209 
It is indeed —— by some and denied by others that the 
timber grown on the flats is superior in its lasting qualities to 
that grown on the hills, but = wants further verification before 
being accepted as a fact. I may, however, state that I have seen 
ome specimens of the rer ‘which had been cut from trees 
grown on the flats, which were in an apparently sound condition 
after having been in the ground and water for over 40 years. It 
is very noticeable that as soon as a granite formation comes in, the 
Jarrah forest will fall off to a mere scrub, if it does not disappear 
altogether. This is a well-known fact to those who have travelled 
through these forests. 
The late Baron Sir F. von Mueller, the great and well-known 
botanist of Victoria, said “the Jarrah is famed for its indestructible 
wood, which is neither attacked by the borings of the Chelura, 
Teredo nor Termite.” Its resistance to white ants is remarkable, 
and houses built of the wood when thoroughly seasoned are 
almost | and have been known to exist in perfect 
preservation for nearly 100 years. It gets extremely hard with 
age, and then becomes almost unworkable, even strong nails 
for outside works. Should any decay or destruction have occurred 
in the timber after having been years in use, it will always be 
found that this is Eee to the sap-wood, which therefore ought 
en to be avoided in the construction of houses or in other 
orks of a permanent character. Unfortunately, sufficient atten- 
Gori is not always paid to the seasoning of the timber, and henc 
it should be specially d ‘otherwise there will be much 
warping, buckling, and satisfactory floor altogether; = 
seasoned before basig laid, howetén a better floor could n 
exist. 
The weight of the wood, when a cut, is a little over is Ibs. 
per cubic foot, which is reduc o 60 Ibs. when thoro ughly 
seasoned. It is red in colour, pollos well, and is comparatively 
easily worked. 
Some of the principal uses to which it is as yet applied are as 
follows :—wood- Bonie arise jetties, bridges, boat-building, 
posts, furniture and railway sleepers. It makes the best charcoal 
of any timber in the eed Its adaptability for all kinds of 
out-door work is well known, and hence it is considered the 
staple timber of Western Australia. The ny of is A oan 
or 
there are specimens which have been obtained from piles and 
girders 60 years old. These were driven and used in local har- 
bours and bridges. When obtained for the department, the timber 
appeared to be perfectly sound and free from any signs of decay 
whatever ; if anything, the wood seemed to be harder, more solid, 
and apparently more durable than fioeti y «ut timber. At all 
events, it Fr capable of standing wear en r for 100 years 
