182 



Two months later Phillip wrote: - 



The barracks and all buildings in future will be covered with shingles, which 

 we now make from a tree like the pine-tree in appearance, the wood resembling 

 the English Oak. (Barton's History of X.8.W., i, 301.) 



This is the earliest record of " She Oak " for shingles, a use to which it 

 is extensively put up to the present day. 



A Plea for the Cultivation of She Dales. 



I would draw attention to the merits of this tree as a substitute for the 

 everlasting Pinus insignis of California, which seems to he grown im- 

 moderately in New South Wales. C. suberosa grows in the poorest soil, 

 provided it he stony and well drained. It has a pine-like habit, and is even 

 more graceful than most pines, does not attain a very large size, and forms a 

 copse or an avenue which has a very pleasing appearance. 



I go further, and say that if Australians would only take it into their 

 heads to grow their She Oaks (and we have species for salt-water, fresh- 

 water, for arid situations, and sterile places) they would be charmed at the 

 result. A well-grown She Oak is one of 'the most beautiful trees in Aus- 

 tralia, and affords a pleasing contrast to the trees mostly grown, and in 

 most cases suits our climatic conditions far better than the imported pine*. 

 The seed is very cheap (anyone can gather a few cones, place them on a 

 sheet of newspaper and let them shed their seeds), the seed readily germi- 

 nates, the trees are remarkably free from disease, grow rapidly, and their 

 timber, apart from other uses, forms the best fuel we have. 



Casuarina lepid op 111 'oia, E.v.M 



THE BELAII. 



Botanical Name. Casuarina, owing to the resemblance of the branch- 

 lets to the feathers of the Cassowary (Casuarius) ; lepidopldoia, Greek le/>i*. 

 lepidos ( Latin squama) a scale; pldoios, the inner bark or smooth bark of 

 a tree, hence scaly-bark. 



Vernacular Names. This tree is rarely called by any name other than 

 its aboriginal one (Belah). In some districts, e.g. (Grenfell) it is known 

 as "Bull Oak," but this should be reserved for C. Luehmanni. 



Following is confirmation of the statement that the " Belah " is also 

 known as " Bull Oak " by some people : 



In pointing out that " Belah " and " Bull Oak " are really different tree>, 

 Mr. Dalton, of Wanaaring, states: ''The Belah is always called about Wanaar- 

 ing by the name of Belah, and the only time I have heard it called 'Bull Oak '" 

 is by people coming from inside districts." 



The name '' Black Oak" is in use at Mount Lyndhnrst, S. A. (M. Koch). 



Aboriyinal Names. "Belah," or " Belar," is the name almost universally 

 in use. At the same time, I am unable to say what tribe in Belah country 

 used it. Mr. Bailey quotes Mr. Watkins as giving "Billa" in use for C. 

 ftlauca by the Stradbroke Island (Brisbane) aborigines. It is therefore 

 possible that " Billa " or " Belah " is an aboriginal name for Casuarinas in 



