146 



for all time, and the Coast sawmills will be kept in motion cutting Rosewood 

 day and night for years to come. I sincerely trust no allied species will lie 

 exported ; if so, our trade may get disturbed, and the genuine material 

 imperilled. The virtues of Rosewood cannot be overrated; and no one knows 

 this better than yourself. 



Again : 



There is a tremendous feature for this wood, and it is worthy of careful 

 nursing and protection, more especially as Red Cedar is now nearly extinct (iu 

 New South Wales). Rosewood alone is a most valuable asset to the Stale, and 

 I would go so far in championing its claims as to suggest special legislation 

 for its protection, i.e., have special Forest Reserves set apart for it where 

 abundant, treat it and guard it as if it were one of the precious metals. 



Surely something is economically wrong when wo have a timber like this, 

 admittedly possessing properties which render it valuable, which has to be 

 destroyed because cut-throat competition prevents timber-haulers and 

 sawyers getting a living wage for hauling and cutting it. 



Responsible buyers of New South Wales timbers in other countries have 

 told me, in practically these words: "You New South Wales people arc ;i 

 pack of fools to give away your timber for the price you do; your timber 

 merchants are using its plentifulness for the purpose of cutting one another 

 out in foreign markets." 



This is strong language, and it is for students of political economy to 

 suggest a remedy. Certainly the timber-fellers and haulers, and the owners 

 of country mills, do not reap much advantage from many kinds of colonial 

 timber. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 8H. 



A. Flowering branch. 



n. Flower, showing () Calyx, (?>) Corolla, (c) Slaminal tube, (<?) 

 Stigma. 



c. Flower opened out. showing () Corolla, (?>) Staminal tube s t<> 

 10 toothed, (c) Tubular disc, (cZ) Pistil. 



n. Anther. 



K. Pistil. 



F. Fruits. 



o. Ripe capsule, showing four deep-orange coloured seeds. 



IT. Part of capsule showing seed with arillus and manner of attach- 

 ment. 



THE RED BEAX. 

 



Dysoxylum (fryftoxylon) Muelleri, Bentli. 



Botanical Name. Muelleri, in honour of the late Baron von. Mueller. 



Vernacular Names. It bears various names, viz., " Pencil Cedar " and 

 " Turnip Wood," both given from the smell of the wood. " Red Bean " is, 

 however, the commonest name, and one not applied to any other tree, so- 

 far as I know. It gets its name because it is supposed to resemble the 

 timber of the Black Bean (Castanospermum australe) except in colour,, 

 which is red, but the name is a little far-fetched. 



Timber. Red Bean may be described as a scentless Rosewood, of a red 

 colour, and possessing a neat figure. Both bark and sapwood have a strong, 

 turnip-like odour when fresh; it departs on drying. It is often sold iu 

 Sydney as Cedar or Bastard Cedar, but it is heavier than that wood, and 



