitable for a certain purpose, the Australian citizen might
well put himself to a little trouble to cause his want to be supplied. These
new timbers of a new country have to work their way to public recognition,
and it is often far easier to continue to use an old and well-tried timber than
to use a colonial substitute, however meritorious.

I know something of the practical difficulties which beset a timber mer-
chant in Sydney, for instance, in obtaining a supply of a certain timber
growiog in a forest (say) hundreds of miles away, procuring it both true to
name and in a seasoned condition. I have often pondered over the matter,
and have wondered whether, seeing that the State is the principal proprietor
of forests, and that it has already a staff of forest officers, whether State
depéts (under lease or otherwise), might not be established, where stocks of
timber might be held, such timber having been felled at the proper time,
seasoned for a suitable period, and branded with a mark which would
guarantee its truename. To carry out this plan would necessarily require a
State subsidy for a time, but I think that, under all the circumstances, a
reasonable subsidy would be justifiably spent. In afew years I feel con-
vinced that the advantages of seasonably felling, of seasoning, and of pro-
perly naming our timbers, would become so apparent that private enterprise
would take matter up, and the State could withdraw from what might, at
first sight, appear interference with private enterprise. We are at the
present time giving our producers object lessons in many ways, and I do not
think that a little State guidance in regard to the utilisation of our forest
wealth would be either illogical or undesirable. It is, of course, understood
that in making the above crude suggestions, I am only expressing my
individual opinion. 4
“A

Seasoning Processes.

Some attention is being paid in the Colony, with fair success, to artificial
rocesses for seasoning timber. Our native timbers are mostly dense and
eavy, and are therefore peculiarly difficult to deal with. This matter of

seasoning is important, as the natural drying process proceeds very slowly
with hardwoods. A drawback to most artificial processes is that they impair
the strength of the timber.

Felling of Timber at proper Season.

It is a matter for regret that, in the Australian colonies, 1imber-trees are
felled the whole year round. It is generally accepted as a fact that timber
from trees full of sap is more prone to warp and split, and even to decay,
than timber from trees at rest, i.¢., when the sap is down. No general rule
can be laid down for all trees, all districts, and all seasons, but the simplest
guide to the timber-getter is, when possible, to avoid cutting when the tree
is seen to be bringing forth new leaves. It would not be possible, under the

resent conditions of the timber trade, to carry out this rule in its entirety,
hae saw-millers would find it to their advantage to pay some attention to the
matter, as it would improve the quality of their timber. If the State were
to establish timber depdts, it might exercise strict control over the periods
for felling timbers in the different districts. At the present time timber-
getters and saw-millers will admit readily enough that timber should not be
cut all the year round; but with the present cut-it-while-you-wait system
which obtains, a reserve stock of logs is not felled (say) in the winter, to be
hauled subsequently, but as a log is required it is felled there and then.
‘With a proper system of scientific forestry we ought to have a close season
for timber just as we have for game-birds,

Common Names of Timbers.

Our trade with other countries in timber will be mainly confined to our
hardwoods, and therefore it is of paramount importance that a uniform
system of nomenclature (at least for export purposes), should be agreed
upon. I make the suggestion that our hardwoods should bear the official
names given at pages 7 to 15.

However successful we may be in adopting an official vernacular nomen-
clature for export purposes, it is impossible to expect a uniform use of
vernacular names in the Colony itself. People in one district look at the
tint of the bark of a tree and call it “Blue gum”; in another district the
wood is looked at, and, because it is red, the tree gets the name of “ Red-
gum.” These names are held with wonderful pertinacity, and, however
desirable it may be, uniform names for many trees will never be agreed to.
With our variable trees it may be that, as fresh differences are realised by
the public, the number of names for what is really the same tree may
increase rather than diminish. There are, however, some trees, such as
bloodwood, that are known by the same name in all parts of the Colony.

Botanical Names of Timbers.

Botanical names will sometimes be omitted in referring to the timbers
dealt with, to avoid repetition, but, in order that no doubt may arise as to

the particular timber referred to, following is a list of the botanical names
which have been so omitted.
5

The botanical names are added in the text in some instances, simply for

the sake of precision.

his head about them.

Black pencil cedar, Panax elegans, Ch. Moore and F, v. M.
Brown or bully beech, Cryptocarya glaucescens (7), R. Br.
Brush Ironbark, Bridelia exaltata, F. v. M.
Cabbage palm, Livistona australis, Mart.
Cheesewood, Piftosporum of various species.
Corkwood, Duboisia myoporoides, R. Br.; Ackama Muelleri, Benth, &e.
Hickory or black wattle, Acacia binervata, DC.
Ironwood, Tarrietia argyrodendron, Benth.
Long jack, Flindersia.
Mangrove, Avicennia officinalis, L.

Mountain ash, Hucalyptus virgata, Sieb.

Native cherry, Exocarpus cupressiformis, Labill.
Native guava, Siphonodon australe, Benth.
Native orange, Capparis Mitchelli, Lindl.
Pigeon-berry ash, or native beech, Monotoca elliptica, R. Br.
Plumwood, Lucryphia Moorei, F. v. M.
Prickly tea-tree, Melaleuca styphelioides, Sm.
River oak, Oasuarina glauca, Sieb, and Cunninghamiana, Mig.
Sassafras, Doryphora sassafras, Endl.
Scrub hickory, Pentaceras australis, Hk.
Soapwood, Hvodia of various species.
Swamp oak, Casuarina glauca, Sieb., and Cunninghamiana, Mig.
Sweet-root, Alyxia buxifolia, R. Br.
Walking-stick palm, Kentia monostachya, F. vy. M.
Water gum, Tristania laurina, R. Br.

White ash, Kucalyptus stricta, Sieb. var.

White holly, Pittosporum of various species.
White teak, Atalaya multiflora, Benth.

White tea-tree, Melaleuca leucadendra, L,

Wild lemon, Capparis nobilis, F. v. M.

The saw-miller or timber-merchant need not trouble

(Sieberiana, F. v. M.)

The following list shows the various natural orders to which the timbers
referred to in this pamphlet belong, and, consequently, in a measure,
indicates their affinity.

Tiliacee .., Echinocarpus.
Elzocarpus.
Meliacee  ... Dysoxylon.
Owenia.
Cedrela.
Flindersia.
Rhamnee ... Alphitonia.
Sapindacee .., Harpullia.
Leguminosae... Acacia.
Castanospermum.
Myrtacee .,.. Bucalyptus.

Tristania.
Syncarpia.

Composite ...
Verbenacee ...
Proteace@ ...

Casuarinee ...
Conifere

Olearia.
Gmelina.
Banksia.
Grevillea.
Hakea,
Orites.
Stenocarpus.
Casuarina.

.. Callitris or Frenela.

Araucaria.
Podocarpus.
CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF
OUR COMMERCIAL TIMBERS.

1. IrnonpanKx or Various Kinps.

2. Pate Harpwoops :—
(a) Blackbutt.
(6) White mahogany.
(c) Tallow-wood.
(d) Spotted gum.
(e) Grey box.

3. Rep Harpwoops :—
(a) Red mahogany.
(0) Grey gum.
(c) Murray red gum.
(d@) Forest red gum.
(e) Sydney blue gum.
(f) Woollybutt.
(g) Bloodwood.

4, TURPENTINE AND BRUSH-BOX.

5. Cepar, Beecu, avp PIne, INCLUDING :—
(a) Red cedar.
(6) Rosewood,
aor Red bean.’
(¢) Onionwood.
(e) Beech.
(f) Colonial pine.
(g) Brown or berry pine.
(A) Cypress pine. ‘

6. Sirzy Oax, Sue-oax, &. :—
(a) Silky oak.
(6) Red silky oak or beefwood.
(ce) Needlewood.
(d@) Honeysuckle.
(e) She-oak.

7. Brack Bray, Myauz, Buacrwoop, &c.

8. Miscetnanzous Brus Timbers :—
(a) Tulipwood.
(6) Muskwood.
(c) Flindosa or Cudgerie.
(d) Native teak.
(e) Blue-berry ash.
(f) Maiden’s blush.
(9) Red ash.
(hk) Corkwood, &e.
7

Just a word as to the aims and scope of this booklet. The difficulty hay
been not in regard to obtaining information, but in deciding what to leave
out. If fuller information be desired in regard to a particular timber there
will be no difficulty in procuring it.

In selecting the timbers for notice I have mainly confined myself to those
most readily available to the denser populated eastern portion of the Colony,
and to those most likely to be in demand for export. Many meritorious
timbers I have not noticed, as, owing to the expense of land-carriage, their
use is mainly confined to the districts in which they are found.

1, IRONBARK.

(An illustrated and descriptive article in regard to the various kinds of New South Wales
ironbarks will be found in the Agricultural Gazette for October, 1893.)

