22 



Other timbers of minor importance belonging to the HonBysuckle family- 

 are : — 



(c) Needlewood {Saleea leucoptera, R. Br.) 



"Whose wood, or rather the root-stoek, has been used for making pipes for 

 Tery many years by bushmen. I hare heard experienced- smokers say that 

 it produces the coolest pipes they hare ever used. 



(d) Honeysuckle {Banhsia). 

 We have two principal species, but although the wood of both is esteemed 

 locally for various purposes, neither is likely to be in demand outside the 

 colonies. White honeysuckle {Banksia integrifolia, Linn.) is a pinkish 

 timber showing a neat grain. It is, however, but little used on account of 

 its ornamental character, being chiefly employed for ribs and knees in boat- 

 building, bullock yokes, &c. .Minor uses are wood screws, bow-saw frames, 

 walking sticks, and clean turnery generally. Eed honeysuckle {B. serrata, 

 Linn, f.) is a coarser, redder timber. It is largely used for boat-knees. 



(e) She-oaks {Casuarina of various species). 



Name. — All over Australia, in most of the coast districts as well as in the 

 arid interior, we have a class of trees bearing no leaves, and reminding the 

 early colonists of the fir-trees of Europe. The trees have, usually, drooping 

 wiry branches, commonly known as " leaves," because they remind one of fir 

 or pine leaves, and are known as " oaks" or " she-oaks," because of the oak- 

 like grain of the timber. Various species of she-oak go under the name of 

 "forest oak," "river oak," "swamp oak," "bull oak," " belar," "beef- 

 wood," " black oak." These are the principal names, but there are a number 

 of others. In the English market the darker kinds are known under the 

 name of " Botany oak." 



Oharacteristics. — Our she- oaks vary so much in depth of tint, in the extent 

 and distribution of the blotchy grain to which the wood owes so much of its 

 beauty, that it is difficult to describe it by any brief general description. 

 Some of the deep-red kinds imported into England at one time very largely, 

 Mr. HoltzapfFel, the well-known auth'ority on turnery, describes as " in 

 general colour resembling a full red mahogany, v/ith darker red veins ; the 

 grain is more like the evergreen oak (jQuercus Ilex, a Mediterranean 

 species), than the other European varieties, as the veins are small, slightly 

 curled, and closely distributed throughout the whole surface. Some speci- 

 mens are very pretty." Most of our she-oaks are very fissile, and show a 

 handsome blotchy oak-like grain, often different, however, in colour. The 

 timber is hard and heavy, and that of some kinds very tough. 



Principal uses. — Eor shingles, and at one time largely for staves, though 

 far less at the present time. It is excellent for ornamental turnery work 

 generally, and for cabinet work, for which it is generally used in veneers. 

 Then we have such uses as veneer for the backs of brushes, and for what is 

 known as Tunbridge ware. Eor all the above uses (except shingles and 

 staves), I am of opinion that there might be created for various she-oak 

 timbers a very large demand in G-reat Britain and the continent of Europe. 

 Some of them, e.g., river oak and swamp oak, are much prized for bullock- 

 yokes, as their timber is comparatively light and tough, and the bolts do not 

 work loose. She-oak timber makes excellent mauls, tool-handles, and very 

 ornamental walking-sticks, good screws of hand-screws ; in fact, one species 

 or another may be put to very many useful purposes. 



Disirihution. — In most parts of the Colony. 



Quantity available. — Very large. 



