89 



last for many years. Much, of course, depends on the state of the timber. 

 iwhere it is cut down, and tlie time of the year when this is done. The timber 

 of the fence referred to was taken from a sound, healthv tree that had not 

 begun to decay, and it was cut down in the winter. As a rule fences last 

 longer on moist or swampy ground. 



In many parts it is used for house blocks, as white ants do not like it, 

 nor is it liable to dry rot. 



It was formerly largely palmed off as red ironbark, but while inferior to 

 ihat timber on account of its comparatively brittle nature, its durability in 

 and on the ground will always commend it to thpso willing to employ our 

 native timbers on their merits. 



Size. — It is a large forest tree. Mr. Andrew Murphy says that at Wyong 

 it " grows very large — 8 or 9 feet in diameter — and a great height.'" The 

 late Mr. Forester Benson, of Bega, says : " I have seen trees fully 180 feet 

 in height and 5. feet in circumference." Mr. Forester AlleJi, of Moruya, 

 gives the height of the trees at from 80 to 150 feet, with a diameter of 

 I'-r. feet. 



Habitat. — It is chiefly a New South Wales species, and belongs chiefly to 

 the coastal and southern half of the State. It just extends into Gippslfeind. 

 It is very plentiful on the coast, especially in the county of Dampier, N.S.W. 



The most northerly locality known to -me is Raymond Terrace, north of 

 the Hunter River. Mr. A. Murphy, of Woy Woy, knows of only three places 

 where it occurs in his district, viz., 3 miles from Gosford, also 2 miles from 

 AVyong, and near Wyee. In the western suburbs of Sydney, e.g., Strathfield, 

 Homebush, Druitt Town, and thence coastwards, it is common enough, but 

 it is most developed along the south coast, into Victoria. 



the following notes of specific localities will be useful: — 



'New South Wales. 



'Ashfield, Strathfield, Homebush to Liverpool-road, very abundant ; Banks- 

 town, Cabramatta, Parramatta, Penrith (N.B. — The western range is at 

 present unknown), Appin, WoUongong, Picton, Nowra (with unusually 

 narrow leaves), Bateman's Bay, Moruya, Bega, Bowmin^ (with smaller 

 fruits), Wolumla, Twofold Bay; on the Timbilica River. The best speci- 

 mens on clay flats ; it rarely occurs on ridges, and rarely more than 5 miles 

 from the coast. 



EXPLANATION OF I'LATE 5. 

 Twigs showing adult foliage and buds, flowers, and fruit :- 



A. Sucker-foliage. 



B. Anther. 



c. A small-fruited form. 



Note that the fruits^ are usually in threes. 



