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7. BLACK BEAN, MYALL, &c. 



Black Bean {Oastanospermtm australe, A. Cunn.) 



(An illustrated article descriptive of this timber will be found in the Agricultural 



Gazette for January, 1894). 



Name. — That of black bean is given to this timber, because of its_ dark- 

 ness — darker than walnut. The tree bears large pods or " beans." 



Other local names. — Moretou Bay chestnut. The tree was first discovered 

 near Moreton Bay (the modern Brisbane). The contents of' the pods the 

 tree bears are very laige seeds, resembling in size, and in gener-al appearance, 

 horse chestnuts. 



Characteristics. — In appearance strongly resembling wainut. It. is dark- 

 coloured, fine-grained, and takes a good polish. Very few woods can be 

 dressed with greater facility. It shrinks in drying, though not excessively 

 so, and it is well worthy of any attention that may be given it as regards 

 seasoning. It is of a greasy nature, and will not readily take glue. It is 

 tough and durable. Showy figured specimens are not uncommon. 



Principal uses. — ^These can be best stated by remarking that black bean is 

 the usual substitute for walnut in this Colony. It is increasingly coming 

 into use for furniture and cabinet-making. 



Distribution. — Northern rivers (Clarence to Tweed). 



Quantity availalle. — Pairly abundant, in spite of the fact that stock- 

 owners have long waged war against it, because the "beans," if eaten by 

 cattle and horses, produce acute indigestion, and even death. 



Myall, Brigalow, &c. (Acacia of various species). 



We have a number of intensely hard, heavy, dark-coloured woods, which 

 smell more or less of violets. They are used chiefly for turnery work. 

 The trees attain no great size (say 30 or 40 feet) with a trunk-diameter of 

 12 to 18 inches. They are mostly found in the drier parts of the Colony, 

 and are plentiful. Considerable railway freights add to their cost,, but not 

 to a prohibitive extent, as these timbers are usually used for small article*, 

 such as mallets (presentation and otherwise), turned cups and boxes, rulers, 

 draughtsmen, chessmen, and the better class of turned work generally. 



A quantity of this timber has been recently shipped to England, ha.ving 

 been selected by the Ordnance Department for the manufacture of spek^s 

 for gun carriages. 



True myall {Acacia pendula'), brigalow (Aeacia harpophylld), yairan 

 (/Icacia Ao5»oZop%,ZZa), are the principal timbers of the above class. There 

 are others, and the quantity available will satisfy any demand ever likely to 

 be made upon them. 



Blackwood {Acacia melanoxyon, E. Br.) 



This is a valuable and well-known timber, which is used for furniture 

 carriage-building, and many other purposes. I have shown (see an article 

 on the subject in the Agricultural Gazette for March, 1894), that this tree 

 is more widely diffused in New South Wales than is usually supposed, but irx 

 most of the localities- — ^particularly in the ranges near the Victorian border; 

 the tree is so distant from markets, as to bo only available for use in the 

 districts in which it is found. It is much more abundant and readily avail- 

 able in the colonies of Tasmania and Victoria, so that I need not dwell 

 further upon it in a j)amphlet devoted to New South Wales: timbers. My 



