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I replied expressing doubt lest an odorous wood, of the nature of Rosewood, 
would affect the bouquet of wines stored in it. In reply, Mr. Bawden wrote:— 
With regard to the Rosewood for casks, I have the assurance, in addition to my own large 
experience, of one who has been engaged in wine-making in this district for the past thirty years, that the 
wood does not give any taste to the wine. Might I suggest an experiment of a small piece of seasoned 
Rosewood placed in a bottle of wine for a few months ? Should the Rosewood turn out as I believe it 
will, there are large quantities of it in this district. 
I venture to express the hope that those who have tried Rosewood for wine- 
casks will relate their experience, and that those will test it who have facilities for 
so doing and have not yet done so. It is high time that such au important matter 
was settled. I should also like to see exhaustive tests made of the Red Bean 
{D. Muelleri ), which may be described as a scentless Rosewood. Who will take 
the matter up? 
Drawbacks to the Timber. 
1. Its oily nature .—A drawback to this undoubtedly valuable timber is the 
circumstance that it takes glue with difficulty, owing, perhaps, to some oleaginous 
substance in it. 
It is unsuitable for instrument cases. The following report sent in to the 
Public Works Department explains the matter:— 
A 5-inch theodolite was sent in for repairs, supply of some parts, and new case, from Lands 
Department. New case was made of well-seasoned Colonial Rosewood by Government Architect’s Work¬ 
shop, the new parts of the instrument were bronzed and lacquered in the usual way, the other portion of 
the instrument merely cleaned, and delivered to Lands Department on 8/2 05. After about three months 
the whole of the instrument was observed to be sticky, and was subsequently returned to be cleaned off, 
rebronzed and relacquered, which was done accordingly, and returned to Lands Department on 5 7 05. 
Then again, it was reported to be sticky on the 28/8 05, becoming similar to what it was before. A small 
box was made of a piece of the same wood, and a piece of brass tube bronzed and lacquered was placed in 
it on 30/8/05, and after about three months it was found to be quite sticky. 
A similar thing has happened to another 5-inch theodolite, for which a new case was made of 
Colonial Rosewood for the Public Works Department on 15/3/05, and after lying in store was noticed to 
be the same on 1/5/06 (original lacquer affected). 
Also on a parallel ruler that was placed in a Colonial Rosewood case. 
Rosewood belongs to a group of plants called the Meliacese, certain of which 
contain an essential oil (in which is dissolved a resin) in their timber. At the 
ordinary temperature of the air, and more readily on the application of heat, this 
solution of resin in oil evaporates and the resin is condensed on any cool surface, 
preferably on metal or other conductor of heat. 
King George III had a valuable watch which caused his watchmaker a good 
deal of trouble, when it was found that His Majesty often put it in a drawer made 
of odoriferous wood, the resin contained in which clogged the works. 
The subject is worthy of exhaustive investigation which, so far as I am 
aware, it has not yet received. Meantime, so far as Rosewood is concerned, 
instruments should be kept in Red Cedar boxes. 
B 
