183 
No. 1. Part I. 
Grevillea robusta, A. Cunn. 
THE SILKY OAK. 
(Natural Order Proteace.e.) 
Timber. —See vol. i, p. 3. 
Writing to the Tropical Agriculturist (Colombo) of 1st August, 1902, 
p. 124, Mr. R. Maclure gives certain particulars as to the value of this Australian 
tree in Ceylon, where it is largely planted. He says :— 
I reckon a Grevillea tree at 15 years old is worth 3 rupees 40 cents in ordinary soil, less in poorer 
soil, and much more in richer soil, such as they have in some parts of Dimbula. 
There is then the value of the Grevillea tree—- 
1. For timber and firewood. 
2. To improve the soil it takes from the subsoil, and adds to the surface soil by the deposit 
of leaves. 
3. This deposit not only adds to the soil, but prevents wash and the growth of weeds. 
4. As a wind-belt in exposed places. 
5. To diversify the cultivation. We were told, when leaf-disease attacked and ruined our 
coffee, that, in planting it up, as we did, in one unbroken sheet, with no trees or belts 
of timber interspersed, we transgressed the laws of nature, and suffered in 
consequence. We were careful to avoid this mistake when planting tea. 
Exudations. —See vol. i, p. 5. 
Mr. H. G. Smith has shown,* I think conclusively, that the earthy concretion 
attributed by me to Grevillea robusta really comes from Orites excelsa, a second 
Silky Oak timber which appears to he identical (as stated at vol. i, p. 4) with that of 
Grevillea robusta. 
Leichhardt mentions that a drooping Grevillea (in the Northern Territory) 
exudes a glutinous secretion from its seed-vessels, which stains the skin black, and 
raises most painful blisters. It is not likely that the species is G. robusta , but in 
view of the general innocuousness of Grevillea , it is interesting to draw attention 
to Leichhardt’s observation. 
Habitat. —See vol. i, p. 7. 
The most southerly locality known to me is Little River, near Dalmorton, Grafton Glen Tunes 
Road.—(J.H.M. and J. L. Boorman.) 
Tt occurs also at Acacia Creek, Macpherson Range, New South Wales.—(Forest Guard W. Dunn.) 
As regards Queensland, in the “ Catalogue of Timbers in the Forestry 
Museum” (Brisbane, 1904), we have the note :— 
Rather a limited quantity near the coast on creek sides in Southern Queensland. Another Silky 
Oak (Gardwellia sublimis), in many respects similar to this as regards characteristics and uses, is plentiful 
in the scrubs north of Cardwell. 
• Aluminium, the chief inorganic element in a Proteaceous tree, and the occurrence of Aluminium succinate in trees 
of this species.— (Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S. IP., xxxvii, 107, 190.3.) 
A 
