432 ON GRASS-TREE GUM, 



and possibly, if the purification were undertaken on a larger scale, 

 these might be turned to account." 



Uses. 



The aboriginals prepare cakes of it for the purpose of fastening 

 on the heads of spears, &c. But I have no doubt that a good deal 

 of the " black gum " which is frequently referred to in books as 

 being used for that purpose, is the product of a Myoporum, probably 

 M. platycarpum. 



The complete heads of W.A. spears are " stained with the gum 

 of Xanthorrhoea to render them smooth and impervious to mois- 

 ture" (Brough Smyth, i., 336, 340, 341). 



Grass-tree " gum " is frequently used instead of shellac, in the 

 manufacture of inferior sealing wax. 



It is used by Chinese polishers, and also by some Europeans, as 

 a substitute for shellac in French polishing ; but its use for such 

 a purpose is to be deprecated for the following reasons: — Work 

 done with it is more or less sticky at first, though afterwards it 

 frequently becomes so hard and brittle as to peel off" like blistered 

 paint. The result, whichever of the two things happens, is that 

 French polish cannot subsequently be used on the article except 

 after stripping. Other objections are that the wood darkens and 

 often shows a play of colours. Also, water leaves white marks if 

 splashed on the grass-tree gum polish ; from benzoin or shellac 

 polish it can be wiped off" without injury. 



Mr. Charles Moore (Rep>orts, Sydney Int. Exhibition, 1879), 

 states that grass-tree gum is " used for coating the bottoms of 

 punts and small boats, and is said to be a good preservative." 



It could probably be used in candle-making, for it burns by 

 itself with a bright flame, and mixes with fat in all proportions. 

 It is used in the manufacture of sealing-wax, lacquers, japanners' 

 gold size, &c., and generally as a substitute for shellac. "An 

 excellent spirit varnish " is said to be made from this resin by 

 adding to about one gallon of methylated spirit (cold) about 2| lbs. 

 of " gum," about | lb. of common resin, and \ lb. of shellac, and 

 then straining through a muslin cloth. 



