S22 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804 



feet, but at Port Philip it is found 

 cood to four feet ; its limbs are 

 f-rooked, and perhaps it might be 

 advantageously used in the upj^er 

 works of ships, for knees, Sec. 



The tea- tree has its name from 

 the leaf also; it is small and very 

 curly. As far as I kno-.v, it has 

 never been used in building, but 

 from its appearance while standing 

 I should think it might answer in 

 small crafts and boats. 



The pear-tree is so called from its 

 bearing a fruit resembling a pear in 

 shape, but of the hardness of wood ; 

 it grows straight ; its largest size 

 sixteen inches, and is only fit for 

 joiner's work. 



The apple-tree takes its name 

 from the leaf ; the limbs are large 

 and crooked, and running from two 

 feet to two and a half, might pro- 

 bably answer for framing and knee- 

 ing ships, but has never been tried. 



The fig-tree is the banyan-tree of 

 the East Indies, well known for 

 its branches striking downwards and 

 taking root ; the wood of it is en- 

 tirely useless. 



It may be remarked that all the 

 large timber trees of New South 

 Wales, except those growing in 

 swamps, are unsound in the hearts : 

 this probably proceeds from insuf- 

 ficiency of moisture as well as from 

 the continual firing of the grass in 

 tlie forests, which must dry up the 

 sap of the young trees. It also de- 

 serves to be noticed, that several 

 of the gums, iron, and stringy bark, 

 mahogany, and box trees, whicli 

 were felled at the first establishment 

 of the colony, are now perte6tly 

 sound and hard, though exposed to 

 the weather for fifteen years. 



From the fool, of the Blue Moun- 

 tains* specimens of three or four 



kinds 



* This is an elevated rirlsie runninc: in a rfiroctinn be^fwcen the E.N. E. nnd E. and 

 BOtmore tliaafivelenj:;ues from the banks of Hawksbury at Richmond Hill. All beyond 

 this ridge is literally (a terra incognita), for tliou^jh several at'tcmpts have been made 

 to pass them, not one has yet sucrceded ; but it' is probable these failiu'cs hxwe 

 proceeded more from want of proper method, or of common perseverance, than 

 from any obstacles presented by the inoiintains themseUfs, for the hic;hebt part of 

 the ridce does not appear to cqunl the comtnon mountains of Wales and Ireland. 

 Upon this subject (as well as upon others of the colonial system) we may apply the 

 remarks of a learned writer, " Projects thoup,h dcspciate in days of ignorance 

 have, in more enliiihtened times, been brought to a successful issue," and " inrii.i 

 viduals have often failed in their attempts for want of public encourajjeiuent, qnti 

 public enterprizes from want of concurrence among individuals." 



Weight of cubic foot of the tiittber of New South Wales. 



