32 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



The pores are small and evenly distributed. The medullar}' rays are 

 numerous, fine, pEirallel, and equidistant. 



Blackbean. Castanospermum australe, Cunn. ^^'eight, 40 lbs. 

 (Baterden). New South Wales, Queensland. 



The merits of this timber are well known in Australia, but it was 

 comparatively unknown in England until utilised in an exhibition at the 

 White City, where a room was completely furnished and panelled with it. 

 Blackbean has an attractive appearance, showing various shades of brown 

 traversed with black streaks, and is often handsomely mottled, so that it 

 resembles slightly bleached East Indian walnut {Albizzia Lebbek). It is 

 close in texture and with the plane 5rields a fine surface that looks very 

 well when polished ; it is also well adapted for carving. 



Blackbean is used for the panelling and general woodwork of the 

 Ubrary at Australia House, London. The wood gives a most handsome 

 and effective appearance to the richly decorated and carved work, which 

 was carried out by Messrs. WyUe & Lochhead at a cost of £7000. The 

 panelling in the High Commissioner's room is cdso of this wood. 



The pores are visible, rather large, moderately numerous, and plugged 

 with microscopic cists (thyloses). They are scattered and are either fovmd 

 soUtary or grouped in minute radial series, up to five pores in number. 

 They are surrounded by an almost white tissue, which extends and tapers 

 in a tangential direction and may link on to the next mass, thus giving 

 rise to concentric hght Unes. The excessi^•ely fine and numerous rays 

 are invisible to the naked eye. 



Blackbutt. Eucalyptus pilularis, Sm., E. patens, Benth. Weight, 

 57 lbs. 5 oz. Western Australia. 



This is a close-grained, hard wood of a dull brown colour. In common 

 with aU the other Eucalyptus species, it shows a marked inequaUty of the 

 hard and soft grain in se£isoning ; it also warps and twists and is inclined 

 to crack. It has been used in London for wood pavements, but not witli 

 very satisfactory results. It expands and contracts continually, and for 

 this reason it often causes trouble. It is tough and durable, and, in 

 common with other Australian timbers, and particularly the Eucalypts, 

 it has strong fire-resisting qualities. 



Blackbutt is a very useful timber for railway waggon building, and 

 for this large quantities have been used in place of oak, and the results 

 were fairly satisfactory. 



The pores are numerous and in groups ; they are partly plugged. 

 The medullary rays are extremely fine and irregular. 



