48 On Colonial Timber Trees. 



myself to the popular names of the different timbers by 

 which they are known commercially and to the artizan, 

 instead of giving the botanical names, as the timber desig- 

 nated aloDe by its botanical name would be nearly unknown 

 in the timber market. 



It is quite evident, most timber merchants requested to 

 supply certain timber designated by its botanical name, 

 would be at a loss to understand what timber was required ; 

 for instance, if an order were given for 1000 cubic feet of 

 English Ash, and it was described as 1000 cubic feet of 

 Fraxinus Excelsior, the timber merchant would look with 

 astonishment, and perhaps think he was being hoaxed ; so 

 it is here, the timber is generally known by its colonial name, 

 and to those names I propose to confine myself 



The first object of this paper is, to arrive at the proper 

 time for felling the various timber trees. 



In other countries, the opinion is that all timber should 

 be felled when the tree is in its most dormant state. There 

 is httle doubt that the fittest time for felling is when 

 the tree is most dormant, and as it is termed, when the 

 sap is down ; this assumed, there are two periods of the 

 year when the colonial timber trees are in that state, viz., 

 at midsummer and midwinter, but both these periods may 

 vary a month or so, according to the late or early rains, for 

 most of the trees make growth early in the spring, when 

 they bloom, and then seed about midsummer, push a second 

 growth early in autumn, and are slightly dormant about 

 the early part of winter ; but the latter period is rather 

 indefinite. 



As there always will be a difficulty in determining in winter 

 when the tree is positively dormant, I propose felling at 

 midsummer, that is when the seed is ripe upon the tree. 



The different timber trees will vary slightly in their time 

 of seeding, as also in the various localities, but not to any 

 great extent. 



I am of opinion the trees should remain six or twelve 

 months after felling ; in their bark, to prevent the sun acting 

 on the timber and splitting it. 



It is a prevalent opinion that the sap should be drawn 

 from the timber by immersing it in water ; but with this I 

 differ, as I believe the congealed sap in the timber is the 

 strongest preservative, because timber that I have seen used 

 which has been steamed, and the sap so drawn out, has 

 decayed in a few years. 