Names.—We have four ironbarks, three of them of especial value. Tim-
bers of this class are so important that it will be interesting to discriminate
them. There is a good deal of confusion in regard to the local names given
to ironbarks, and the names I suggest for the four species seem to me the
least objectionable. At the same time the names “ Narrow-leaved Ironbark”’
and “ Broad-leaved Ironbark” are too cumbersome for ordinary use, and
certainly for persons outside the Colony. It is probable that ironbark for
the export trade will go forward under two names only, viz., grey ironbark
and red ironbark, the first being the white or grey ironbark, and the second
ineluding both the “ Narrow and Broad-leaved Ironbarks,” the timbers of
which closely resemble each other. The fourth ironbark, whose botanical
name is Eucalyptus sideroxylon, is mainly an interior species, and will seldom,
if ever, be exported. Perhaps timber will go forward under the single generic
name of ironbark ; if so, J wish to impress on friends at a distance that our
various species of ironbark vary a good deal in colour, as a consignee may
readily be confused if an ironbark be sent to him different in appearance to
that to which he has been accustomed. Because of the great importance of
ironbark, I proceed to deal with these timbers with a little more detail than
with the other hardwoods. .

Table of ironbarks.—The following table brings out the principal points in
ironbark trees and iroubark timbers, and may help to elucidate them :—

 

 

White or She Iron- | Narrow-leaved Iron-| Broad-leaved ; Red Iron-
bark. bark, Ironbark. bark,
(paniculata). (erebra). (siderophloia). (siderowylon).
Colour (darkens| Very pale; pink) Medium .| Medium. A| Very dark.
with age). when fresh. little darker
than preced-
ing.

Strength of tim-| Best -| Good .| Good ... ..| Inferior.

ber.

Bark .| Oftenpale-coloured,| Very deeply fur-| Often of aflaky| Dark ;
even grey. Fur-| rowed, inferiorin| character. deepest fyr-
rows Often anas-| depth only (if rowed.
tomosing. at all) to séder-

oxylon.

Leaves ..| Narrow and medium] Very narrow .| Very broad...) Medium ;
foliage often
sparse.

Flowers ... .| White .| White .| White .| Crimson ;
sometimes
creamy.

Fruits .| Small .| Very small .| Rather large ...| Large.

 

 

 

 

 
8

How to tell ironbark.—It is not very easy, in a few words, to give a
definition of ironbark. Of course, if the bark is available, the thing is
simple enough, for most of the barks are characteristically furrowed and
rugged. To describe it we must take note of a variety of circumstances.
It is heavy (almost the heaviest of our hardwoods). It is hard, as may
be readily seen if it be touched with a plane, or a nail be driven (or
attempted to be driven), into it. Its most characteristic property, however, is
‘a certain ‘‘ gumminess ” in working, which is well brought out under the
plane, and ‘its horny texture. The result is that, when planed, ironbark
shows the appearance of more or less parallel strie or lines of close-textured
wood, strongly resembling horn, while between these, the wood has a more
open grain, showing narrow pits which may be seen, even by the naked eye,
to be filled by a substance of resinous texture. In some specimens it is not
easy, however, to make out these lines of horny-textured wood, but the
resin-pits appear to be always present. Ironbark is more or less curly in
the grain, consequently it often gives trouble to plane to a perfectly smooth
surface. If a blunt tool be used, the ironbark tears in fairly regular
blotches, while to get a perfectly smooth surface the wood often requires to
be traversed with the plane, or even to be gone over with the steel scraper.
Its hardness and weight often preclude it from use, perhaps an advantage,
as otherwise the consumption of this timber would be inordinate.

Principal uses.—Ixronbark is the king of New South Wales hardwoods, in
fact it is not excelled in any part of the continent for combined strength
and durability. Itis extensively used in bridge-construction, for railway
sleepers, for posts, for naves, spokes, shafts, and framing, by the waggon
and carriage-builder ; for large beams in buildings, particularly in stores for
heavy goods—in a word, wherever great strength is required. For such
purposes as railway-sleepers, it will last an indefinite period, and in many
cases has to be taken up, not because it shows signs of decay from exposure
on the permanent-way, or disintegration, because of the vibration to which
it has been subjected, but because holes have been made in the sleeper by
the renewal of bolts and spikes. I have specimens of sleepers which have
borne the heaviest traffic of the main line near Sydney for twenty-five years,
and which are as sound as the day they were laid.

White or Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata, Sm.)

This is the ironbark usually called as above in the coast districts. It is,
however, also called red ironbark in the Moruya and Wagonga districts,
and other places.

The best white ironbark is very pale, the hardest of ironbarks, and cuts
almost like horn ; some of the same species from the Moruya district is of
a medium red colour, not unlike Sydney blue gum in tint. It is to white
ironbark of good quality that all the encomiums which have been passed on
ironbark may be attributed. At the same time, timber but little inferior
may be produced by some of the other ironbarks.

Distribution.—It is rather common in the coast districts and mountain

ranges. Northward it extends as far as the Tweed, and southward to near
Bega, perhaps further.

Narrow-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra, F. v. M.)

So called because of its narrow, slender, graceful foliage, the flower-buds
flowers, and fruits being quite small. At Dubbo this timber is called both
grey and red ironbark.
9

This and the red (broad-leaved) ironbark may very well go together, as
the timbers have much in common. They are of a deep red colour, of about
equal hardness, and are really valuable timbers, although inferior to the best
white or grey ironbark. :

Distribution —The narrow-leaved ironbark occurs principally on the
eastern side of the Dividing Range, but at least as far south as Jervis Bay.
It is common about Richmond, Wellington, also Dubbo to Narrabri. It is
widely diffused, and a number of other localities could be given.

The Broad-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia, Benth.)

Perhaps this is the most distinctive name for this species, a characteristic
by which it may be readily distinguished, particularly in young trees, It is
often called “red ironbark,” particularly from northern localities. This iron-
bark from the Clarence and further north is apt to shell and split on
exposure, and hence is not liked for engineering purposes. Asa general
ae it is a really fine ironbark. It resembles the previous one in quality of
timber.

Distribution. Broad-leaved ironbark occurs from the Clyde Mountains,
in the south, along the coast ranges, to Queensland. Westward it is found
as far as Wellington and Dubbo, also at Mudgee. Mr. Deane informs me
that, with Z. erebra, it is found from Dubbo to the north-western line.

Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon, A. Cunn.)

The wood of this is the deepest in colour, and also the softest and least
valuable of the ironbarks. The tree is often pipy and gnarled, but in some
places( e.g., the Mudgee district) it is a fine timber-tree. Where one of
the other ironbarks is available, this ironbark suffers by comparison ; never-
theless, it is a useful timber, and is employed in public works for such pur-
poses as railway sleepers and posts, where long lengths are unnecessary.
Frequently good lengths cannot be obtained, and if they could, the tensile
strength of this timber is not equal to that of the best ironbark.

Sometimes it is called ‘“‘ Mugga,” and it has been regarded with unrea-
soning prejudice, instead of being judged on its merits. To call any timber
by such a name as “ Mugga” is to inflict an irreparable injury upon it.

Distribution.—Red ironbark is found principally in the auriferous districts
of the western and south-western interior. It is generally found on poor,
sterile ranges, and is usually unaccompanied by any other species of
ironbark. 2

I have dealt with the question of distribution in speaking of individual
ironbarks. But as regards the coast ironbarks, the most important
commercially, it may be pointed out that they and spotted gum often grow
together. The principal localities on the south coast are Bermagui,
Red Head, Wagonga, Moruya, and the Clyde River. On the north coast we
have Wyong, Ourimbah, Blue Gum Flat, Port Stephens, Cape. Hawke,
Manning River, Camden Haven, Port Macquarie, and so on to the Tweed.

Quantity available—In spite of the reckless extravagance with which this
timber has been cut, it is by no means scarce, especially in some localities,
a few miles from the coast. While it is a very slow-growing tree, there
is some consolation in the fact that it usually grows in barren, rocky country,
unsuitable for agriculture, and therefore wholesale clearings are not made
asis the case with many other timbers. At the same time it does not

readily reafforest.
10

2. PALE HARDWOODS.

This is a convenient practical classification. Some of the most valuable
hardwoods of the Colony belong to this class, and injury has been done to
some of them because unscrupulous persons in this and other colonies have
endeavoured to persuade buyers that certain pale hardwoods, which are never
used in the colonies except for temporary and inferior purposes, are genuine
blackbuté, &c., or equal in quality to such timbers.

(a) Blackbutt (Lucalyptus pilularis, Sm.)
(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural Gazette
for October, 1894.) J
Name.—Owing to the fibrous bark on the butt, which is of a dark-grey
colour, even blackish, though its depth of tint is in part often owing to bush
fires.

Characteristics —Pale-coloured, more or less fissile, though sometimes
quite interlocked in grain. It is a strong, durable, thoroughly safe and
well-tried timber. It is usually readily diagnosed by the presence of
narrow, concentric gum-veins, but sometimes these veins are nearly or
wholly absent.

Principal uses.—This is one of the best hardwoods we have for house and
ship-building. It is useful for bridge planking, though inferior to tallow-
wood for that purpose. It has been tested for many years for blocks for
wood-paving, with most satisfactory results; in fact, it is one of the best
timbers we have for the purpose, both as regards wear and durability. It
takes tar well. After ironbark, I would only place this timber second to
tallow-wood, amongst our hardwoods, for general purposes.

Distribution Coast districts from north to south.
Quantity available.—Plentiful, S

(b) White Mahogany (Eucalyptus acmenoides, Schauer.)

Name.—This is a pale-coloured timber, which bears no resemblance either
to the mahogany of commerce or to the red or forest mahogany of New
South Wales. It gets its name because of its pale colour, and because the
bark of the tree was thought to resemble that of the red mahogany. The
name is in universal use in the Colony, and cannot now be disturbed.

