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Supply of Seasoned Colonial Timbers true to Name. 



As a consistent advocate for many years of the use of colonial 

 timbers, I have become familiar with the oft-repeated objection, " What is 

 the good of advocating the use of colonial timbers when we rarely can buy 

 any already seasoned ? " It is a fact that very few varieties of seasoned 

 timbers are kept in stock by our timber merchants. Timber merchants are 

 like other tradesmen in endeavouring 'to keep a stock of any article that 

 will sell, but we cannot expect them to run their business en sentiment; 

 in other words, to convert their timber yards into sample museums. Conse- 

 quently, in the first place, we require to educate our own people in regard 

 to the merits of our timbers, and then they will endeavour to use more of 

 them. I think that, as regards the general public, a certain amount of 

 sentiment would not be out of place in endeavouring to encourage the use 

 of colonial timbers. I mean that, having satisfied himself that a certain 

 colonial itmber is suitable for a certain purpose, the Australian citizen, 

 might well put himself to a little trouble to cause his want to be supplied. 

 .New timbers of a new country have to work their way to public recognition, 

 and it is often far easier to continue to use an old and well-tried timber than 

 to use an Australian substitute, however meritorious. 



Felling Timber at Proper Season. 



It is a matter of regret that, in the Australian States, timber-trees are 

 felled the whole year round. It is generally accepted as a fact that timber 

 from trees full of sap is more prone to warp and split, and even to decay, 

 than timber from trees at rest i.e., when the sap is down. No general rule 

 can be laid down for all trees, all districts, and all seasons; but the simplest 

 guide to the timber-getter is, where possible, to avoid cutting when the tree 

 is seen to be bringing forth new leaves. It would not be possible, under the 

 present conditions of the timber trade, to carry out this rule in its entirety. 

 but sawmillers would find it to their ' advantage to pay some attention to 

 the matter, as it would improve the quality of their timber. The period of 

 rest is, of course, usually winter with most trees. Perhaps midwinter would 

 not be the very best season for felling our trees; in Europe oak is felled 

 just as the leaf -buds are bursting, the timber being then much more elastic 

 than if felled in the depth of winter. Of course, our winters are far milder 

 than those in Northern Europe, but we do not know that we may implicitly 

 follow European practice. I have made these few remarks with the view to 

 initiate a discussion on the best season for felling our trees. If the State 

 were to establish timber depots, it might exercise some control over the 

 periods for felling timbers in the different districts. At the present time, 

 timber-getters and sawmillers will admit readily enough that timber should 

 not be cut all the year round; but with the present cut-it-while-you-wait 

 system which obtains, a reserve stock of logs is not felled (say) in the 

 winter, to be hauled subsequently; but as a log is required it is felled there 

 and then. With a proper system of scientific forestry we ought to have a 

 close season for timber, just as we have for game-birds. 



The Telegraph Department, in brush-cutting its lines, finds it necessary 

 to study the seasons, otherwise the last state of the job is worse than the 

 first; but, generally speaking, those who cut our logs do not trouble about- 

 such refinements as that. It is also to be borne in mind that, in the same 

 forest, different species may be in different states of development as regards, 

 rest. 



