4 



Seasoning Processes. 



Some attention is being paid in the Colony, with fair success, to artificial 

 processes for seasoning timber. Our native timbers are mostly dense and 

 heavy, and are therefore peculiarly difficult to deal with. This matter of 

 seasoning is important, as the natural drying process proceeds very slowly 

 with hardwoods. A drawback to most artificial processes is that they impair 

 the strength of the timber. 



Felling of Timber at proper Season. 



It is a matter for regret that, in the Australian colonies, limber-trees are 

 felled the whole year round. It is generally accepted as a fact that timber 

 from trees full of sap is more prone to warp and split, and even to decay, 

 than timber from trees at rest, i.e., when the sap is down. No general rule 

 can be laid down for all trees, all districts, and all seasons, but the simplest 

 guide to the timber-getter is, when possible, to avoid cutting when the tree 

 is seen to be bringing forth new leaves. It would not be possible, under the 

 present conditions of the timber trade, to carry out this rule in its entirety, 

 but saw-millers would find it to their advantage to pay some attention to the 

 matter, as it would improve the quality of their timber. If the State were 

 to establish timber depots, it might exercise strict control over the periods 

 for felling timbers in the different districts. At the present time timber- 

 getters and saw-mUlers will admit readily enough that timber should not be 

 cut all the year round ; but with the present cut-it-while-you-wait system 

 which obtains, a reserve stock of logs is not felled (say) in the winter, to be 

 hauled subsequently, but as a log is required it is felled there and then. 

 "With a proper system of scientific forestry we ought to have a close season 

 for timber just as we have for game-birds. 



Common Names of Timbers. 



Our trade with other countries in timber will be mainly confined to our 

 hardwoods, and therefore it is of paramount importance that a uniform 

 system of nomenclature (at least for export purposes), should be agreed 

 upon. I make the suggestion that our hardwoods should bear the oflicial 

 names given at pages 7 to 15. 



However successful we may be in adopting an official vernacular nomen- 

 clature for export purposes, it is impossible to expect a uniform use of 

 vernacular names in the Colony itself. People in one district look at the 

 tint of the hark of a tree and call it " Blue gum"; in another district the 

 wood is looked at, and, because it is red, the tree gets the name of " Eed- 

 gum." These names are held with wonderful pertinacity, and, however 

 desirable it may be, uniform names for many trees will never be agreed to. 

 "With our variable trees it may be that, as fresh diff"erences are realise<i by 

 the public, the number of names for what is really the same tree may 

 increase rather than diminish. There are, however, some trees, such as 

 bloodwood, that are known by the same name in all parts of the Colony. 



Botanical Names of Timbers. 



Botanical names will sometimes be omitted in referring to the timbers 

 dealt with, to avoid repetition, but, in order that no doubt may arise as to 

 the particular timber referred to, following is a list of the botanical names 

 which have been so omitted. 