_Characteristics—To say that it resembles tallow-wood a good deal, but

that it is paler in colour, that it is not greasy, and harder than the better
’ known timber, will perhaps give a good idea of it. It is one of the most
durable timbers in New South Wales. I know of posts of it in different
parts of the Colony quite sound after the vicissitudes of more than half a
century. Its chief drawback is some tendency to shell off. Users of it
assure me that it is far more durable than ironbark or box. It is a tough,
strong useful timber.

Principal uses—I believe it will be found an excellent timber for wood-
blocks, but I would discourage exportation of it at present except under close
supervision, as I have known stringybark substituted for it, perhaps through
inadvertence. Its hardness is a drawback, and the trees are sometimes
unsound; but it isso good a timber that I would invite our timber men to
give more attention to it in future. It is one of those timbers which is not
as well known as it should be, because it has been constantly confused with
it

others. It is excellent for posts, piles, girders, &c., and is useful for general
building purposes. It would be desirable to thoroughly test it for the
decking of bridges.

Distribution —N orth coast and coast mountain districts.

Guantity available—Not one of our most plentiful timbers, but still
fairly abundant.

(c) Tallow-wood (Eucalyptus microcorys, F. v. M.)

(An illustrated descriptive article on this timber will be found in the Agriculiural Gazette
for May, 1894.) .

Name.—Given because of its slippery, greasy nature.

Characteristics —Of a canary-yellow (or sometimes reddish) colour when
freshly sawn, drying to a pale brown. One of the least liable to shrink of
all our hardwoods. It is heavy, strong, and durable. Jt may be planed
and turned with great satisfaction. It is not easily split, the greasy sub-
stance contained In it making it a tedious matter to get the wedge to “draw.”
LT would express the opinion that, after ironbark, tallow-wood is the most
valuable of our hardwoods.

Principal uses——F or flooring, particularly in ball-rooms. Foz this latter
purpose it is selected on account of its greasy nature. For decking, hand-
railing, girders, and some other parts of bridges. A favourite for building-
work generally. It does not burn readily, which in buildings is, of course,
a recommendation. It is perhaps the most valuable wood in New South
Wales for paving-blocks. It makes admirable posts and rails. lasting an
indefinite period either above or below ground, but difficult to split for these
purposes, as already remarked. White mahogany is not infrequently sub-
stituted for tallow-wood. Both are good timbers, and can stand on their
own merits. The substitution can be readily detected by any man with a
fair knowledge of colonial timbers.

Distribution.—Coast district and Dividmg Range, from Neweastle north-
ward.

Quantity acailable—Fairly abundant.

(d) Spotted Gum (Lucalypius maculata, Hook. f.,).

Name.—This is a smooth-barked tree, but which has blotches of a whitish
colour on the bark, owing to the outer layer of bark peeling off in patches.
This gives the trunk a spotted appearance.

Characteristics— A pale yellowish brown timber, usually with a pretty,
wavy grain, which looks well under polish. It is particularly tough, and it
is one of the best of our timbers for bending, even when cold. It is very
durable, though its sapwood is particularly lable to decay. ‘

Principal uses—For wheelwrights’ and coach-builders’ work, it is for
some uses unequalled amongst colonial timbers. Its power of bending into
various shapes is very usefal. Tt is used for cross-pieces, shafts, and poles
for drays, buggies, naves, and spokes, handles, agricultural implements,
boring-rods (artesian), framing and house-building generally, tram-rails for
the conveyance of logs from the forest to the mill, bridge-decking and ship-
planking. In view of the conflicting statements which have been made m
regard to the durability of this timber for wood-paving, the Minister for
Mines and Agriculture appointed a committee of experts to inquire into the
12

matter. Their report will be found in an early issue of the Agricultural
Gazette, and will be found to contain a considerable amount of information
in regard to the merits of this timber for purposes other than wood-paving.

Distribution —North and south coast districts, but particularly in the
south.

Quantity available —Fairly abundant.

(e) Grey Box (Eucalyptus hemiphloia, F, v. M.)

Name.—Because of its tough, inlocked character, which reminded the
early settlers of Turkey box. Here, however, the resemblance ceases, as
our box is a coarser-grained, duller-looking timber, while in the colonies it
often goes by the name of “ Box,” the adjective “Grey” being used to dis-
tinguish it from red box, brush-box, &c.

Characteristics.—Its toughness, hardness, cross-grained, non-fissile char-
acter, and its great strength. It is a pale hardwood, of a very pale brown.

Principal uses.—It is used in the colonies for the naves of wheels and
heavy framing, and for the cogs of wheels, large screws, mauls, handles,
shafts, poles of drays, &c., which require a tough wood for their manufac.
ture. In Victoria it is in high repute for railway sleepers, and in that
colony and our own for piles, girders, &c. It can be recommended with con-
fidence to railway-carriage builders and others who require a strong, durable
timber for framing, &c.

Distribution.—Coast and coast mountain districts.
Quantity available.—¥Fairly abundant.

3. RED HARDWOODS,
(a) Red Mahogany (Eucalyptus resinifera, Sm.)

(See an illustrated and descriptive article on the various so-called mahoganies of New
South Wales in the Agricultural Gazette for January, 1895.)

Name.—This is the timber called mahogany, because it reminded the early
settlers of the Central American wood, which is, however, of much less
weight than our timber. Our timber-getters and saw-millers as often.as not
call it simply “ mahogany,” but, in view of the better known mahogany so
largely used in the northern hemisphere, it would only lead to confusion, if
our timber were exported without some qualifying adjective. I would, there-
fore, express the hope that it be consistently called, by way of distinction
(at all events in the export trade) “red mahogany,” a term which is, of
course, very largely applied in the Colony to this timber.

Other local names.—* Forest mahogany ” is a term often used.

Characteristics —Of a rich red colour. Very durable, and becoming very

hard with age, even as hard, or harder than ironbark. Resistant to white
ants, and does not discolour paint,

Principal uses.—For general building purposes and for fencing, as it is a
very durable timber. It is an excellent timber for wood-paving, but while not
depreciating its value in this direction for a moment, I would point out that
there is just a little danger of our forgetting the merits of other valuable
paving timbers. Red mahogany is often sold as jarrah, which it closely
resembles, and for which I believe it is a perfect substitute. But there are
fashions and fads in paving-blocks, as in many other things, and European
users of our hardwoods should be reminded that we have a number of other
13

meritorious timbers to offer them. It is of a handsome colour, and works
up well. It may be recommended for large turned work, and for heavy
furniture. It is useful for weather-boards.

Distribution —North coast districts.

Quantity available —Fairly plentiful, though not so readily accessible as
formerly, owing to the great demand for it.

(b) Grey Gum (Eucalyptus propinqua, Deane et Maiden.)
Name.—Because of the dull grey appearance of the bark. The bark has
a roughish appearance, in contradistinction to a smooth and even shiny one,
possessed by so many of our gums. It has smooth white patches in places,
caused by the outer layer of bark falling off. These white patches in their
turn become grey, and the process of exfoliation of the bark is repeated until
robably the whole of the bark on the trunk is shed at one time or another,
Although rather difficult to properly describe, the bark of the grey gum is so
characteristic, that when once pointed out, it could not be confused with the
bark of any other hardwood tree.

Characteristics.—It is so much like ironbark in appearance that it is dificult
to discriminate between the two timbers. That will be the best guide to its
appearance. An expert would usually detect the substitution for ironbark
(if he suspected any substitution), by noting that a chip of grey gum is more
brittle than that ofironbark. It also cutslesshorny. Nevertheless, the two
timbers are wonderfully alike, and for many purposes grey gum is an
efficient substitute for ironbark, for it is remarkably durable. Its inferior
strength, as compared with ironbark, precludes its use as girders of any
length, and when substituted for ironkark in sleepers, the bolts and spikes
work loose in them. I would encourage its use in every possible way for
wood-blocks. The chief objectors to its use at the present time are the saw-
millers themselves, as the logs often contain gum-scabs or gum-veins. At

_ present, where unblemished timber is insisted upon for wood-blocks, a saw-
miller cannot afford to cut up grey gum (although it frequently turns out
unblemished), because of the risk of having it condemned. I have spoken
on this subject in connection with bloodwood (see page 16), and would
emphasise the opinion that wood-blocks should not be condemned because
they contain a few gum-scabs or veins. Such excess of care practically leads
to great waste of really valuable timber.

Principal uses—Recommended for paving-blocks, as already stated. It
is in high repute for posts, having excellent records when employed in this
very trying situation. I have seen it used for felloes and for shingles. It
is very largely used as an ironbark substitute for railway sleepers, &c., which
fact is in itself testimony to its excellence,

Distribution —Northern coast districts.

Quantity available.—Plentiful.

(c) Murray Red gum (Lucalyptus rostrata, Schlecht.)

(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural Gazetze
for February, 1893. ) 7

Name.—This is the red gum par excellence of the Colonies of New South

Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The term “gum” is applied in

Australia to those species of Eucalyptus which have smooth barks. This is

called “red gum” because it has a red timber. I propose the name “ Murray

red gum” for it, as it is abundant on the river of that name, and to avoid
confusion with the closely-related “ forest red gum.”
14

Characteristics —Its red colour, its strength and durability, resistance to
fungus diseases, white ants, teredo, &c. In common with many of its
congeners, it is very hard to work up when dry. A drawback to this
admittedly valuable timber is some tendency to shell off, which limits its use
for such purposes as flooring and decking.

