lo March, 1910. 



T lit Slip pi )• of Biiticr Boxes. 



181 



The Department fstinuitcs tliat there are 40,000,000 feet of pine on the 

 10,000 acres, but L understand this is a low estimate. It will be noted 

 that the miller may not cut a tree less than 80 inches in ^irth, 5 feet from 

 the ground. He must also erect a wood distillation mill costing ^5,000 

 in addition to a sawmill costing ;^5,ooo. 



I also enclose two maps, a number of photographs, copy of the last 

 report issued by the Director of Forests, a list of the principal timber 

 merchants in (Queensland, and a number of other i)articulars, all of which 

 are self-explanatory. 



T feel sure that those engaged in the dairying industry in Victoria 

 would be well advised to obtain butter boxes made of Queensland hoop 

 pine, and that a considerable saving would therebv be effected. 

 I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient sevxant, 



R. \'. jJlLLlS. 

 The Hon. thf Minister for .A.iiricultu.re, Melbourne 



quep:nsla\'d timhkk for butter boxes. 



Analyses by /. C. Brunnich, Agricultural Chemist, Brisbane. 



The watery extracts were obtained by letting sawdust of the timbers soak for 

 twentv-four hours in water. They were almost tasteless, that is, the extracts had 

 onlv the very slightest woody taste and there was no difference between the 

 samples. The extracts of the Queensland timber were quite colourless and that of 

 the New Zealand of a light yellow colour. 



The amounts of extractive matters taken up by the water, of special importance 

 in the use of these liudjers for butler boxes, are the lowest in the Queensland 

 timber, particularly in the second well seasoned sample which is lo be considered 

 in its favour. 



Another point of importance is the amount of water absorbed by the timbers, and 

 again the manner in which such water is given off when limbers are exposed to the 

 air, as a criterion of the porosity and capillarity of such limbers. The experiments 

 show that no difference exists in regard lo these properties between our Queensland 

 and the New Zealand pine. 



The second sample of the Queensland timber, a well seasoned wood, was heavier 

 than the first half seasoned sample; it was a much closer grained wood from a different 

 locality. 



These experiments conclusively contradict any objection that Queensland finf 

 could give a peculiar flavour lo the butter. 



