388 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



Huon Pine, yields a light tough wood, which has been 

 used for whale boats, &c., and is said to be very durable. 

 It is, however, somewhat scarce, owing to the great 

 demand for so useful a timber. 



One of the most important coniferous timbers of 

 Australia is that of Frenela robusta, the " Black Pine," 

 or Cypress Pine of Western New South Wales, but 

 common all round the continent. It is not a true Pine, 

 but a Cypress, and its fragrant, beautifully-marked 

 wood is largely used for all kinds of carpentry and 

 furniture work. It is regarded as an excellent and 

 durable wood, very resistant to teredo and white ants, 

 and therefore much valued for telegraph poles and rail- 

 way work, as well as for boats. 



The closely allied " Murray Pine " (F. Endlicheri) of 

 Victoria and Queensland is very similar, and almost 

 equally valuable ; as are also the timbers of several 

 related species of Frenela (F. rhomboidea, F. Madeyana, 

 F. Parlatorei, &c.). 



Another excellent timber is the Australian " Pencil 

 Cedar" [Podocarpus elatd) of New South Wales and 

 Queensland. Close-grained, but soft and easily worked, 

 and with beautiful figuring, this wood is much prized 

 for joinery and cabinet work. 



NEW ZEALAND CONIFERS. 



KAURI, OR COWDIE PINE {Dammara Ausiralis), 



is a native of and is found only in New Zealand, and 

 is the finest forest-tree in the colony. It is most plenti- 

 ful about the middle part of the northern island, where 

 there are very extensive forests of it, but it is only 

 moderately abundant a little farther south, and towards 



