35 



experts have been more taken with this timber, as a rule, than with any 

 , otfter Australian hardwood. There is a future before Red Mahogany. It 

 ll^J"^!!."* ^^^ most durable timbers we have, being greatly resistant to damp 

 and the attacks of white ants. Mr. Hill, speaking of Queensland timber 

 many years ago, states that it is used for piles, and it is said to resist the 

 ac^on of cobra. We want further evidence in the direction. It burns with 

 ditticnlty, and is hence preferred for fencing. It is used for ships' knees, 

 ahmgles posts, and general building purposes. Rafters of this wood were 

 removed m 1852 from St. John's Church, Parramatta (erected in 1-798), 

 and were found to be in perfect condition. It is an even-grained timber', 

 which works easily, and hen<;e is one of the favourite hardwoods of carpen- 

 ters. The notes on Ironbark tree (_E. resinif&ra) in Laslett's work on timbers 

 do not belong to E. resinifera at all, but probably to E. siderophloia. Pro- 

 fessor Warren made determinations of the specific gravities of two 

 specimens of this timber, which, in 1887, weighed 75-06 and 72-23 lb. per 

 cubic foot respectively. Three years later they weighed 62-21 and 62-23 lb-, 

 per cubic foot respectively. 



"In a green state the timber is not specially hard, but when seasoned 

 becomes so. The timber is specially suitable for shingles, as it does ,not 

 discolour or damage the water and lasts well." (The late Mr. Augustus 

 , Rudder.) 



Size.—From 2 feet to 5 feet in diameter, with a height of 100 feet and 

 more. 



Hahitut. — It is coniined to Eastern ISTew South Wales and Queensland 

 So far as this State is concerned,, it is chiefly a tree of the North Coa.'-.t 

 districts. Nevertheless, it occurs sparingly as far south as Conjola, near 

 Milton, and northerly as. far as North Queensland. 



It was formerly common around Sydney, and even now it is found in a 

 number of suburbs, e.g., Burwood, Homebush, ITornsby, Hurstville, Suther- 

 land, George's River, &c. Westerly it occurs as far as the Kurrajong; also 

 Springwood, on the Blue Mountains. 



Northerly it will be found on the Hawkesbury River, Morrisset, Bulla- 

 delah. Port Macquarie, and so on to the Clarence and Tweed. In Queens- 

 land it is to be found at Eight-mile Plain and Maroochie. 



On the Blue Mountains it is common near the 38-mile post (road) on 

 Lapstone Hill, near Springwood, Faulconbridge, &c., and was not noticed 

 past Linden by Mr. Cambage and myself. It is not rare, and has a stringy 

 bark with rich, dark, coarse, umbrageous foliage. It is a handsome species. 

 On the Blue Mountains the buds may have almost hemispherical or longer 

 opercula, but still shorter than the common coast form. 



A large-fruited form may be found at Conjola in the south, Currawang 

 Creek (near Nelligen), Otford (near National Park), Manly (north of 

 Sydney), Wyong, Bungwall, Timbarra (near Tenterfield), and other 

 localities. It insensihly runs into the coastal Queensland E. pellita, P.v.M. 



It is said that the tree prefers hard and gravelly ridges. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 11. 



A. Twig witli mature leaves^ buds, and flowers, also juvenile leaves. 



B. Anther, front and back view, 

 c. Normal or small fruits. 



D. Large fruits (transit to E. pellita, F.v.M.). 



