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There is a variety here (Parkes) known as "Ridge Pine," which may be 

 either figured or plain, but Is so called because It grows on the sides of hills, 

 bawyers will not take it if they detect It, as in many cases, though apparently 

 sound at both ends, is pithy in the middle, and thus cuts up badly. Generally 

 speakmg, the best timber has a rather smooth bark. That with rough curly 

 bark generally indicates a rough curly-grained timber . (Forest Guard P. J. 

 Holdsworth.) 



Mr. Osborne's " Mountain Pine " is C. rolusta. Mr. Holdsworthi does not 

 send specimens of his " Eidge Pine," but it would appear to include robusta, 

 and also the Red or Black Pine (calcarata), and it is perhaps a name given. 

 to inferior timber of both kinds. 



Timber. — The name White Pine has been attacHed to tliis tree because 

 of its glaucous foliage. Sometimes its timber is nearly destitute of figure. 

 -I have " Mountain. Pine " from the Acting Forester at Thackaringa, near 

 Broken Hill, whose timber is but small and of a rich colour. 



The whito is the one most used for all building and fencing purposes. How 

 it comes to be called "white " I cannot explain, as the sap-wooTi only is white, 

 while the heart-wood is invariably in lighter or darker shades of red. (Forester 

 Kidston, "Condobolin.) 



White thf durable timber; Black Pine no good. (A. Murphy, Murrumbld- 

 gerie, Dubbo.) 



The white, red, or yel]0A^• varieties, as far as I can gather, are of one species ; 

 the branchlets lu-e light in colour of bark, also the fruit-cones as compared 

 with the Black Pine. These three distinctions are made owing to the respec- 

 tive colours of the lines running through the timber, but no difference exists 

 as to their durability in works. The white, red, and yellow varieties are in 

 great demand throughout the Western district fur house-building. It seems to 

 dry quickly, and has some wonderful records for durability. For example, I 

 have a reliable record of a White Pine post, 20 inches in diameter, put Into the 

 ground near Wellington, infested with white ants. It was removed after 

 thirty years, and was quite sound except sap-wood, and of the consistency and 

 colour of iron. It is a capital timber for house-building purposes, but is rarely 

 used in Sydney owing to the expense of briiiKiug it so far by rail. I failed to 

 find a single instance recorded in the Western districts where white ants 

 attacked the timber after it \\'as dry, and the majority of the houses, &c., 

 around the towns of Dubbo and Wellington are built of this timber. It is also 

 forwarded for upwards of 100 miles hy rail for building purposes, and invari- 

 ably gives satisfactory results as long as the black variety is not used. (J. V. 

 de Coque.) 



The pine timber is the most useful timber here for buildings, telegraph-posts, 

 and posts for wire fencing, and is not so liable as other timber to the attack of 

 white ants. It takes a good polish, and I have seen shop-counters made from 

 the same, it is also much used for ceilings, and looks remarkably well, and 

 remains sound under the ground for manj' years. (Forester Payten, Oorowa.) 



The White Pine is a valuable timber, and Is used extensively for buildiag, 

 fencing, and telegraph-poles. It standi well in the ground, especially if the 

 bark is left on the part that is put underneath the surface. For building pur- 

 poses It is indispensable, and nearly all the wooden buildings In town and 

 country are made from this wood. It keeps sound for a long time, but houses 

 made of this timber will not bear moving, as it splits and breaks very easily 

 while being taken to pieces, so they cannot be erected again with any degree 

 of neatness. (Forester Postlethwaite, Grenfell.) 



This is one of the most useful trees, used mainly for saw-milling and fencing 

 purposes, and is of hardy growth. (District Forester Osborne. Cootamundra. ) 



This timber is very free from knots, and easily worked, and is considered by 

 builders and carpenters as the best of our pine, and is used for all building 

 purposes. It takes a very line polish, and is very handsome in the grain. This 

 pine is proof against white ants. I have often seen them moving over it to 

 attack other timber, and would not attempt to touch the pine. (Forester 

 Smith, Dubbo.) 

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