236 TIMBEE 



and ironbark piles were used in a railway bridge over the 

 Fitzroy River, Rockhampfcon, and the sleepers were of 

 ironbark. The roadway curbs of the Herbert River timber 

 bridge, Gairlock, were of Moreton Bay ash. 



Swamp Mahogany, somewhat resembling the West Indian 

 wood, is hard and close grained and suited for underground 

 work or piles. 



The Paper-barked Tea Tree (Melaleuca leucadcndroii) is also 

 valuable for underground work and piling. 



Gldgee or Gidia (Acacia lionialophyllon) is a small tree 

 producing prettily-marked wood, and is used as a substitute 

 for briar pipes. 



TIMBERS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



Although the second largest in area of the Australian 

 colonies, South Australia has by far the smallest forest area; 

 with an acreage nearly equal to that of West Australia it 

 has only one-thirtieth of its forest area ; it is to a large 

 extent a treeless State. 



There are some tracts of the Red Gum (E. rostrata), the 

 Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon], the Sugar Gum (E. corynocalt/x) , 

 and Grey Box (E. hemiphloia), all useful for railway and 

 general purposes, and the Sugar Gum for piling. Pepper- 

 mint (E. odorata) is a useful hardwood for ordinary pur- 

 poses, and Blackwood is also found in some districts. 

 The She Oak, as in New South Wales, and the Tea Trees 

 (melaleuca and leptospermuni) are to some extent valuable 

 because of the durable nature of their wood, which is close 

 grained, hard, and heavy, when used underground or in 

 water. The native pines make fairly durable telegraph 

 poles, lasting from fifteen to seventeen years ; otherwise 

 they are of little value except for fences and fuel. 



