44 



2. — KARRI (Euc. diversicolor). 



The second most important tree of the State; it grows to a great height (trees 

 of 280 feet having been measured), with a bole of 100 to 140 feet, and diameter 

 of S to 10 feet. 



The bark is smooth, bluish-white in colour to start with, and yellow-wkite or 

 pink-white at the end of the season. It is not persistent like that of the Jarrah, 

 but peels off every year, leaving the fresh new bark underneath. The leaves are 

 a dark shining green in colour from three to six inches in length. The flowers are 

 of a yellowish white or cream colour, and not so large as those of the Jarrah. The 

 calyx or "knob" of the flower is somewhat egg-shaped, but tapers gradually into 

 the stalk. The fruits are of the same shape as the calyx, but larger, being about 

 y^m. diameter at the top. This tree, however, can always be distinguished by its 

 bark, and locality which is given below. 



Weight per cubic foot (green) — 721bs. 



At 12 per cent, moisture — 581bs, 



Transverse strength — 17,3001bs. per square inch. 



Tensile strength — 18,7501bs. per square inch. 



A hard, strong wood. It closely resembles jarrah timber, but the grain is 

 longer, and it is a much stronger wood. It is beyond doubt a splendid super- 

 structural timber, and is strongly to be recommended for heavy beams, roof pur- 

 poses, etc. It is not durable in the ground, and does not resist white ants. 



It is on Lloyd's list of shipbuilding timbers, and is suitable for all purposes 

 where large sections of great strength are necessary. It has 1 been found very satis- 

 factory for wooden pipes, and it makes a good wagon spoke, but its main use up 

 to now has been for railway wagon scantling, and telegraph arms. The English 

 Railway Companies and the London Post Office authorities are strong in their 

 praise of the timber for these purposes. It has suffered very much through its 

 being so easily confounded with jarrah. As in all young countries, timber in 

 Western Australia has in the past been valued according to its durability as a 

 fence post or sleeper, and karri, though immeasurably superior in other respects, 

 has been condemned owing to its failure when put to such uses. It is confined to 

 the wettest portion of the South-West of the State, and its Northern limit is Nan- 

 nup and the upper waters of the Donnelly, whence it spreads Southwards and 

 South-Eastwards to Denmark. There is then a gap in the belt, and it is to be met 

 with again near the Porongorup Range; another isolated patch occurs on the 

 extreme South-West near the Leeuwin; this was the place" whence the first karri was 

 exported from the State, and is more commonly known under the name of Karri- 

 dale. In all it is doubtful whether more than 500,000 acres of prime karri forest 

 can be reserved. It regenerates itself well, and it forms the only forest of the 

 State thai carries a dense undergrowth of shade-bearing species. 



The saw-miller recovers from 2S to 35 per cent, of the round log. 