Principal uses.—Its durability causes it to be largely used in the colonies
for posts and piles in damp ground. Itis largely employed in Victoria for
railway sleepers, for which purpose it is undoubtedly valuable, though
inferior to ironbark. Itis an excellent girder-wood. It is a good timber
for wood-paving, though inferior to some others by reason of its tendency
to warp and shrink during the process of seasoning.

Distribution —River banks of the interior, but particularly abundant and
readily available in the valleys of the rivers Murray (which forms the
ereater part of the boundary between New South Wales and Victoria) and
Edwards, one of its tributaries. As regards the Murray, nearly the whole
of the red gum is on the New South Wales side.

Quantity available—Practically unlimited, as the forests ‘where the red
gum grows are liable to inundation, and therefore not available for settle-
ment. For geographical reasons no red gum is shipped at a New South
Wales port, most of this timber going to Victoria.

(d) Forest Red Gum (L£ucalyptus tereticornis, Sm.)

_ Wame.—This tree is very closely related to the Murray red gum, which is
always found near watercourses, or on alluvial country. The tree at present
under notice is always found in open forest country ; hence I recommend
the adoption of the prefix “ forest” tored gum, the name by which it is very
commonly known, with the view to save confusion. :

Other local names——Blue and grey gum, and even others, but these names
are best reserved for other trees.

Characteristics.—Of a deep red colour, hard and inlocked in the grain,

heavy and durable. Apt to warp in seasoning, and with properties much
the same as Murray red gum.

Principal uses.—Much esteemed for fence-posts, its great durability for
this purpose having been long established. Used also for naves and felloes
of wheels, and for general building purposes. Its merits and defects are
much the same as those of Murray red gum, and I draw attention to it as a
meritorious timber for wood-blocks,

Distribution.— Widely distributed in the Colony throughout its entire
length, in the coast and coast mountain districts, and table-lands. It attains
its best development south of Sydney.

Quantity available —Abundant.

(e) Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna, Sm.)
(An illustrated article on this timber will be found in the Agricultural Gazette for
November, 1894.)
Name.—This timber requires some distinctive designation to prevent its
confusion with the pale-coloured blue gum of Tasmania and Victoria. I
have elsewhere called it New South Wales blue gum, by way of distinction,

but as this is such a ponderous name, that of ‘Sydney blue gum” may be
more acceptable.

Other local names.—In the south coast district sometimes it is called
“woollybutt,” because of its confusion with the true woollybutt, the two
15

trees resembling each other a good deal in this particular district. I draw
attention to the matter in this connection, because, in this district at least,
our blue gum is inferior in durability to the true woollybutt, so much so
that it is there rarely used for posts and other underground work.

Characteristics —Of a pale red colour, straight in the grain, comparatively
easy to work, and, therefore, for a hardwood, a favourite with carpenters.

Principal uses.—It is largely used by shipwrights and wheelwrights, and
is a very useful hardwood. It is extensively used for building purposes,
ships’ planks, &c., and is the most widely used of our timbers for felloes of
wheels, Although this timber varies a good deal in quality, much of it, and
particularly that found in the northern parts of the Colony, is very durable,
and has been used with wood-blocks with much success. I confidently
recommend sound, mature, Sydney blue gum for this important purpose.

Distribution —Coast and coast ranges, north and south. -
Quantity available.—Plentiful.

(f) Woollybutt (Zucalyptus longifolia, Link et Otio.)

Name.—The bark is of a dirty grey, brittle, fibrous character, and was
thought to be of a woolly texture. It often resembles box bark a good deal.

Other local names.—This tree often goes by the names of peppermint and
redwood in the south coast district, the latter name being used for obvious
reasons, and the former because the bark resembles that of another Euca-
lyptus tree, known as peppermint, both in texture and in being persistent to
the ultimate branchlets.

Characteristics—Dark red, of a wavy grain, rather heavy, and not unlike
red ironbark in general appearance, for which more valuable timber it is
sometimes substituted. It is a very durable timber, but deficient in strength
and elasticity, particularly near the heart. Many of the trees also are faulty,
and hence it is not a favourite with saw-millers.

Principal uses.—For posts, for which it ig a favourite in the south coast
district, because of its durability. I draw attention to it at the present time
because I look upon it ds a really valuable timber for wood-paving. It is
not our best timber for the purpose, but is of proved value under very trying
circumstances as regards exposure. Like red mahogany and others of our
timbers it belongs to the jarrah class. Although it has been passed off as
ironbark sleepers and even girders, it is an inferior timber on account of its
comparative brittleness, a defect which would not in any way affect its use-
fulness for wood-blocking.

Distribution.—Coast districts, from Sydney southward.
Quantity available.—Plentiful.

(g) Bloodwood (Hucalyptus corymbosa, Sm.)

Name.—So called because of the large quantity of a blood-like fluid (gum
or kino) which exudes from the tree, and which, when indurated, forms the
gum-veins so common in this timber.

Characteristics.—Liability to shell concentrically, the spaces thus formed
being often filled with the red astringent substance known as “gum.” One
of the most durable of all Australian timbers. It does not split at the ends
when exposed to the sun, as many of our timbers do.
16

Principal uses.—For such purposes as a durable timber is required. For
posts in the ground, and for use in culverts, it is all but imperishable. The
great drawback to this timber is its liability to gum-veins, but in spite of
this, I include it in the present list, as I look upon much of the prejudice
against bloodwood as unreasonable. It would be unacceptable for export,
as we have abundance of better timbers, but I certainly think it ought
to be used more than it is where readily available. I would encourage its
use by public officers for fencing, culverts, wharves, &c. Where not too
defective, I should look upon it as an ideal timber for wood-paving. By too
defective I refer to cases where the timber shells too much; but the presence
of gum-veins of moderate width in timbers such as this, and grey gum,
T would not look upon as an important defect in wood-blocks, as this astrin-
gent “‘ gum” tends to preserve the block rather than injure it. I have seen
timber rejected for wood-blocks because of gum-scabs and gum-veins, which
would, of course, be inadmissible in a furniture wood, for instance, but which
would in no way be detrimental to a wood-pavement. The scrupulous care
which is insisted upon in some contracts to reject wood-blocks because of
gum-veins, sometimes degenerates into mere faddism, and it is only possible
to select so severely, because at present we have an enormous timber supply
to fall back upon. I would, therefore, recommend the framing of wood-
block contracts in such a way as to allow the inspecting officer some latitude
in dealing with timber containing gum-veins. Occasionally, bloodwood is
found pretty free from gum-veins, or the veins are wide apart. When this
is the cage it is sometimes cut up for lining-boards in country districts,

Distribution.—Coast districts and Blue Mountains.
Quantity available.—Fairly plentiful.

4, TURPENTINE AND BRUSH-BOX.

Turpentine (Syncarpia laurifolia, Ten.)

(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural Gazette
for July, 1894. A subsequent report has also been furnished to the Minister in
regard to the immunity of this timber from cobra (Zeredo) when used for piling,
and will shortly be published in the Agricultural Gazette.

Name.—From the resinous exudation which flows from between the bark
and the wood when the timber is cut into. It is an unfortunate name, as it
suggests inflammability, and turpentine is one of the most uninflammable of
timbers. In some districts the fresh red-coloured turpentine is called “ red
turpentine” to distinguish it from the chocolate or dark-brown coloured
timber known as “ black turpentine.” They are the same timber, the latter
being either over-matured, or suffering from incipient decay.

Characteristics.—In colour it is usually dull red, but it varies to brown or
purple-brown, as already mentioned. It has very little figure. It requires
careful seasoning. It dulls the saws. Its chief recommendation is its
durability, resisting decay in the ground, whether from white ant or other
causes, while it is one of the best timbers we have for resisting marine borers,
especially if the bark be intact. It is very difficult to burn, a great recom-
mendation io its use in buildings, It will thus be seen that the properties

of turpentine, those at least which give it its value, are mostly of a negative
character.

Principal uses.—Chiefly for piles for bridges, wharfs, and jetties. They
should be driven with the bark intact, as much of its power of resistance to
cobra, &.,is apparently due to the presence of a layer of oleo-resin between
7

the timber and the bark. Turpentine piles resist marine borers in sea-water
better than those of any other abundant timber. In brackish water they are
destroyed by cobra, &c., like most of our other timbers. In fact no unpro-
tected timber is safe in our brackish northern rivers. Turpentine is used also
for fencing-posts, also for pillars and girders in buildings. It is also a useful
second-class timber for wood-paving.

Distribution. —Throughout the coast and coast mountain districts from the
Shoalhaven to the Tweed. Itattains its greatest luxuriance in deep, sheltered
gullies with good soil.

Quantity available—Very abundant, as its chief utilisation at present is
for piles and hewn-posts and rails, since saw-millers dislike it exceedingly, as
it rapidly dulls their saws.

Brush-box (Tristania conferta, R. Br.) ’

Name.— Box” owing to the timber being tough and inlocked; “ brush”
because it is essentially a brush (a colonial word for luxuriant vegetation,
jungle in fact) timber. The name “ brush-box” distinguishes it also from
“forest or grey box’ (Hucalyptus hemiphloia).

