197 



7. There are two methods of constructing such a key. The first is the " trial and error " method 

 of examining more and more material until a key is secured which proves to be accurate and reliable. The 

 second method is logically more direct and scientific. This method of attacking the problem is to study 

 the limits of the variability of anatomical characters in different plants, to endeavour to isolate and analyse 

 the factors which control or regulate this variability, and to attempt to formulate laws for forecasting 

 the variability of selected characters in a given species or environment. 



8. There are undoubtedly important economic fields of usefulness for the student of plant anatomy 

 in the study of problems connected with the decay, seasoning, preservative treatment, pulping, chemical 

 utilisation and classification and identification of wood; but the business man should jealise the fact 

 that the problems to be solved are complex and difficult, and that results of economic value are not likely 

 to be secured without prolonged and painstaking work. 



The discussion which followed the paper is also well worth reading. 



Paper Pulp. 



The first important Australasian report on this subject is " Feasibility of 

 Manufacturing Paper Pulp from Tasmanian Timbers " (Tasmanian Parliamentary 

 Paper No. 8, 1915), by Henry E. Surface, Consulting Engineer in Forest Products, 

 Madison, Wis., U.S.A. 



The Eucalypts reported on were — 



" Swamp Gum " (E. regnans F.v.M.). 

 " Blue Gum " (E. globulus Labill.). 

 " Stringybark " (E. obliqua L'Her.). 



He also reported on Myrtle or Beech (Fagus Cunninghamii Hook.). 



His conclusions, although unfavourable, are valuable, and are set out at p. 10 

 as follows : — 



(1) That Myrtle (or Beech), Swamp Gum, Blue Gum, and Stringybark are very much the same 

 so far as their wood-structure and pulp-making characters are concerned. 



(2) That these woods are all very short-fibred. 



(3) That these, woods contain relatively large amounts of water-soluble materials, of materials 

 easily soluble or destroyed by paper pulp digestion processes, and of non-fibrous cellular materials. 



(4) That they are not suitable for th 1 manufacture of paper pulp by either the sulphite or the 

 mechanical (grinding) process. 



(5) That they are suitable for the manufacture of bleached paper pulp by the soda process; that 

 the soda pulp is of excellent quality, and suitable for use as the main constituent in the manufacture of 

 book, magazine ; coated, lithograph, map, cord, cover and common envelope and writing paper. 



(6) That the yields of pulp from these woods arc comparatively very small, and the wood 

 requirements high; that Stringybark affords the most favourable results from the yield standpoint, but 

 Blue Gum is the more favourable when volume and weight of pulp wood are considered. Swamp Gum is 

 the least desirable. 



(7) That more than ordinary amounts of chemicals and coal are required for the manufacture of 

 soda pulp from the woods in question. 



(8) That the cheapest and most reliable source of pulp wood in. Tasmania would be to conduct 

 bush operations similar to the existing sawmills, but bringing in more or less desirable logs; that the 

 sawdust is not a suitable material for pulp-making by present-day commercial methods; that most of 

 the sawmill waste is not suitable or not sufficiently available for pulp-mill purposes. 



