xxxvii.] KAURI PINE. 297 



elude the Kauri Pine timber from competing with the 

 Fir timber brought to this country from the Baltic, for 

 ordinary building purposes. 



Kauri Pine, when used for masts, yards, &c., is un- 

 rivalled in excellence, as it not only possesses the 

 requisite dimensions, lightness, elasticity and strength, 

 but is much more durable than any other Pine, and 

 will stand a very large amount of work before it is 

 thoroughly worn out. 



All the thriving and healthy trees have from 3 to 5 

 inches of alburnum or sap-wood very distinctly marked 

 in them, even when fresh cut. The duramen or heart- 

 wood is of a yellowish-white or straw colour, moderately 

 hard for Pine, strong, clean, fine, close, and straight in 

 the grain. It has a very pleasant and agreeable odour 

 when worked, planes up well, and leaves a beautiful 

 silky lustre upon the surface, resembling, in some degree, 

 the plainest Satinwood. It shrinks very little, and stands 

 well after seasoning ; further, it takes a good polish. It 

 is, therefore, valuable for conversion into planks and 

 boards, and is very suitable for cabin and other fitments 

 in ships, for joiners' work generally, or for ornamental 

 purposes. 



It is also employed for the decks of yachts, as, from 

 the regularity of its grain and the absence of knots, it 

 looks much better than the Dantzic Fir that is commonly 

 used. It wears, besides, more evenly, and does not require 

 the reconciling or planing over, which is frequently found 

 necessary if other woods are worked. 



The Kauri Pine is generally sound, and free from the 

 defects common to many other descriptions of timber ; 

 it very rarely has more than a slight heart-shake, even in 

 old trees ; the star and the cup shake are also rare ; it 

 is, therefore, a remarkably solid timber, and may be 



