206 



lo^ The knotted appearance is artificially produced by gashing 

 4^^!. the plants during growth. 



4tin„. .^ ]N^0. 503. Wood of the Beech (Fagus sylvatica, L.). 

 A fine forest tree, affording a valuable tenacious and 

 flexible wood. Amongst the articles exhibited made of 

 Beech are sabots, saddle frames, boxes, carpenters' planes, 

 lasts for bootmakers, and a series of specimens illustrating 

 the manufacture of Golf clubs. 



On the outside of the Case, is a bullock yoke from 

 France, made of Beech. 



No. 504. Beech oil, obtained in Northern Germany 

 from the fruit of the Beech '(Beech-mast), used for food 

 and burning. 



No. 505. Refuse of Beech-mast, after expressing the 

 oil. Used as fuel. 



No. 506. Specimens of the wood of the Tasmanian 

 Myrtle {Fagus Cun^iinghamii, Hook.), abounding in 

 the forests of Tasmania ; often attaining a height of i:00 

 feet, with a girth of 40 feet. The wood is beautifully 

 marked, and is used for cabinet work in the Colony. 



Willow Order (Salicineae). A group of trees, well 

 represented by our Sallows, Osiers, and Poplars. Two 

 genera alone constitute the order, namely, Salix and 

 Populus. 



CASE No. 507. Wood of White Willow {Salix alba, L.). 

 126. It is light and tough, and is used for various purposes. 

 The young wood is made into charcoal, for the manu- 

 facture of gunpowder. Specimens of the wood and char- 

 coal are exhibited by Messrs. Curtis and Harvey ; also 

 a series of photographs and wood specimens illustrating 

 the manufacture of Cricket Bats, the best of which are 

 generally believed to be made of White Willow. 



Near these are samples of Salicine, the active principle 

 of the Willow. It has been obtained from more than 20 

 species of Salix^ as well as from several species of 

 Populus^ but the barks of S. alba, L., *S'. Caprea, L., 

 S. fragilis, L., S. pentandra, L., and S. purpurea^ L., are 

 said to yield the largest quantity. Willow barks and 



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