Other local names.—‘ Woollybutt” in use in the Port Stephens district
as well as on the Manning.

Characteristics.—Its toughness, strength, and durable qualities. It has a
more than usual tendency to warp and twist, which could be largely counter-
acted by felling at the proper season, and by giving some attention to
seasoning. It is one of the timbers most obnoxious to white ants. It is
pale-coloured, usually brownish to pinkish, and turzing greyish on exposure.
Duills the saws.

Principal uses—The timber perhaps universally used in the northern
districts for tram-rails for haulage of the logs from the forest to the saw-
mill, It is not cut by the iron wheels, but becomes polished by the traction,
while it is eminently durable. Much used for bullock-yokes. I am of
opinion that if proper attention were paid to the time of felling, and if it were
moderately seasoned, it would be a useful timber for paving-blocks. I also
am of opinion that the question of its suitability for bridge-decking should
form the subject of careful inquiry. I have segn inch boards of this timber
exposed to the atmosphere for months without warping; at the samo time
that it warps a good deal if cut all through the year, and never seasoned, is
notorious. Owing to its toughness it is used locally for mallets, chisel-
handles, planes, jaws of hand-screws, &c.

Distribution.—Port Stephens to the Tweed, within the coast range.
Usually in brushes, but often in open forests.

Quantity available—Very large quantities.

5, CEDAR, BEECH, AND PINE.
(a) Red Cedar, Cedar, &c. (Cedrela australis, F. v. M.)

(An exhaustive account of this timber, with a botanical illustration, will be found in the
Agricultural Gazette for August, 1893.)

Name.—Because it is supposed to resemble the pencil cedar (Juniperus)
of commerce; “red” cedar, to distinguish it from the white, yellow, and
brown cedar of this Colony.

Characteristics —Resembles the mahogany of commerce a good deal, with
the advantage of possessing only half its weight. Red, darkens with age, of

5
18

good appearance, while figured pieces are of great beauty. Easily worked,
soft, yet very durable. It would be difficult to exaggerate the good qualities
of this valuable timber.

Principal uses.—The principal timber used in the Colony for the better
kinds of furniture and house-joinery. It would be impossible to enumerate
the uses to which it is put—tresh ones being continually found. A recent
use is for railway keys (between chair and rail).

Distribution —From the Shoalhaven to Queensland, but in greatest
abundance and best quality from the Richmond River to the Tweed.

Quantity available—Only moderately plentiful, having been such a
favourite timber for nearly a century.

(b) Rosewood (Dysoxylon Fraserianum, Benth.)

Name.—Because of the odour of the freshly cut timber.

Characteristies—Of a reddish colour, and has a neat figure. Has a
fragrant rose-odour when fresh, though the perfume is fugitive. A timber
of the mahogany class. Works splendidly.

Principal uses—Furniture, cabinet-work, turnery, carving, and indoor
work of all kinds. It is used for newels, mouldings, and framing of all
sorts. Useful for show-case work, also for planes, levers, trundles, and
studs in roller-boards of organs, &c., window-jambs, screws of hand-screws,
and any uses where a wood a little harder than softwood is required.
Recent test uses are for bee-boxes, broom-handles, and wire-mattress frames.
Has been strongly recommended for wine casks. It will split, and I am
assured it imparts no taste to wine. Very durable and resistant to white
ant, e.g., often used for house-blocks in the Kempsey district.

Distribution —Brush forests, northern districts, from Wyong northwards.

Quantity available —Practically unlimited. I look upon thisasa valuable
reserve timber. Its usefulness will be realised later on, when cedar is even
searcer than it is.

(c) Red Bean (Dysoxylon Muelleri, Benth,)

Name.—To distinguish it from “ black bean” (Castanospermum), but this
is quite unnecessary, as the two timbers are as different from each other as
they can well be.

Characteristics —Red bean may be described as a scentless rosewood, of a
red colour, and possessing a neat figure.

Principal uses—This timber is often sold in Sydney as cedar or bastard
cedar, but it is of sufficient excellence to stand on its own merits. Itisa
good furniture wood, and has a quiet yet handsome figure that looks well
under polish. It can be put to most of the uses that Spanish mahogany is
put. Ihave heard that it is considered valuable for the naves of wheels in
the districts in which it grows.

Distribution.— Northern rivers, particularly the Clarence and Richmond.
Quantity available.—Not large.

(d) Onionwood (Owenia cepiodora, F. v. M.)

This is a useful wood of the cedar class—the wood, in fact, being often
sold as bastard cedar. The name is owing to the smell of the wood, which is
fugitive and therefore not offensive. Used for the same purposes as cedar.
Plentiful in the Richmond River district, and scattered in nearly all the
brush forests of the Tweed.
19

(e) White Beech (Gmelina Leichhardtii, F. v. M.)

(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural
Gazette for May, 1895.)

Name.—This timber is consistently styled beech or white beech, and is the
principal timber called beech in the Colony, although other timbers pass
under the name of she-beech, brown beech, &c. Our timber is paler in
colour, softer, and is quite a different timber to the beech of Europe.

Characteristics. —Pale-coloured,—white with a tinge of brown. As a very
general rule it is plain, but occasionally it shows a neat grain, which is
ornamental. It is rather close-grained and excellent to work. It does not
expand in damp or contract in dry weather if moderately seasoned ; in fact,
it 1s one of our few commercial timbers that can be put to use almost as soon
as it can be converted into sawn-stuff, although, of course, it is better for
seasoning.

Principal uses.—It is used for very many purposes where a timber harder
and more durable than pine, and softer than hardwood is required. Its chief
use is for flooring-boards, chiefly of verandahs, and for decks of vessels,
because it shrinks so little. It would be almost impossible to misplace for
ordinary carpentry purposes, and it is commonly used for house-fittings,
floats of mill-wheels, ships’ blocks, picture frames, &c. It isan excellent wood
for carving, and a well-known vigneron pronounces it to be better than oak
for the larger casks, and vats for colonial wine.

Distribution.—In the coast and coast mountain districts from the
Shoalhaven northward, but chiefly north of Port Stephens.

Quantity available —Not abundant.

(f) Colonial or Moreton Bay Pine (Araucaria Cunninghamit, Ait.)
(An illustrated article on this timber-tree will be found in the Agricultural Gazette for
June, 1895.)

Name.—Called ‘ Moreton Bay pine,” because at one time if was largely
supplied to Sydney from the Moreton Bay (Brisbane) district.

Other names.—‘ White pine,” “Richmond River pine” (because it is so
plentiful in that district of northern New South Wales), and “ Hoop pine.’”*
The origin of the last name is thus explained. The bark is of a toughnature,
and does not readily decay on exposure. The timber itself is peculiarl
liable to decay under such circumstances, and so it happens that when a tree
is felled in the forest and chopped into lengths, if allowed to remain, all the
wood disappears, leaving the bark as a “hoop” or natural pipe, reminding
one of a pipe for water supply.

Characteristics.—A softwood, not of high class. Durable when used for
such purposes as house-fittings, and kept dry, but very liable to decay on
exposure. It is apt to get of a dirty colour with age. Planks often show a
peculiar dotted appearance, comparable to a bird’s-eye maple figure, though
less handsome.

Principal uses.—This is our principal cheap softwood, and will only be
available for local use, as the pine timbers of Europe and America are of
far superior quality. It is largely used for flooring, Jining and ceiling boards,
for packing-cases, and for many other purposes where an easily-worked,
cheap softwood is required. There is one use, and an increasingly important
one, to which colonial pine may be put, and I ask our Richmond and Clar-
ence River millers to take it to heart. I allude to butter-boxes. An
enormous quantity is required every year for New South Wales butter, and
20

yet this Colony, with all its pine forests, fails to supply timber to case its
own butter. I believe the wood to be a suitable one for the purpose, but
some of our northern saw-millers hardly realise that they are allowing a good
trade to slip away. Colonial pine is very light when well seasoned, and it
may be cheaply coated with a thin layer of paraffin, if necessary.

Distribulion—From the Bellinger River to Northern Queensland, the
timber obtained from the high lands near the sources of the northern rivers
being far superior in quality to that growing on the low lands near tke
coast.

Quantity available.—Fairly abundant.

(g) Brown Pine (Podocarpus elata, R. Br.)

We have another timber allied to “colonial pine,” but much harder and
more durable, namely, that one which is variously known as “brown pine,”
“ she-pine,” “ plum pine,” and “berry pine.” The timber is used for mis-
cellaneous purposes, like “colonial pine,” but its most valuable property is
its resistance to white ants and Teredo. Round piles of this timber, with the
bark on, are all but proof against the attacks of Teredo (cobra), even in
brackish water. In fact, some saw-millers say that its power of resistance
to marine borers is absolute, but I doubt this, although it is very rarely
touched.

(h) Cypress Pine (Callitris, of which Frenela is a synonym).

Name.—Under the general name of cypress pine we include a number of
Australian trees which, though not true cypresses, more or less resemble
those trees in general appearance. They belong to the genus Callitris, and
are very closely related to the North African tree (C. quadrivalvis), which
produces the sandarach of commerce. Our principal species are known as
red or black pine (Callitris calcarata, R. Br.), Murray or white pine (C.
verrucosa, R. Br.), Richmond River cypress pine (C. columellaris, ¥.v. M.),
‘and Port Macquarie pine (C. Macleayana, I. v. M.)

