214 
Hero are typical reports from men whose opinion on the western country everyone 
respect s i" . 
Budda M-rul. i* useless for stock (A. W. Mullen, Western Land Board, Bourke). 
" I send foliage and flowers of the so-called Sandalwood or Budtha (EremopHa 
MitckdK). This is a very useless tree or scrub hitherto, as stock Avould not eat it, but 
the taste of the rabbit is different, as it is the first bark they go for when grass fails, and 
it is used for poison-sticks, steeped in strychnine." (The late Forest Ranger Kidston, 
of Condobolin.) 
Flowers. Note the scarious enlarged calyx of EremopMa. 
Bark. Not thick, furrowed-flaky ; sometimes might be almost described 
as scaly. 
The bark is very appetising to rabbits ; consequently they make for this shrub 
as soon as grass fails, and hence twigs of the " Budtha" are used (when treated with 
strychnine) as bait for rabbits. (See photo.) 
Timber. In diameters under 2 or 3 inches it shows no colour beyond that it 
is brown in colour, with a pleasing figure, and that it is surrounded by a comparatively 
considerable width of pale-coloured wood. The wood reminds one of that of the Olive 
somewhat. 
It is figured in colour at Plate 110 of Mr. Baker's ".Hardwoods of Australia," 
and it is there shown as a dark brown timber with some figure. Fig. LXXII shows it 
magnified in cross, radial and tangential section. Mr. Baker gives its hardness as 
" very hard," and weight at 65 Ib. per cubic foot, and recommends it for veneers. Owing 
to a strong aromatic odour, resembling that of sandalwood, furniture made of this 
timber is said to be free from the attacks of insects, according to the late Mr. Thozet, of 
Rockhampton, Queensland. 
" It is said that this wood will keep away the Blatta, or cockroach. I cannot 
confirm this statement. I had a good-sized billet cut and planed, and the odour from 
it was so strong as to perfume one of my trunks in which it was placed, but the cock- 
roaches treated it with the utmost disdain. They ran over it and laid their eggs under it, 
just as if it had been put there for their accommodation. (Tenison Woods, Proc. Linn. 
Soc. N.S.W., vii, 574.) 
" Budtha " is one of the strongest scented woods of the western district, and 
the trees are commonly up to 9 inches in diameter; but, unfortunately, when they 
attain that size they generally show a strip of decay up one side which seriously impairs 
their usefulness." (R. H. Cambage.) 
Mr. Gordon Burrow, District Forester, Narrabri," some years ago wrote : 
Another tree which seldom is accorded the recognition warranted by its qualities is the Buddha, 
Eremophila Milchelli. Out west it is extensively used when procurable for fencing. Like Belah (Casuarina 
tepidophloia) it is little used where Pine and Ironbark is plentiful, but not with equally good reason. A 
small tree, rarely attaining a butt diameter of 12 inches, it can be used only in the round. It is light and 
practically white-ant resistant, a quality which it shares with Cypress pine. In heavy black soil, it is 
preferable, in my opinion, even to Ironbark, though it does not make such an attractive and solid appearing 
