213 



diarrhoea, with intense griping, and he says it does this whether it was 

 previously soaked in water or even roasted. He states that no poisonous 

 principle is removed by water, and no part of the plant is bitter. 



Having considered these seeds as food for human beings, let us consider 

 them as food for domestic animals. 



Stock-owners have long waged war against this tree, owing to the fact 

 that cattle and horses are poisoned through eating the seeds. 



The li'.-ives also are found to be injurious, and animals which take to 

 eating them become very fond of them, and when taken away return long 

 distances to these trees, and according to some accounts become affected 

 similarly to animals which eat the Darling pea, and, if not carefully looked 

 after, they will pine away and die. Following are some interesting notes in 

 regard to bean poisoning on the Richmond River : 



3 was a dry season, and grass scarce. informed me that he had 



lost over 100 head of cattle by bean-poisoning. Next day my attention was 

 drawn to a few cattle in the stockyard said to be poisoned by eating bonus. I 

 inquired of the stockman if he had any proof that they had eaten beans, when 

 he pointed to a beast that had died the day before, and beans had been taken 

 from its stomach. In reply to my question he said he expected some of the 

 cattle in the yard to recover. They appeared much purged, discharging thin 

 watery fa>cal matter. Cattle seem to be attracted by the bright green appear- 

 ance of the beans as they lie upon the ground. Many cattle and horses on the 

 lUchmond have been lost from bean-poisoning. - lost a valuable entire 



horse and cattle in this way, and many others have similar experience. It 



appears to attack horses in a different way from cattle. informed me 



that while removing horses from a paddock in which the bean-tree was grow- 

 ing two of them died without previously showing any symptoms of poisoning. 



The seeds are also rapidly fatal to pigs in some cases, probably when 

 devoured on an empty stomach. Opossums are stated to be fond of 

 them. 



" I consider the presence of a saponin in the beans undoubtedly proved, and 

 the toxic effects of the bean are due to this glucoside." Bruunich. 



There is an interesting paper entitled " The Poisonous Effects of the 

 Black Bean (Castanospermum australe) on Cattle," by S. T. D. Symons, 

 M.R.C.V.S., Chief Inspector of Stock, in Agric. Oaz. N.S.W., March 1911, 

 p. 196. 



Timber. It is easiest described by stating it strongly resembles walnut. 

 I have always endeavoured to urge moderation in advocating the claims of 

 colonial timbers, feeling sure that our timbers have received a good deal 

 of harm from indiscriminate praise; but, having kept Black Bean under 

 observation for a number of years, and having caused large quantities of 

 it to be worked up into various articles, I think very highly of it. I look 

 upon it as scarcely inferior to walnut. People sometimes complain of it 

 that it warps and splits a little, but it does not do this if it receives the 

 seasoning that cabinet woods receive in the northern hemisphere. Let 

 Black Bean be felled when the sap is down, and given a reasonable amount 

 of seasoning, and I do not hesitate to say that it may be pitted against 

 walnut without disgrace. Black Bean is easier to dress than even cedar; 

 in fact, it is almost perfection as regards the ease with which a surface 

 can be got on it. It polishes readily, but the grain is inclined to rise under 

 polish. This timber often shows a beautiful figure; planks which have the 

 figure in bands, like the marking of an agate, are really gorgeous. 



Size. A fair average height for the bean tree would be 60 feet or 70 f eet, 

 with a trunk diameter of 2 feet or 3 feet. At the same time it frequently 

 attains a height of nearly double this, with a diameter of 5 feet or 6 feet. 



