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Belah is a moderately soft timber and easily worked whilst it is green, but it becomes as hard as iron 
and as brittle as glass if it is allowed to dry. A nail would bend or break before it had been driven half 
an inch into a belah board, and a bit or auger used on dry belah has but a short life ; fencing posts are 
invariably bored whilst green for that reason. 
Buildings were also erected on an adjoining property then owned by Mr. A. S. 0. Eeid, now known 
as Eurimbla. 
About two years ago, in 1913, 1 was in the locality and took the opportunity of inspecting the Bunna 
Bunna sheds. They are still in use and good repair, and look as solid as when first erected. The shed 
is fitted with (I think sixteen) sheep-shearing machines, but the vibration was practically nil. The manager 
of the station assured me that the sheds were as good as they looked. I was also informed that some of 
the buildings at Eurimbla are still in use and good order, though others had been pulled down to make 
room for alterations. So much for the lasting qualities of this timber. 
As a fodder in drought time, belah is invaluable. I note that you quote Mr. R. W. Peacock " If 
fed to stock for any length of time the results are disastrous." (See p. 81, Part xu'i.) Quite true; but 
the same is true with respect to almost any scrub. The best of them will only serve to keep stock alive 
for a limited period a strictly limited period unless there is at least a little grass or herbage to eke out the 
supply. 
Also" Stock will eat belah in time of drought if hard pushed, but the settler does not fall belah 
for fodder when he has Mulga, Leopardwood, Rosewood, Kurrajong, Supplejack, &c., of a more nutritious 
character." (H. V. Jackson.) 
Again granted, though I must acknowledge that I know little of Mulga. The supply of the other 
timbers, however, on the average holding, large or small, is limited, and is usually found scattered 
throughout the belah scrubs on the sand-ridges, and is fallen as fodder in conjunction with belah and wilga. 
I have had, unfortunately, some considerable experience in the use of belah as fodder for starving stock 
in time of drought, and do not speak of a matter of which I know nothing. I may also quote the opinion 
of Mr. Robert Cameron, of Pidgee, who has had twenty-five years or more experience in the north-west. 
He told me that when he first went on to his property, " Pidgee," he proceeded to ring out the belah to 
increase the pasture land. He let a contract to ring some thick belah country. At that time he was very 
busy and could not give the work as strict supervision as he could have wished. After the contract was 
completed and the men paid off, in going through the country, he found that the work had not been 
faithfully done, and in many of the trees ringbarked the bark was growing over the cut. " I considered," 
ftiid Mr. Cameron, " that I had been defrauded, but it was too late, and I could only make the best of it, 
resolving to have it gone through again at a later stage. Then the drought set in and I was compelled 
to fall scrub to keep my sheep alive. The trees which had escaped the ringbarker were worth five shillings 
each to me." Mr. Cameron, in the light of his extensive experience, strongly deprecates the wholesale 
ringbarking of belah, and contends that even if it were valueless from every other point of view, its value 
as a fodder tree would warrant its protection, in which opinion I quite agree. Unfortunately, the average 
settler lacks either the foresight or the experience to take this view. Belah country on the plains, when 
lingbarked and cleared, after a few years usually develops into excellent herbage country, though, as Mr. 
Cameron remarks, it is always tender country and the first to feel the effect of dry weather conditions. 
Belah is very easily killed by ringbarking and rarely or never suckers ; also, when dry, it is easily 
burnt. A log when lit will burn out to the smallest branches, and if a fire once gets into a standing forest 
of dry belah, there is no knowing where or when it will stop. 
Regrowth of belah on stocked country is exceptionally unusual. All stock will eat the young 
seedlings as soon .as they make their appearance above the ground. In addition, the bigger trees are 
trimmed up as high as the animals can reach ; this also in seasons when there is an abundance of herbage 
and grass. So that, at any rate, in the more closely settled country, it appears that it can only be a question 
of time before belah must become practically extinct, unless means are taken to protect it. In mv opinion, 
the only way to do this is to reserve suitable areas, and to either prohibit or carefully regulate grazing 
thereon, so as to give the young growths a chance to become established. 
PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION. 
" Belah," Collarenebri District, N.S.W. The dead trees alongside are White Pine (Gallitris robusta). 
(Photo, 8. W. Jackson,) 
