171 



I'ntit. The fruits are called by Sydney boys 'plums," " damsons, " or 

 * cherries." The fruit, which ripens in autumn, consists of an astringent. 

 aromatic, resinous drupe, egg-shaped, and something like a. sloe, sitting 

 upon a fleshy substance of a purplish or damson, colour, which is the 

 "damson." 1 have measured them up to -{-<v inch long (they are depressed) 

 and inch in diameter, and they are probably larger. The "sloe" cannot 

 be eaten, but aborigines and small boys are fond of the "damsons." which 

 liavc no stones, and consist of a pleasant but rather insipid mucilaginous 

 substance, the thin skin being slightly astringent. They rank among the 

 best of 'the indigenous fruits. When ripe they stain the mouth and fingers 

 like black cherries do. 



Timber. The timber is used for miscellaneous purposes, like " Colonial 

 Pine" (Araucaria Cunninffkamn) , but its most valuable property is its 

 resistance to white ants and Teredo. Round piles of this timber with the 

 bark on are all but proof against the attacks of Teredo (cobra) even in 

 brackish water; in fact, some saw-millers say that its power of resistance to 

 marine borers is absolutes but I doubt this, although it is rarely touched. 

 It used to be employed in the Port Macquarie district for staves for tallow 

 casks, and was then called "' Stave-wood." In the Gloucester district it ha> 

 I'M- reputation of shrinking a good deal and being knotty. Locally, it is 

 used for flooring and ceiling boards and dray bottoms. 



Another report says : " Timber light and durable when used for any 

 inside work; it takes a fine polish." We know but little of the uses of this 

 timber, except for piles. Mr. F. M. Bailey says that it is excellent for the 

 spars and masts of vessels. 



I.rown Pine, said to be an excellent timber for flooring boards and house- 

 building. (District Forester Wilshire, Grat'ton.) 



The genus Podocarpus is far more developed in New Zealand than it is 

 in Australia, and the uses and properties of the better known New Zealand 

 limber trees will suggest uses and properties probably possessed, in a greater 

 or less degree, by their Australian congeners. The Totara stands in the 

 '.-cry first rank of Xew Zealand trees; it is one of the best timbers in the 

 world to withstand marine borers; in fact, some comparative tests between 

 tltis timber and the Western Australian Jarrah, made a few years ago by 

 the Engineer to the Auckland Harbour Board, tend to show that Totara 

 ptisssesses greater resistant power than Jarrah. Other Podocarpus timbers 

 of note from the sister colony, are the Matai (P. spicata), which is practi- 

 cally imperishable, the Miro or Black Pine (P. ferruginca}, all the above 

 ! eing grand timbers. There is still another New Zealand Podocarpus (P. 

 dacrydioides), the White Pine or Kahikatca, which by no means bears so 

 good a name for durability as those already mentioned. It is, however. 

 largely used in the manufacture of butter-boxes, for which it is very 

 suitable. 



The genus to which our Bro^ra Pine belongs is even more developed in 

 Asia (chiefly in the tropics) than it is in Australasia. A few species arc 



found in tropical America and in the West Indies, in mountainous districts. 



It also follows the Andes south into Chili and Peru for a considerable 

 distance. It is also found in South Africa. 



. It grows to a height of 90 or 100 feet, with a diameter of 2 or 3 feet. 



Habitat. It extends from the Illawarra to Northern Queensland, being 

 confined to the coast district. It usually occurs in brushes or good soil, 

 and often on the banks of watercourses. 



