THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April t, 1895. 
AUSTRALIAN HARDWOOD TIMBERS. 
MANY OF THEM OROWN IX CKVLON. 
Although the value of Australian hardwood timbers 
for all purposes in which great strength and dura- 
bility are required, has long been recognised, it is 
only of late years that such timbers have become 
an article of export from the various colonies, al- 
though considerable quantities of jarrah and other 
Western Australian hardwoods have been syste- 
matically shipped for a considerable period to the 
British, Indian, and other markets, for use as rail- 
way sleepers, piles and the like. In New South 
Wales, hardwood timbers are found in abundance 
and great variety, consisting for ihe most part of 
species of eucalyptus and some other tnyrtaceous 
trees. The average height attained by these trees 
is about 100 feet, with a stem of from 2 to 4 feet 
in diameter. In the thick bush forests, they have 
been known to reach a height of 200 feet, and in 
the open forests, 150 feet is not an uncommon height 
for more than one species to attain. These hardwood 
timbers are used very extensively in the colony for 
a number of purposes, such as for road and railway 
bridges, culverts, sleepers, paving of streets, fencing, 
etc., as well as in ordinary building construction. 
Among the more valuable varieties of eucalyptus are 
the Ironbarks. These yield very good timbers, some 
of them being unrivalled for strength, elasticity, 
and durability combined. Sleepers made from the 
Narrow-leaved Ironbark have been taken up per- 
fectly sound after 24 year; continual use. The 
Tallow-wood, so called from the greasy nature 
of the timber when freshly cut, is one of the best 
for U3e in bridge construction, also for decks of 
ships and is readily worked with saw or plane. The 
Black-butt, when properly selected and seasoned, is 
invalnable for piles, sleepers, decks of ships, bridges, 
carriage work, etc. The Spotted Gum, when the sap- 
wood is removed, is often equal in industrial im- 
portance to the Ironbarks. The Red or Flooded Gum 
is largely used for street paving, also, when free from 
gum veins, for railway sleepers, retaining its sound- 
ness for many years. The Gre}', or White Box, a 
common variety of Eucalyptus, possessing consider- 
able strength and elasticity, is largely used for tele- 
graph poles, wheel spokes, shafts and railway sleepers. 
The Forest Mahogany, not being readily attacked by 
the teredo, and lasting well when underground, is much 
preferred for piles ; also for rafters in buildings, being 
found in excellent condition after fifty years' use. The 
Swamp Mahogany, which derives its name from 
thriving most readily in swampy ground, is useful 
tor ship-building purposes, also for railway sleepers. 
The Blood -wood, which resists both white ant and 
damp, is used principally for piles and sleepers. 
There are other kinds of Eucalyptus of a similar 
serviceable character. Most of the timbers above- 
mentioned possess all the requisites for the con- 
struction of sound and durable roads and pavements. 
Among other hardwoods is the Blackwood, which 
has been found suitable for the construction of rail- 
way carriages, also for a variety of purposes, such 
as the interior fittings of buildings, furniture, and 
engineering and architectual construction. The Tur- 
pentine-tree resembles the Tallow-wood in some of 
its properties and furnishes an excellent timber for 
wharf construction and fencing. It is difficult to 
burn. The Rosewood is much used for cabinet work, 
turnery, and ship-building. The White Beech, which 
resists the white ant, is one of the best outdoor- 
flooring woods known, and is largely employed for 
verandahs and ships' decks. The Negro-head Beech I 
is utilised for furniture making, window sashes, doors, i 
and joinery work. It takes a beautiful polish. The j 
Red Cedar is one of the most valuable of the New I 
South Wales timbers; its combination of lightness | 
and durability causing it to be largely in request for I 
fittings in buildings, furniture, etc. It is identical ' 
with the Moulmein cedar of India. In some of the i 
oldest buildings in Sydney, dating from the earlier j 
days of the colony, the cedar woodwork is often 
found in almost perfect condition. To enumerate j 
all the useful timbers indigenous to New South 
Wales would occupy too much space, but the above ' 
details will suffice to show that the colony possesses 
all Die essentials of an extensive export trade in 
useful hardwoods of almost every description. 
NEWS FROM INDIAN TEA DISTRICTS. 
| Svlhet, Gaxoktl, March 3.— Pruning finished. 
Rain badly wanted. Mornings and nights still cold. 
Railway works being pushed on rapidly. For the 
first time on record tea planters in this district 
have been offered Honorary Magistracies — a tardy 
recognition of their ability. A lew might accept, 
: who are near the Sub-Divisional head-quarters. At- 
tendance required twice a week. 
Daiueeli.no. — Eeaf is coming on very fast in some 
' of our lower gardens, and we reckon to be making 
ere the month is out. We want rain badly, a few 
showers would do a world of good just now. 
KuRSEOMi, March 6. — We aie now suffering from 
drought. No signs of coming rain. The bushes wish 
I to flush, but cannot do so owing to want of mois- 
ture. An inch of rain would start us all manu- 
facturing in double quick time. The jungle fires, 
which usually take place in the Terai at this season 
of the year, have commenced and the air is thick 
| with the ashes of burnt grasses of all kinds. Tigers 
and leopards are killing cattle right and left. Owing 
to the thick jungle, no one cares to go after them. 
There is a good field here for any ardent sportsman. 
I who will not mind cutting His way through 
I dense forest and scrambling up hill and down 
dale. The hills here abound with game of all kinds. 
No sickness about, coolies keeping good health, 
but the hillmen (cold weather birds) are feeling 
I the heat a bit, ani quietly slipping off to their 
I homes in Nepal. 
DUARS AND TERAI. 
Dam Dim, March 4. — Pruning is now finished and 
| the deep hoe in progress every where. Recruiting 
results all round are better than past year and 
prospects for the coining season seem good. The 
weather is now fast getting warmer though there are 
no signs of rain yet. 8"> deg. have been registered 
in the shade last week, 
Buxa Duars, March 5. — Weather still continues to 
be hot and rainless, buti on the whole seasonable. A 
few showers would be of benefit for nurseries and 
young planting. New coolies continue to arrive from 
the Sautal Pergunuahs and Chota Nagpore districts. 
Rainfall register still stands at 0.63 inches. First 
hoeing makes good progress on all the new clearances, 
and stacking has already been commenced. All the 
new gardens will be planted triangularly. This 
system of stacking besides having many advantages 
over the old square style is one coolies can more 
readily pick up, and allow : s of any errors in the work 
being easily checked and corrected. — Indian Planters' 
Gazette. 
THE RAMIE INDUSTRY IN FRANCE. 
The United States Consul at St. Etienne says, in 
a recent report to his Government, that a irench 
society was formed, some years ago, to develop the 
cultivation of ramie in Spain and Egypt, two coun- 
tries affording most favourable conditions of soil and 
climate. The Spanish proprietors willingly consented 
to the experiment ; but, being absolutely without the 
necessary means, they had to draw largely from the 
treasury of the society, and, at last growing dis- 
couraged, the experiment was abandoned. In Egypt, 
success was not greater. Although the plant took 
kindly to its new home, the cost of irrigation be- 
came very onerous, and, in the end, the society had 
to go into liquidation, after, having lost 4,500,000 
francs. In the meantime, a manufactory, for the 
spinning of ramie thread, and converting it into tissues, 
such as sailcloth, table linen, curtains, &c, was or- 
ganised at Avignon. The creditors of the society in 
liquidation, believing that the ramie industry would 
succeed in the end, abandoned to a new board of 
directors the factory for a eeitain number of years, 
on the condition that a large portion of the dividend 