Characteristics—Its pleasant odour,—camphoraceous, or sometimes
reminding one of sandal-wood. Its great power of resistance to insect
pests. Itis said to be absolutely resistant to white ant, but that is over-
stating the case. Nevertheless cypress pine is about the very last timber
that white ants will attack. Some of the species, the red or black pine in
particular, produce very showy timber; in fact many of the planks are so
gorgeous in appearance that care is required in using it for decorative pur-
‘poses, lest it should have too overpowering an effect. At the same time
much of the timber is of a quiet handsome character. The prevailing colour
of the figure is brown of various shades. Drawbacks to cypress pine timber
are its brittleness ; it will therefore stand but little transverse strain, and a
nail can hardly be driven into the wood without previous boring, for fear of
splitting the timber. Another drawback is its great inflammability. It may
be readily dressed up to a smooth and glossy surface.

Principal uses.—It is extensively used in buildings liable to attack by
white ants, and I think if its value were better known in the coast districts
it would be employed to a greater extent. It is used to an enormous extent
a couple of hundred miles and more back from the coast for house-blocks,
linings, and ceilings of houses. Land carriage would effectually stand in
the way of our profitably shipping this timber, even if an outside demand
were to spring up for it, of which we have no evidence at present. It is one
of the most luxurious firewoods I know of; it burns well, and in burning
21

emits a delicious tragrance very generally admired. My idea is that the
small pieces produced in saw-mills would sell at a remunerative price as a
superior kind of fuel for drawing-rooms, &c., if people could only readily
obtain it. This may appear to be a trifling matter, but I think that minor
uses of our timbers (and above all, utilisation of waste), should be looked to.
In developing such enterprises of magnitude as the wood-block trade, or the
getting out of railway sleepers and timbers for bridge-work, we should not
lose sight of the smaller possibilities of some of our timbers.

Distribution —Chiefly in the drier parts of the Colony, but some is avai.-
able in the north coast district.

Quantity available —Large.

6. SILKY OAK, SHE-OAK, &c.

(a) Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta, A. Cunn., and Orites excelsa, R. Br.)

(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural Gazette
for September, 1893).

Name.—W hen split on the quarter this timber shows a handsome oak-like
grain, the prefix “ silky” being either because of the silky underside of the
leaves, or on account of the bright appearance of the freshly split wood.
The name “silky oak” has for many years been thought to exclusively apply
to Grevillea robusta, but I have shown that the strikingly similar timber of
the botanically closely-related Orites excelsa also goes under the name of
silky oak.

Characteristics.—Its fissility. It is light in colour, and its handsome
figure has already been alluded to.

Principal uses.—For casks of various kinds, principally wine and tallow.
It has also been largely used for butter kegs. For all these purposes it must
be cut or sawn on the quarter, to avoid leakage or soakage. In the old days
before the advent of galvanised iron, it was almost exclusively used in the
northern districts for milk-buckets and dairy utensils, for which purposes it
gave great satisfaction. The extension of the use of butter-boxes is causing
butter-kegs to be superseded, and therefore increased attention should be
given to the utilisation of this timber for dairy appliances of various kinds,
e.g., hands, pats, and rammers for butter. If our timber merchants would
study the special requirements of butter factories and firms and companies
who deal wholesale in or who export this important commodity, they would
find that it would be to their advantage.

Distribution —Grevillea robusta, in the brush forests from the Clarence
northwards ; Orites excelsa, on the table-lands from Mount Royal in the
Singleton district, northward, in brush forests.

Quantity available-—Grevillea robusta has been so appreciated that it is
not now very abundant, but Orites excelsa is at present abundant, and will
relieve the demand for the other timber. They are practically identical.

(b) Red Silky Oak or Beefwood (Stenocarpus salignus, R. Br.)

A reddish, fissile timber, used locally for furniture, veneers, staves, gun-
stocks, walking-sticks, picture frames, &c. This timber is an efficient sub-
stitute for the northern silky oaks (@revillea and Orites); in fact it has been
long used by the Illawarra dairy farmers for such purposes as butter kegs.
22

Other timbers of minor importance belonging to the Honeysuckle family
are :—
(c) Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera, R. Br.)
Whose wood, or rather the root-stock, has been used for making pipes for
very many years by bushmen. I have heard experienced-smokers say that
it produces the coolest pipes they have ever used.

(d) Honeysuckle (Banksia).

We have two principal species, but although the wood of both is esteemed
locally for various purposes, neither is likely to be in demand outside the
colonies. White honeysuckle (Banksia integrifolia, Linn.) is a pinkish
timber showing a neat grain. It is, however, but little used on account of
its ornamental character, being chiefly employed for ribs and knees in boat-
building, bullock yokes, &c. .Minor uses are wood screws, bow-saw frames,
walking sticks, and clean turnery generally. Red honeysuckle (B. serrata,
Linn. f.) is a coarser, redder timber. It is largely used for boat-knees.

(e) She-oaks (Casuarina of various species).

Name.—All over Australia, in most of the coast districts as well as in the
arid interior, we have a class of trees bearing no leaves, and reminding the
early colonists of the fir-trees of Europe. The trees have, usually, drooping
wiry branches, commonly known as “ leaves,” because they remind one of fir
or pine leaves, and are known as “ oaks” or “ she-oaks,” because of the oak-
like grain of the timber. Various species of she-oak go under the name of
“forest oak,’ “river oak,” “swamp oak,” “bull oak,’ “belar,” “ beef-
wood,” “ black oak.” These are the principal names, but there are a number
of others. Inthe English market the darker kinds are known under the
name of “ Botany oak.”

Characteristics —Our she-oaks vary so much in depth of tint, in the extent
and distribution of the blotchy grain to which the wood owes so much of its
beauty, that it is difficult to describe it by any brief general description.
Some of the deep-red kinds imported into England at one time very largely,
Mr. Holtzapffel, the well-known authority on turnery, describes as “in
general colour resembling a full red mahogany, with darker red veins; the
grain is more like the evergreen oak (Quercus Iler, a Mediterranean
species), than the other European varieties, as the veins are small, slightly
curled, and closely distributed throughout the whole surface. Some speci-
mens are very pretty.” Most of our she-oaks are very fissile, and show a
handsome blotchy oak-like grain, often different, however, in colour. The
timber is hard and heavy, and that of some kinds very tough.

Principal uses.—For shingles, and at one time largely for staves, though
far less at the present time. It is excellent for ornamental turnery work
generally, and for cabinet work, for which it is generally used in veneers.
Then we have such uses as veneer for the backs of brushes, and for what is
known as Tunbridge ware. For all the above uses (except shingles and
staves), I am of opinion that there might be created for various she-oak
timbers a very large demand in Great Britain and the continent of Europe.
Some of them, ¢.g., river oak and swamp oak, are much prized for bullock-
yokes, as their timber is comparatively light and tough, aud the bolts do not
work loose. She-oak timber makes excellent mauls, tool-handles, and very
ornamental walking-sticks, good screws of hand-screws ; in fact, one species
or another may be put to very many useful purposes.

Distribution.—In most parts of the Colony.

Quantity available —Very large.
23

7, BLACK BEAN, MYALL, &c.

Black Bean (Castanospermum australe, A. Cunn.)
(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural
, Gazette for January, 1894).
Name.—That of black bean is given to this timber, because of its dark-
ness—darker than walnut. The tree bears large pods or “ beans.”

Other local names.—Moreton Bay chestnut. The tree was first discovered
near Moreton Bay (the modern Brisbane). The contents of*the pods the
tree bears are very large seeds, resembling in size, and in general appearance,
horse chestnuts. :

. Oharacteristics.—In appearance strongly resembling walnut.. It.is dark-
coloured, fine-grained, and takes a good polish. Very few woods can be
dressed with greater facility. It shrinks in drying, though not excessively
so, and it is well worthy of any attention that may be given it as regards
seasoning. It is of a greasy nature, and will not readily take glue. It is
tough and durable. Showy figured specimens are not uncommon.

Principal uses.—These can be best stated by remarking that black bean is
the usual substitute for walnut in this Colony. It is increasingly coming
into use for furniture and cabinet-making, ‘ :

Distribution.—Northern rivers (Clarence to Tweed).

Quantity available—Fairly abundant, in spite of the fact that stock-
owners have long waged war against it, because the “ beans,” if eaten by
cattle and horses, produce acute indigestion, and even death.

Myall, Brigalow, &c. (Acaeza of various species).

We have a number of intensely hard, heavy, dark-coloured woods, which
smell more or less of violets. They are used chiefly for turnery work.
The trees attain no great size (say 30 or 40 feet) with a trunk-diameter of
12 to 18 inches. They are mostly found in the drier parts of the Colony,
and are plentiful. Considerable railway freights add to their cost, but not
to a prohibitive extent, as these timbers are usually used for small articles,
such as mallets (presentation and otherwise), turned cups and boxes, rulers,
draughtsmen, chessmen, and the better class of turned work generally.

A quantity of this timber has been recently shipped to England, having
been selected by the Ordnance Department for the manufacture of spokes:
for gun carriages. .

“True myall (Acacia pendula), brigalow (Aeacia harpophylla), yarran
(Acacia homalophylla), are the principal timbers of the above class. There
are others, and the quantity available will satisfy any demand ever likely to
be made upon them.

Blackwood (Acacia melanozyon, R. Br.)

