16 
“ Bushwhacker,” in Evening News, Sydney, 13th April, 1908 :— 
I notice that about 90 per cent, of the Australian forest trees are twisted from right to left. The 
Box (Eucalyptus, but the species not stated.—J.H.M.) seems to be the most affected. I ascribe the cause 
to the influence of the sun, as the trees are twisted from east to west, or following the sun’s course, as it 
were. I further notice that nearly all trees that are twisted the opposite way are those that have been 
damaged by storms, and overbalanced to such an extent as' to withstand the sun’s action. I cannot see 
how the wind can have anything to do in twisting them. 
J. McFarlane, M.L.A., Sydney, 14th April, 1908 :— 
So far as New South Wales timber is concerned, my experience is that the twist (or “ wind,” as it 
is termed by buslnnen) in trees is from right to left. There are a few exceptions where the twist is in the 
opposite direction, but it is of rare occurrence in well-developed straight trees. Many years ago I remember 
hearing the cause of the twist discussed. The prevailing winds were in some instances put forward as a 
reason ; but I am rather sceptical as to that theory, as in the most dense of our brushes where the trees 
are completely protected we find that trees with a twist in the grain are quite common. While a 
considerable proportion of our trees are perfectly straight in the grain, I think that every variety is 
susceptible to the “twist,” particularly Box, Grey Gum, Ironbark, Bloodwood, and Stringybark. I can offer 
no opinion as to the cause. 
Sydney Smith, Campbelltown, 13th April, 1908 :— 
As I have had considerable experience in splitting timber, the twist in question has often been 
brought under my notice. 
All the local varieties of timber trees are subject to it more or less, it being more pronounced in 
the varieties locally known as Blackbutt ( Eucalyptus pilularis) and Bloodwood (Eucalyptus corymbosa), and 
also in timber growing on elevated level country, those growing in sheltered gullies being much straighter 
in the grain. The twist is always from east to west, or following the sun’s motion, which would suggest 
the possibility of the sun’s action being the cause. 
William Thompson (West Wyalong), in Sydney Morning Herald, 24th April, 
1908:— 
My experience, as far as this district is concerned, is that fully 90 per cent, of the trees have 
the twist in the grain from east to north, these being indigenous to our district. My explanation of such, 
and reason for so thinking, is that all vegetation grows to the light; therefore the foliage of trees, 
saplings, or flowers follow the morning sun, or are drawn by the rising sun from the east to the north. 
The greater part of the branches of forest trees are on the north-east side of the barrel of the tree, as 
evidence that the morning and forenoon sun is what is cause of effect. I at one time thought the cause of 
twist was the whirlwinds, but as these whirlwinds go round both ways they could not possibly be the 
cause. I have noticed the trees with a grain from east to south would split straight in the heart, but the 
outside grain would break across the opening when splitting the log. 
2. Left to right .— The Sun. 
T. Y. R. Gorringe, Neville, Orange district, 12th June, 1908 :— 
I am an old bushman of forty years’ experience, and I have almost invariably found more or less 
twist in all timber in this part, and always from left to right, or as the sun travels round. Have always 
thought it was something to do with the sun. 
J. Gray, Vineyard, P.O., via Riverstone (between Sydney and Blue 
Mountains), 8th April, 1908 :— 
Most forest trees in this locality, viz., Grey Gum, Box, Ironbark, and Stringybark, show a decided 
twist to the right , sometimes as much as one complete turn in from 12 to 15 feet. 
A log cut off square and split into posts generally twists enough to leave the post anything up to 
2 inches longer on one corner than the square; for this reason bushmen endeavour to allow for this by 
setting their crosscut on an angle thus (Sketch not reproduced.—J.H.M.) An examination of any split¬ 
paling fence or split-shingle roof will show this. . 
One sometimes sees a tree with a left twist, but this tree always splits straight, breaking across 
the grain as it goes. 
