l80 K£W SOUTH WALES. 



has been left in the hands of bushmen for half a century, has now 

 developed into a regular Sydney manufacture, the recognition of the 

 value of needlewood beiug looked upon as of some importance, 

 especially in view of the failing supply of briar-root. 



The two silky oaks and the needlewood all belong to the Protea- 

 ceae ; to these I will add the honeysuckle [BanJisia). These trees are 

 present in the coast districts in countless millions, and prefer poor, 

 rocky, or sandy soil, some of them being found on the sea coast. As 

 a rule they are gnarled and picturesque, and have flowers called 

 honeysuckles or bottle-brushes. Their timber is of an inferior 

 character as a rule, its chief specific use being for boat-knees. 



TuU2)-ivood. 



The tulip-wood [HarpnlUa pendula, Planch.) is one of the hand- 

 somest of Australian woods. It is tough, close-grained, and marked 

 with different shades from black to yellow, and is therefore much 

 esteemed for cabinetwork. With selected pieces the effect may be 

 described as gorgeous; it is also very durable. It resembles olive- 

 wood somewhat in general appearance. It is found in our northern 

 brush forests, and is moderately plentiful. 



Eoot-stock for Veneers. 



I would like to draw attention to a fact often lost sight of — namely, 

 that the gnarled roots of trees often produce timber of great beauty. 

 In fact, in clearing, the most beautiful timber is often left in the 

 ground. The number of trees whose root-stocks produce ornamental 

 timbers suitable for veneers, &c., is very large, and includes, amongst 

 others many specimens of the ever-present Eucalypt, It is only in 

 special instances that it will pay to utilise these root-stocks, but I 

 would advise attention to the matter, as I am convinced that a market 

 may be fostered for veneering woods. 



Concluding Bemarhs. 



In this little essay on New South Wales timbers it is obviously 

 impossible to describe with any detail, or even enumerate, many of 

 the miscellaneous timbers of onr forests, and I have Lad to content 

 myself with referring to the principal of them. I shall be satisfied if I 

 have given some idea of the variety and A'-alue of the timber wealth to 

 be found in our State forests, and I trust that the hands of the Forest 

 Department may be strengthened in its efforts to conserve this 

 valuable national heritage — the property of the whole of the Colony. 

 By reasonable conservation we may have an abundant timber supply 

 for our own use, while discharging the trust we hold for posterity in 

 regard to our timber wealth. Meantime, I plead for a wider interest 

 to be taken in our trees and our timbers, and that in place of the 

 apathy which exists in the minds of so many worthy citizens in regard 

 to them, it may be realised that study of them is not only full of 

 interest, but, as a mental discipline alone, worthy of attention by the 

 best intellects of the Colony. 