This is a valuable and well-known timber, which is used for furniture
carriage-building, and many other purposes. I have shown (see an article
on the subject in the Agricultural Gazette for March, 1894), that this tree
is more widely diffused in New South Wales than is usually supposed, but in
moat of the localities—particularly in the ranges near the Victorian border,
the tree is so distant from markets, as to be only available for use in the
districts in which it is found. It is much more abundant and readily avail-
able in the colonies of Tasmania and Victoria, so that I need not dwell
further upon it in a pamphlet devoted to New South Wales timbers. My
24

readers who desire further information are invited to peruse the article above
referred to. Closely resembling the blackwood in appearance and properties
is the mountain hickory (Acacia penninervis, Sieb.), which is abundant in
many parts of the southern districts. I draw attention to it because it is a
valuable timber, but it has a formidable and perhaps irresistible competitor
in Tasmanian blackwood.

8, MISCELLANEOUS BRUSH TIMBERS.

(a) Tulipwood (Harpullia pendula, Planch.)

This iy one of the handsomest of Australian woods. It is tough, close-
grained, and beautifully marked with different shades from black to yellow,
and, therefore, much esteemed for cabinet-work. Billiard-tables have been
made of it, while it has been used as panels in doors and dadoes, and with
selected pieces the effect may be described as gorgeous. It resembles olive-
wood somewhat in general appearance. Itis a very durable timber. It is
found in the northern brush forests, and is moderately plentiful.

(b) Muskwood (Olearia argophylla, F.v.M.)

The root-stock of this tree, found in the southern mountain districts, is
very gnarled, and, when cut into, the timber is seen to be full of birds’ eyes
and crinkly folds, reminding one somewhat of bird’s eye maple. It re-
quires the most careful seasoning, otherwise it warps and twists badly.
The wood should be cut into veneers, which are so beautiful that they are
worthy of some effort being taken in regard to them.

(c) Flindosa, or Cudgerie (Flindersia australis, R. Br.)

A large tree, found in the northern districts and extending as far south
as Wyong. It is a pale-coloured, generally useful wood, which shrinks but
little in drying. Itis hard, and hence sometimes objected to on that score.
A recent special use is for railway keys. Itis fairly plentiful. It is often
used as a substitute for colonial beech, which it resembles a good deal in
outward appearance.

(d) Native Teak (Flindersia Bennettiana, F. v.M.)

A large tree, chiefly to be found in the brush forests of the Richmond and
Tweed. It is heavy, hard, and difficult to work. Durable in and out of the
ground. Does not discolour water, hence used for well-slabbing. Highly
inflammable when green, but far less so when dry. Recommended for
gearing wheels, which do not splinter with the pressure of one tooth against
another. Fairly plentiful.

(e) Blue-berry Ash (EZlcocarpus).

Species of El@ocarpus, which variously go under the names of “ blue-berry
ash,” ‘‘ pigeon-berry ash,” and sometimes “ mountain ash” and “ whitewood,”
are found in the coast districts, and produce a nice looking, white, tough
timber. On the Richmond River the trees, both in bark and timber, resemble
the cudgerie somewhat. “ Blue-berry ash” is very good for bed-room furni-
ture, staves, oars. It is not a particularly abundant timber, but it is so
bright-looking and easily worked as to be always in demand. I prefer it to
all other colonial timbers for large picture frames, but the supply in the
Sydney market is so fitful that I frequently have to be content with beech,
which is a duller-looking timber.
25

(f) Maiden’s Blush (Kehinocarpus australis, Benth.)

A soft, durable brush timber, useful for turnery and ordinary carpentry
purposes. Itis of a delicate rosy colour when freshly cut, but this fades
into a brownish colour. It is found principally on the northern rivers, and
may be had in fair quantity. This and coachwood may be taken as types
of our useful non-figured brush timbers, a little harder than pine, and used
for many miscellaneous purposes.

(g) Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa, Reissek.)

Although not one of our commonest timbers, I draw attention to this
timber because of the peculiarity of its colouring. When a log is first cut,
ut resembles ordinary ash in colour, and for some time no change is per-
ceptible. After a time it gradually assumes a reddish colour, which deepens
for two or three years, by which time it has assumed a fiery red appearance.
This colouration is superficial, and may be removed by the plane, but its
depth of tint again returns in process of time. It is very ornamental.

(h) Saxifragez.

This natural order contains a large number of trees, some of good size.
Their characteristics are absence of figure (they, therefore, could not be used
for ornamental work), freedom in working, little tendency to split in
seasoning. ‘hey comprise useful timbers, which are chiefly used locally,
and, as their qualities become better known, they will have extended use in
the Colony. I do not anticipate that they will be in much demand for
export purposes, except for such special objects as gun-stocks.

They include such timbers as ‘“corkwood” (Ackama Muelleri), “ coach-
wood” (Oeratopetalum apetalum), a timber which I am assured by a leading
coach-builder, is one of the most valuable timbers in the Colony for coach-
building.

+
26

TIMBERS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES.

Tuts list of special uses of our principal native timbers does not, of course,

profess. to be exhaustive.
to from time to time.

Bee-boxes.
Cedar.
Beech.
Bending Timbers.

Spotted gum.

Blackwood.

; Boat-building.
Cedar.

Boat-knees.
Prickly tea-tree.

White tea-tree and other tea-trees.

Water gum.

Red honeysuckle.
White honeysuckle.
Mangrove.

Boring-rods (for artesian wells).

Spotted gum.

Bridge-decking.
Tallow-wood.
Red mahogany.
White mahogany.
Blackbutt.
Spotted gum.
Murray red gum.

Broom-handles.
Rosewood.
Beech.
Blue-berry ash.
Spotted gum.
Tallow-wood.

Bullock-yokes.
River oak.
Swamp oak.
Brush box.
Hickory or Black wattle.
Mangrove.
White honeysuckle.

It may, however, be suggestive.

Tt will be added

Butter-bowxes.
Colonial pine.

Butter-kegs.
Silky oak.
Red silky oak.

Carriage-building.
(See my article on this subject in the Agri-
cultural Gazette for August, 1894, page 549).
Coachwood.
Red cedar.
Rosewood.
Plumwood.
Beech.
Brown or bully beech.
Colonial pine.
Blackwood and mountain hickory.

Carving.

White holly.

Cheesewood.

Coachwood,

White teak,

Native orange.

Scrub hickory.

Soapwood.

Corkwood.

Long Jack

Rosewood.

Plumwood.

Black bean.

Cedar.

Beech.

Brown pine.

Colonial pine.

Native guava.

Celastrus dispermus. Both this and
the preceding are beautiful white
woods. The Celastrus has no
common name.

There are probably very many other
useful carving timbers.
Ceilings.
Cedar.
Beech.
Colonial pine.
Cypress pine.
Blue-berry ash.
Sassafras.

Cobra-resisting timbers.
Turpentine.
Tallow-wood,
Red mahogany.
Tronbark.

Prickly tea-tree and other tea-trees.

Brown pine.

Cog-wheels.
Teak.
Tea-tree.
: Cricket-bats.

Black pencil cedar.

Dairy utensils.
Silky oak.
Red silky oak.

Doors.
Red cedar.
Pine.
Engraving.
(Bold outlines only.)

Cheesewood (softer and tougher than

Turkey box).
Native cherry.
Wild lemon.

247
Fuel.

Pine-knots (Colonial or hoop pine).
Cypress pine.

Teak.

Box.

Ironbark.

She-oak.

Honeysuckle.

Furniture.
Red cedar.
Rosewood.
Red bean.
Onion-wood.
Black bean.
White ash.
Tulipwood.

Gun stocks.
Cherry.
Blackwood.
Mountain hickory.
Coachwood.
Maiden’s blush.

Handles (axe).
Many wattles. :
Spotted gum.
Mountain ash.
Water gum.

Handles (tool).

Blackwood.
Pigeon-berry ash.
Native cherry.

Brush ironbark, and perhaps other Brush-box.
timbers belonging to the Rutacee Water gum.

and Sapindacee.

Swamp oak.
Grey box.
Spotted gum.

House-blocks (Wooden piers or piles).

Felloes.
Blue gum (sometimes called woolly
butt).
Grey gum.

Floats of Mill Wheels.
Beech.
Mountain ash.

Flooring.
Tallow-wood. :
Beech.

Colonial pine.
Sassafras.

Rosewood.
Cypress pine.
Grey gum. _
Murray red gum.
Forest red gum.
Red mahogany.
Ironbark.

Lining-boards.
Same as “Ceilings.”
Mallets.
Water gum.
Brush-box.

Pigeon-berry or native beech.

Plumwood.
Tulipwood.
Mangrove.

Mauls,
Swamp oak.
Grey box.
Water gum.

Naves.

Rosewood.
Red bean.
Apple.
Spotted gum,
Tronbark.
Grey box.

_ Ocrs.
Blue-berry ash.

Paving.
Tallow-wood.
Blackbutt.
Mahogany.
Blue gum.
Grey gum.
White mahogany.
Spotted gum.
Murray red gum,
Bloodwood.
Turpentine.

Piano-frames.
Black bean.
Red bean.

Rosewood.

Picture-frames.
Beech.
Blue-berry ash.
White honeysuckle.
Blackwood.

Piles.

Turpentine.
Brown pine.

