QUEENSLAND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
♦ 
The usual monthly meeting of the Society was held at the Society’s 
rooms, Brisbane Museum, on 2nd September, 1877. The following 
paper was read by The Hon. W. Pettigrew, Esq., M.L.C. : — 
OH THE HABITAT AND PECTJLIAEITIES OE SOME 
OE OUE TIMBEKS. 
Seeing that large numbers of our trees are being planted in 
various parts of the world, and knowing that mistakes may be 
made in not planting the most suitable trees in certain positions, 
I have been induced to put in writing what knowledge I possess 
of our timbers, so that others may benefit thereby. 
In preparing this paper, I have been indebted to A. C. 
Gregory, Esq., C.M.G., E.E.G.S., our vice-president; Mr. 
Walter Hill, of the Botanic Gardens ; Mr. Thomas Petrie, 
Horth Pine Eiver, and others. 
The following remarks have reference to the timbers that 
grow within a limited distance of Brisbane, and along the coast 
as far as the Mary Eiver, or, say, from the 26th to the 28th 
degree of latitude, and within twenty miles of the coast : — 
There are two great divisions of the country in which our 
timbers grow. The one is called forest, and the other scrub. 
Eorest trees do not grow in the scrub, and scrub trees do not 
grow in the forest. In some places the line of demarcation is 
very distinct. In the forest grass grows and bush fires occasion- 
ally take place, which destroy the young bushes, and keep the 
country clear. In the scrub there are no bush fires. Even the 
leaves on the ground when dry will not burn, unless heaped 
together. It is by this wise arrangement of Providence that we 
are indebted for the large number and variety of timbers that 
exist in the scrubs. 
In addition to these two distinct divisions there is another 
called brush. In some places it exists between the forest and 
the scrub, and in others it covers considerable areas of country. 
At intervals of several years bush fires run through it. Where 
brush occurs between forest and scrub it is difficult to define 
where the one ends and the other begins. Sometimes trees that 
properly belong to the scrubs are to be found in the brush, but 
if there, they are seldom of any size. The brush timber is much 
the same as that of the forest, although there are some trees 
that only grow there. With these premises, I will now refer to 
the trees that grow in scrubs. 
