TIMBERS. 
Tue timbers of Australia are the most valuable of all the un- 
cultivated vegetable products. The indigenous trees are numerous, 
both as regards species and individuals, but we must confess that 
our knowledge in regard to their timber lacks precision. To 
reconcile the different conflicting statements in regard to certain 
timbers will be the work of years, and can only be accomplished 
by the generous co-operation of people in all parts of the colonies. 
At least, as far as New South Wales is concerned, the author 
ventures to express the hope that dwellers in different parts of it 
may favour him with small specimens, sufficient in size for critical 
examination, of each timber in their neighbourhood, with samples 
of the bark, flower, and fruit, and attached to each parcel the local 
vernacular name. On most stations there is an_ intelligent 
employee to whom the task of getting together such specimens 
could be entrusted. 
Mr. William Hogarth, of Momba, Wilcannia, has com- 
municated to the author the following observation on the 
durability of timbers :— 
“In any locality, wherever a particular kind of tree pre- 
dominates, that timber will last longest in the ground—for instance, 
the Mulga where Mulga predominates, that is in dry situations, 
while in damp situations, where ‘‘ Box’”’ predominates, the Mulga 
soon rots, and Box lasts longer in the ground. Where Oak 
(Casuarina) predominates, Mulga and Box will rot sooner than 
Oak, and so on.” Mr. Hogarth made these observations, having 
had many old fences to pull down on his run, and in putting up 
new ones he acts as much as possible keeping this in view. 
, 
These conclusions have been combated by some gentlemen from 
Western New South Wales to whom the author broached the 
subject. The matter is, however, worthy of ventilation, and the 
author would much like to receive communications on the subject 
from various parts of the colonies. 