Pipes (tobacco).
Needlewood.
Myall.
Planes.
Brush-box.

Plumwood.
Blackwood.

28

Posts.
Ironbark.
Red box.
White mahogany.
Tallow-wood.
Red gum.
Grey gum.
Red mahogany.
Bloodwood.
Turpentine.

Railway Keys.
Cedar.
Flindosa.

Railway Sleepers.

Tronbark.
Grey gum.
Murray red gum.

Railway Waggon-building.
Ironbark.
Grey box.

Tallow-wood.
Blackbutt.

Screws.
Rosewood.
Swamp oak.
Water gum.
Plumwood.
Native cherry.
Grey box.

Jaws of Screws.
Brush-box.

Shafts and Poles.

Spotted gum.
Mountain ash.
Tronbark.

Grey box.
Blackwood.
Mountain hickory.

Sheaves and Blocks.

Water gum,
Beech.

Blackwood.
Mountain hickory.

Shingles.
Forest oak.
Grey gum.
Red mahogany.
29

Spokes
Apple.
Tronbark.
Spotted gum.
Blackbutt

Staves (for casks).

(See my article, entitled “ Colonial
Timbers for Wine Casks,” in the
Agricultural Gazette for June,

Walking Sticks.

(See my article on the subject in the

Agricultural Gazette for March,
1894).

(a) Whole plant :—

Tea-trees.

Dwarf palms (Mitchinbills,
Walking-stick palms).

Native cherry.

1894). Oaks.
Silky oak. Honeysuckles.
Red silky oak. ae

Black wattle.
Silver wattle.
Mountain hickory.
White ash.
Blackwood.

Red ash.
Tronwood.
Blue-berry ash.
Rosewood.
Coachwood.

Swingle-trees.
Ironbark.
Mountain ash.
Spotted gum.
Blue or flooded gum.

Tram-rails.

Brush box (north coast).
Spotted gum (south coast).

Turnery,

She-oak, especially forest oak.
Rosewood.

Blackwood.

Black bean.

Tulip and many other timbers.

Vats.

Beech.

Veneers.
She-oak.
Tulip.
Figured black bean.
Musk.
Honeysuckle.

Red silky oak.

Sweet root,
and very many others.

(6) Cut out of solid :—

Blackwood.
White honeysuckle.
Forest oak.
Tulip.
Cabbage palm,
and very many others.

Weather-boards

Tallow-wood.
Red mahogany.

Well-slabs.
Teak.

White-ant resisting Timbers.

Cypress pine.
Brown pine.
Red mahogany.

Wrine-casks (see also “ Staves.”)

White ash,
Blackbutt (fissile).
Beech.

Silky oak.
Rosewood.

Silver wattle.
Black wattle.

Wire-mattress Frames.

Colonial Pine.
Rosewood.
INDEX.

Acacia harpophylla ic... sscccrsceseeees
»  omalophylia...
3» melanoxylon .
» penduls ....
3 «© penninervis
Ackama Muelleri ....
Alphitonia excelsa......
Araucaria Cunninghamii.....

 
 
 
  

Banksia integrifolia ...
Banksia serrata ......
Bee-boxes
Beefwood ...
Belar
Bending timbers
Black bean........
Blackbutt
Black oak ...
Biack pine .....
Black tunpentine
Blackwood ..
Bloodwood........
Blue-berry ash .

Blue gum ........
Boat-building...
Bost ‘knees ....,.

  
   
      
   
    
   
   
  

noe oak....,
Bridge- decking
Brigalow... ie
Broad-leaved ironbark .

Broom handles
Brown pine ...
Brush-box ....
Bull oak ......
Bullock yokes...
Butter-boxes ...
Butter-kegs

Callitris cabearata.....ccceceececsenseeane
columellaris
Macleayana.....
» = verrucosa...

Carriage-building ...

a”

Oarving wien

Castanospermum australe 5
CASHATING ie sevisesecesecenes ‘
Oedar csesicsseunseersien a

Cedrela australis ......
Ceilings ...... 0... ws
Ceratopetalum apetalum ae
Coach Wood esicsssesisssseieecs
Cobra-resisting timbers..
Cog-wheels.. oie
Colonial or Moreton Bay pine, i redeatae

   
  

    
  
   
 
  
    
   
  
    

  

  

PAGE

Commercial timbers .......+... dapmanees 6
Common names of timbers 4
Corkwood ....cecccssesescsecenee 25
Cricket bats 27
Cudgerie ...... 24
Cyprees Pine ..vescsssssnsessseceeseveseas 1-20
Dairy utensils 0... cc essteeeserees 27
Doors ..... ete oe 27
Dysoxylon “fraseri MUM 18
# Malellert ereseercccsseveeses 18
Echinocarpus aust lisicccccccsevie 25
FU BOCATPUS — seasenerereosene 24
Engraving .. 27
Bucabyptus aemenoides. 10

55 corymbOsa wo... ~ 1.

eB erebrTa ceases . 7-8

i hemiphloia...... 12

5 longifolia .... - 15

% maculata .... » I

s microcorys » 121

53 paniculata » 7-9

9 piludaris ... « 10

5s resinifera .... « 12

3 rostrata... . 13

9 SALIGNA sisseveeee wr 14

5 siderophloia .... we 7-8

5 sideroxylon .... . 7-9
tereticornis .... . 14

Export LIMbEYS icccesseseeseesssteereee 2
Felloes....ccsessseessseeceeee seatdeeiieas waren 27
Flindersia australis as . 24
‘5 Bennettiana 1 24
Flindosa ....... os 1 24
Floats of mill wheels es 27
Flooring .. asin e383 . 27
Forest oak . 22
» red gum .. 14
Forest wealth of the Colony . cn 1
Frenela ......00. 20
Fuel sisisess w 27
Furnitiare: scsicscinesssavesoearrcesecee 27
Gmelina Leichhardtti v.sccesccisecsues « 19
Grevillea robusta .....6- ee 21
Grey DOKse.scsereee wie 12

» gum... 8-13-14

Grum-ttocks v.c.ccceeeerees 27
Hakea leucoptere .... 22
Handles, axe ......- 27
tool . 27
Hardwoods pale... aveageawavsnnnres 10

 
Hardwoods, red....
Harpullia gendula.
Honeysuckle ......
House-blocks ......

 

Inferior timbers—substitution of ...
Tronbark  viceecssesssseens

Lining Doards.scsessssssssesssonesrersoeaee

Mahogany, sn ee faves ‘

  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 

Mallets
Mauls ..
Merits of ‘timbers ......
Moreton Bay chestnut ...
pine
Mountain hickory....
Mugg sesseeceescseeeneeeee Pr
Murray or white pine ...
yy TEA BFUM  vaceeeaee
Muskwood
Myall ..

Dee e ree rae eee ca tueroneemneneereert

Narrow-leaved ironbark
Native teak

Naves wicsceeees
Needlewood .....ccceseseeeee

  

Oars.....006 wee res
Olearia argophytla
Onion wood .........
Orites ex0CeL8Cb. as vessse
Owenia cepiodora

 

Pale hardwoods .. wic.ccsceseccssesseeeees
Paving......... tees
Piano frames .
Picture frames . r
Piles w...ce.es iain ianiae
Pipes (tobacco) . ‘
Planes 0... ccc ssceseeee
Podocarpus elata .

Posts

 
 
  
    

 
 
  
 

Processes of seasoning ............ ifs
Proper season for felling timbers......
Railway Keys ...cceccssecssecoesenseseeusee
Railway sleepers .........606+ tee
» | Wwaggon-building .... es
Red ash .... - x
» bean... .
» cedar ...... =

sy BUM, Lorest......cveceee sa etins alae A

32

PAGE,
12

22
27

2

1-7. 8

Red gum, Murray..

»» hardwoods..... .
3) ironbark..... i
i er 4 area
$y PINGS ssncnscatneremaincasannvadeseners

» silky ale
River oak .,

Screws.. beeriententints
Seasoned Colonial timbers
Seasoning processes .........6008
Shafts and poles.........
Sheaves and blocks...,
She-oak ...........45
Shingles ...
Suky Oakisisacees scsveseeascsewaziens
Special purposes ‘for timbers.
Spokes........+.. deaatsvtelevn cotevusisties
Spotted pum ..
Staves (for casks) .
Stenocarpus salignus. Sdige sho atanaseiidees “
Substitution of inferior kinds
EMM SL sso. siessdie nanan stage nuiewee aie eani
Supply of seasoned Colonial timbers
Swamp oak........ v8
Swingle- trees ws...
Syducy blue gum .......
Syncarpia laurtfolid....cccccccseesecees

  
 
  

Tallow-wood
Tram-rails ..........
Tristania conferta
True myall.........
Tulipwood ..
Turnery .
Turpentine .icccscccsecconsecessvensessennes

  
  

Vats.......5
Veneers ...

 

ee ssetautieissacihies wiwemiestns
‘Weatherboards .
Well slabs . se :
White-ant resisting timbers.
White beech . Sa

» or grey ‘ironbar .

» Mahogany .

i PMO ssaceersaves
Wine-casks ... 00... ccccseveee
Wire-mattress frames .......
Wooden piers or piles ..
Woollybutt sepa tanalstsnan dens

 
    
   
   

MOEA cssswssvadeaneiiee’

Sydney ; Charles Potter, Government Printer.—1595.