390 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 



or resin, of a milk-like character, oozes spontaneously 

 out from every part of the tree, and hardens upon the 

 surface by exposure to the air, immense masses of this 

 opaque gum being often seen on old trees, suspended 

 from the stem at the forked part of the branches. 



Some few years since the British Government sent 

 out several expeditions in succession to New Zealand, 

 to procure spars fit for top-masts for line-of-battle ships, 

 and it was while engaged on this special service that I 

 first became acquainted with the properties of the Kauri 

 Pine timber. Since the colonisation of that country, 

 however, the business has been left to private enterprise, 

 and spars, timber, and gum have occasionally formed 

 part of the return cargoes of store and emigrant ships. 

 Much more timber would, no doubt, have been shipped, 

 were it not for the great expense that attends the work- 

 ing of the forests, and the cost of freight for so long a 

 voyage. These two very costly items effectually pre- 

 clude the Kauri Pine timber from competing with the 

 Fir timber brought to this country from the Baltic, for 

 ordinary building purposes. 



Kauri Pine, when used for masts, yards, &c., is un- 

 rivalled in excellence, as it not only possesses the 

 requisite dimensions, lightness, elasticity, and strength, 

 but is much more durable than any other Pine, and 

 will stand a very large amount of work before it is 

 thoroughly worn out. 



All the thriving and healthy trees have from 3 to 5 

 inches of alburnum or sap-wood very distinctly marked 

 in them, even when fresh cut. The duramen or heart- 

 wood is of a yellowish-white or straw colour, moderately 

 hard for Pine, strong, clean, fine, close, and straight in 

 the grain. It has a very pleasant and agreeable odour 



