77 



ribbony, more like a cross between E. tereticornis and a Box than a true 

 Box (Merriwti Creek). 31any trees in the .Merriwa and Cassilis districts 

 have, more than is usual, the appearance of a Gum than a Box. 



In the Gulgong district, often with a considerable amount of clean stem. 

 Timber. This is sometimes a remarkably gnarled, twisted tree. 



The timber is pale-coloured, not white, but palo yellow, seasoning to a 

 pale brown. It is remarkably interlocked, tough, hard, heavy, and durable. 

 In the south I have rarely heard the timber spoken of other than in terms 

 of unqualified praise. In. the north I have heard a few disparaging re- 

 marks, and two well-known experts say: 



Not liked as posts in Liverpool Plains and Mndgee district. People will not 

 accept it for posts for wire fences or for any other purposes if they can help 

 it. (Jesse Gregson and J. D. Cox.) 



Another northern opinion says : 



As a useful timber it nearly lasts in the ground twice as long as Box, and 

 should be very valuable for mining purposes, as nearly every tree about would 

 make lengths that would be long enough for this purpose. I wish to have it 

 saved from the ring-barker. (James Brogan, Attunga.) 



Following are some additional northern opinions, or, rather, opinions on 

 the timber as it is found in the north. 



Wood is very good for fencing material, but for saw-milling and building 

 purposes it is, in my opinion, inferior to E. hemiphloia, Grey Box. (W. Dunn, 

 Acacia Creek, Macpherson Range.) 



Yellow Box, E. melliodora, a very hard and durable timber, but has not been 

 used on account, no doubt, of the difficulty of working it. (Henry Deane, 

 speaking of Glen Innes to Tenterfleld trees.) 



It is said to be durable both in water and under the ground. The opinion 

 of some Candelo (South Coast) people differs, however, on this point. A 

 correspondent says : " It is here considered the best timber all round, but 

 does not, as far as I can learn, last long in the ground." There are many 

 instances of such contradictory statements in regard to our native timbers, 

 showing how much room there is for independent inquiry. 



In many parts of the country it is much esteemed for posts, being looked 

 upon as almost imperishable in the ground. It is excellent for culverts. It 

 is often pipy, particular in the dry west, but it is without doubt one of the 

 most valuable trees the State produces. 



It is often found with White or Grey Box (hemiphloia), in which case it 

 is preferred to the latter, which is so hard and so difficult to split or square. 

 This is the practical objection workmen have to it. 



Mr. Deane says 'that much of this timber was used for posts and rails 

 near Cudal on the Forbes line. 



Size. It is commonly 60 to 80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1 to 2 

 feet, but is not one of our largest trees. 



Habitat. The Yellow Box occurs in "Victoria, New South Wales, and 

 Queensland. As regards Victoria, Howitt says that it grows in a scattered 

 manner over almost the whole of the State, lowlands and highlands alike, 

 but nowhere exclusively as a forest. 



The same observation can be made as regards Xew South Wales. It is 

 found from south to north, in the mountainous country and tablelands, far 

 away into the Riverina, and into country very dry, though not the driest, 



