728 THE FLORA OF NORFOLK ISLAND, 



as posts in the ground. The knots* formed by the larger limbs of old trees 

 which lose in some measure their regularity of form, are close-grained, and 

 afford handsome material for turning and inlaying " (London Journ. of 

 Bot., ii. 500-501 (1S43). 



Backhouse went on to say that the grubs of the pine afforded 

 food on Norfolk, Phillip and Nepean Islands to the now extinct 

 parrot with long mandibles {N'estoy). 



A manuscript in my possession saj^s : — 



" The Norfolk Island Pine {Altingia excelsa) is seen 100 feet above the 

 other forest trees, and resembles the Norway Spruce, but its tiers are more 

 distant. Fences made of this timber seldom stand 3 years. It is generally 

 used for building purposes, flooring, partitions, etc. ; and when kept dry and 

 not exposed to the weather, it is more durable. The Pine {Arancaria 

 excelsa) is also used for the same purposes, and is of precisely the same 

 quality, but not so lofty as the former. " 



This allesjes that there are two kinds of Pines on the Island. 

 That there are two kinds is believed by a number of people in 

 Australia also, but I could obtain no evidence of a second Pine 

 — not even a slight variety of the normal species. 



This Araucaria bears seeds usually every third year, and there is 

 considerable commerce in them. Although Pines have been 

 recklessly cut down for settlement, and for other reasons, they 

 are abundant still; yet the Islanders have found it necessary to 

 prohibit the felling of them on unalienated land except under 

 close restrictions. The Pine is still planted a little on the Island, 

 but the most notable instance is that of the noble avenue from 

 Longridge to the Melanesian Mission and Orange Vale planted 

 about »0 years ago. It is 1^ miles long. Although I saw pines 

 perhaps taller than those of the same species in the Botanic 

 Gardens, Sydney, yet I saw none so large and symmetrical as the 

 latter. 



This timber is the one alone used for shingles on the Island. 

 Heart shingles last 20 years, and ordinary ones from 10 to 12 

 years. 



*These pine knots were used by Mr. M. V. Murphy, Government Surveyor, 

 for pegs, whenever available. Collins (2nd ed. p. 125) speaks of the people 

 using the knots of the pine tree, "split and made into small bundles, as 

 torches." 



