58 



of Queensland and New South Wales, where the annual rainfall 

 is over forty inches. There it does not form pure stands but is 

 found mixed with other trees in the higli forest over a dense 

 underwood. 



The tree coppices freely and vigorously and may be raised 

 from cuttings without difficulty. It bears heavy crops of seed, 

 usually every two years, and these being very light and winged, 

 are readily distributed by the wind. One pound of red cedar 

 seed contains about 70,000 seeds. This feature makes the tree 

 particularly suitable for areas in Hawaii where it is desired 

 to secure an extension of the forest by natural reproduction. The 

 seed requires full sunshine for germination, and being intoler- 

 ant of shjirJe it will not grow under other trees. The power of 

 the seed to germinate is not retained over a lengthy period and 

 the seed must therefore be sown soon after it is harvested. 



The seed, when fresh, has a very high percentage of germin- 

 ation, however, and the young seedlings exhibit very raoid 

 growth, develop a strong root system and are very amenable to 

 nursery treatment. 



The Australian red cedar tree, shown in the accompanying 

 illustration, is growing on Tantalus and is 30 feet high and 

 4;o. inches in diameter at breast height, 2^ years from planting. 

 Red cedar trees at Koloa, Kauai, have gro vn just as rapidly 

 as neighboring eucalyptus trees, but have a larger stem diameter. 

 In its native habitat the red cedar shows au average diameter 

 growth of one inch per year over a period of 200 years and v/ill 

 attain a total height of 200 feet, a clear bole length of 100 feet, 

 and a maximum diameter of over 10 feet. 



The chief value of this red cedar is for its wood, which is 

 very similar to mahogany but lighter. It is prized very highly 

 in Australia for use in furniture and piano making, turnery, 

 boat building, window blind frames, carriage and general house 

 construction. It seasons w^ell, is durable, is immune from boring 

 insects, and is susceptible of a high polish. If is especially 

 valued for the making of racing boat shells on account of its 

 light weight and strength, and choice veneers are cut from the 

 junction of the branches with the stem. The bark contains a 

 considerable quantity of tannin, which produces a purplish 

 leather. 



The Australian red cedar, on account of its ease of propa- 

 gation, rapid growth, and valuable wood products, gives great 

 promise as one of the future timber-producing trees in the Terri- 

 tory of Hawaii. Fortunately, much progress has already been 

 made toward its establishment in these islands. To Mr. E. C. 

 Smith of Honolulu, who was familiar with the tree in his native 

 country, must be given the credit for the introduction of the 

 red ced.ar to these islands. In 1914 he imported 200 of the trees 

 from Australia and these were planted at Kunia in Honouliuli, 

 Oahu, in a region of very scanty rainfall. These were culti- 

 vated and cared for by the Kunia Development Company, under 



