On Colonial Timber Trees. 49 



If the sap is extracted by any means, the pores of the 

 timber shonld be refilled by some preservative. 



I do not think any of the colonial timber can be fairly tested 

 until it has been felled at the fittest period and carefully sea- 

 soned before being used. I proposed some time since, to make 

 a series of experiments with various timbers, and I do not 

 know any subject which is of more importance to the State. 



The importance will be seen when the amount of timber 

 is considered which is being used for our railways, &c., if by 

 judicious felling, seasoning, &c., 25 per cent, longevity can 

 be obtained, that is, one-fourth more durability. Of course 

 the difference of durability is at present unknown, but as 

 many of the ordinary gum-wood railway sleepers have 

 decayed in from five to seven years, it is to be hoped that 

 some considerable improvement may be effected. 



The sleepers alluded to were supposed to have been blue 

 gum, but I believe them to have been ordinary mountain 

 gum, which is known as bastard box, or bastard peppermint. 

 These timbers blend in appearance so much from circum- 

 stances of locality, that it is most difficult to decide between 

 them, even -vyhen growing, and utterly impossible when sawn. 



The various kinds of timber best known in Victoria as 

 being most distinct, are the red gum, ironbark, stringybark, 

 box, blackwood, mountain or white gum, messmate, and 

 pejjpermint ; the latter three are those which blend and 

 most assimilate one another ; as also what is termed the 

 bastard box, which sometimes assumes the ajjpearance of the 

 box, and sometimes more nearly the peppermint. 



The true Box has fine and thin bark, small leaves, slightly 

 curled or wavy grain, and is generally found on quartz or 

 schistose ranges. The box, when obtained from these ranges, 

 where the growth of the tree has not been rapid, is, I believe, 

 a valuable timber ; I have seen some of it used in railway 

 rolling stock, and it stood well. 



The Peppermint is of little use ; the messmate is used 

 chiefly for rough fencing ; the stringybark {Eucalyptus 

 ohliqua) is used for clean fencing, also for shingles and 

 palings, and is, in my opinion, a valuable timber for beams, 

 flooring joists, &c, as it is a very strong wood, very straight 

 in the grain, and only, I think, requires more care in felling 

 and seasoning to become a favourite timber.* 



* Sincu writing this paper, I have seen Dr. Von Mueller, and he has 

 advised me not to give the Botanical names without a careful identification, 

 ad there are several species of peppermint and boi. 



E 



