161 



There is a variety here (Parkes) known as "Ridge Pine," which may be 

 either figured or plain, but is so called because it grows on the sides of hills. 

 Sawyers will not take it if they detect it, as in many cases, though apparently 

 sound at both ends, is pilliy in the middle, and thus cuts up badly. Generally 

 speaking, the best timber lias a rather smooth bark. That with rough curly 

 bark generally indicates a rough curly-grained timber . (Forest Guard P. J. 

 Holds worth.) 



Mr. Osborne's " .Mountain Pine/' is C. rolnixia. Mr. lloldsworth does not 

 send specimens of his " Eidge Pine," but it would appear to include robusia, 

 and also the Red or Black Pine (calcarata), and it is perhaps a name given 

 to inferior timber of both kinds. 



Timber. The name White Pine has been attached to this tree because 

 of its glaucous foliage. Sometimes its timber is nearly destitute of figure. 

 I have " Mountain Pine " from the Acting Forester at Thackaringa, near 

 Broken Hill, whose timber is but small and of a rich colour. 



The white is the one most used for all building and fencing purposes. How- 

 it comes to be called "white" I cannot explain, as the sap-wood only is white, 

 while the heart-wood is invariably in lighter or darker shades of red. (Forester 

 Kidston, Condoholin.) 



White 1li< durable timber: Hlack IMne no good. (A. Murphy, Murrumbid- 

 gerie. I Mibbo. I 



The white, red. or yellow varieties, as far as I can gather, are of one species; 

 the bran.-hlets are light in colour of bark, also the fruit-cones as compared 

 with the Black IMne. These three distinctions are made owing to the respec- 

 tive colours of the lines running through the timber, but no difference exists 

 as to their durability in works. The white, red, and yellow varieties are in 

 great demand throughout the Western district for house-building. It i seems to 

 dry quickly, and has some wonderful records for durability. For example, I 

 have a reliable record of a White Pine post, 20 inches in diameter, put into the 

 ground near Wellington, infested with white ants. It was removed after 

 thirty years, and was quite sound except sap-wood, and of the consistency and 

 colour of iron. It is a capital timber for house-building purposes, but is rarely 

 used in Sydney owing to the expense of bringing it so far by rail. I failed to 

 liiid a single instance recorded in the Western districts where white ants 

 attacked the timber after it was dry, and the majority of the houses, &c., 

 around the towns of Dubbo and Wellington are built of this timber. It is also 

 forwarded for upwards of KM) miles by rail for building purposes, and invari- 

 ably gives satisfactory results as long as the black variety is not used. (J. V. 

 de < 'oque. ) 



The pine timber is the most useful timber here for buildings, telegraph-posts, 

 and posts for \vire fencing, and is not so liable as other timber to the attack of 

 white ants. Ii takes a good polish, and 1 have seen shop-counters made from 

 the same. It is also much used for ceilings, and looks remarkably well, and 

 remains sound under the ground for many years. (Forester Payten, Corowa.) 



The White Pine is a valuable timber, and is used extensively for building, 

 fencing, and telegraph-poles. It stands well in the ground, especially if the 

 bark is left on the part that is put underneath the surface. For building pur- 

 poses it is indispensable, and nearly all the wooden buildings in town and 

 country are made from this wood. It keeps sound for a long time, but housed 

 made of this timber will not bear moving, as it splits and breaks very easily 

 while being taken to pieces, so they cannot l>e erected again with any degree 

 of neatness. (Forester Postlethwaite, Grenfell.) 



This is one of the most useful trees, used mainly for saw-milling and fencing 

 purposes, and is of hardy growth. (District Forester Osborne. Cootamundra.) 



This timber is very free from knots, and easily worked, and is considered by 

 builders and carpenters as the best of our pine, and is used for all building 

 purposes. It takes a very fine polish, and is very handsome in the grain. This 

 pine is proof against white ants. I have often seen them moving over it to 

 attack other timber, and would not attempt to touch the pine. (Forester 

 Smith. Dubbo.) 



t 94031 F 



