83 



1 would suggest it as worth tryiDg for large wood type-making and Similar 

 purposes, as it does not crack. It is excellent for bullock-yokes. It is gener- 

 ally said to twist very mucli when iu boards, but at Coopernook saw-mill I 

 saw last week (June) boards of it 1 inch thick, which had been exposed for 

 months and had not warped; also rails of it laid down as a tramway for 

 bringing logs to the saw-mill, in moist ground (and for months swampy), in 

 use for four years, and now perfectly sound, and has worn well. It is excel- 

 lent for paving blocks. White ants will not touch it, whether it is alive or 

 dead. The sap which runs out of a nob or swelling in a living tree, when cut 

 with an axe, is said to taste strongly of salt. — (Mr. Forester Brown, Port 

 Macquarle. ) 



He also states (Agricultural Gazette, 1896, page 55T) : — ■ 



I find that, besides the many valuable uses to which Brush Box is put, the 

 following may be added, gleaned from Mr. A. Jennings, Port Macquarle : — " A 

 countershaft, which drives from the main countershaft, also drives a planing 

 machine, hand-saw, and two gulleting machines, is 15 feet long. The centre 

 bearing is of Brush Box, end on. It has been in use twelve months, and shows 

 no perceptible wear, whilst the bearing at one end of brass has been renewed 

 in nine mouths, and now shows i inch wear. The other bearing of cast-iron, 

 which has been renewed twice in twelve months, also shows J inch wear." 



Scrub Box has lately^ come much into use, and is considered a very useful 

 and durable timber, free from pipes and very sound. — (Mr. Forester Green, 

 Casino.) 



Timber of a brownish colour, sometimes yellowish, turning grey on exposure, 

 or generally so when dry; hard, heavy, and interlocked; used for ribs and 

 planking of ships; very hard when dry. Considered to be very lasting (as I 

 have observed), but said, however, by some not to be very reliable when used 

 for the decking of bridges. Shrinks irregularly ; ^hen cut into thin stuff is 

 liable to twist and warp. Unequalled when subject to friction ; makes the best 

 hardwood rails to carry trucks, and is excellent also for bullock-yokes. The 

 tree, as a rule, is sound; but some of them are liable to heart shakes in the 

 falling. As the cutting of this timber soon dulls the saws, it is not a favourite 

 with the mill-ownera — (Mr. Forester Rudder, Booral.) 



A further report by Mr. Rudder, published in the Agricultural Gazette, 

 says :— 



I can recollect this timber in the earlier days, over fifty years ago, as the 

 chosen of all others by a firm of shipbuilders of the names of Malcome, New- 

 ton, and Ferrier, who used it for ships' planking. It becomes pale when dry, 

 and in texture is fine and close in the grain, and is usually inlocked, and, when 

 seasoned, stands more friction than any other timber I know of, not excepting 

 the best ironbark, and for this reason is used for tramway rails, also for 

 bullock-yokes and planes, as it works very smooth. I have seen it used in 

 decking for bridges, of which there is now an example in a bridge at Cooloo- 

 golook, in this district, where it has been placed for experiment side by side 

 with tallow-wood, with the result, so far, after four and a half years, with 

 the exception of two planks, one of which seems to be in part Sapwood and the 

 other too near to the heart, that it is wearing well, even better as regards 

 friction than the other timber. Unfortunately, it shrinks unevenly, and in 

 thin stuff is given to warp; but perhaps by soakage in water these defects 

 might be remedied. ■ In the house in which I am now writing, one of the floors 

 is of this wood, which . has been down for twenty-seven years, and is still iu 

 «xcellent order. I believe this timber will be found of value for carving and 

 for engraving purposes.. More attention should be given to it. 



The timber is generally considered to be absolutely useless for any purpose 

 ■except fpr firewood,, for which it is admirably suited. — (Mr. Forester Pope, 

 Murwillumbah. ) ' 



Timber more inlocked' than that of any of the Eucalypts, being too short in 

 the texture to split well, though sometimes will burst freely on the sap. It 

 makes good mauls, being heavy and dense. As a mine timber (for props, &c. ) , 

 it can scarcely be surpassed: It takes a fair polish, and is very durable, and 

 forms splendid fuel. — (lllr. Forester Deverell; Glen Innes.) 



