TASMANIAN TIMBEE 
253 
Rosewood, a heavy reddish close-grained timber used by 
cabinet-makers. Dogwood is a small tree with a diameter 
of about 12 inches, which is also a cabinet-makers' wood. 
The Tasmanian Oaks, or so-called oaks. — She oak and 
Bull oak are of great density and weight, and this great 
weight is one of the objections to their use in wagon 
building, where lightness is desirable. They are only 
small trees '60 to 40 ft. in height and 6 to 16 inches in 
diameter. The bull oak is much the heavier timber, 
weighing about 51 lbs. per cubic foot, whilst the she oak 
weighs only about 41 lbs. per cubic foot. ^ 
Government inspection of Tasmanian eucalypti requires 
that the timber be " free from all heart wood, sapwood, 
shakes, gum veins, large or loose knots, and other 
defects ... All sleepers to be cut from matured and 
sound living or ring barked trees, the logs of which are not 
to be less than 2 ft. 6 inches in diameter, and the trees to be 
felled during the period of the year between April 1st and 
September 30th ... to be protected at the ends and 
around same by a good coating of an antifriction or other 
grease. ... All sleepers to be allowed three months' 
seasoning after being sawn and placed in the stack." 
From what has been said it will be obvious that splitting, 
warping, and shrinking are the weak points in Eucalypti 
timbers, and it would be well for the different Government 
authorities to institute a proper system of seasoning, such 
as is done with teak. 
Whether the same system would apply the author cannot 
say, but, considering the large quantity of this timber now 
sent to Great Britain and the great loss which this splitting 
1 There do not appear to be any real oaks in Tasmania, New 
2iealand, or Australia. 
