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to convert their timber-yards into sample museums. Consequently, in the first place, we i-equire to educate 
our own people in regard to the merits of our timbers, and then they will endeavour to use more of them. 
I think that, as regards the general public, a certain amount of sentiment would not be out of place in 
endeavouring to encourage the use of colonial timbers. I mean that, having satisfied himself that a certain 
colonial timber is suitable for a certain purpose, the Australian citizen might well put himself to a little 
trouble to cause his want to be supplied. These new timbers of a new country have to work their way 
to public recognition, and it is often far easier to continue to use an old and well-tried timber than to use 
a colonial substitute, however meritorious. 
****** 
SEASONING DEPOTS. 
A large proportion of our timber consists of hardwood, which is cheap, and used for rough purposes. 
Such timber is cut at all seasons, sawn at all seasons, and it often finds its way to the consumer direct 
from the saw. It is not to be surprised at that such timber often warps and splits in a provoking degree. 
The wonder would be if it did not. The remedies for this state of things seem to be— 
1. The observance of proper seasons for the felling of timber. 
2. The establishment of seasoning depots. 
No. 1 has already been touched upon. As regards the second, various Government Departments, 
such as Railways, Roads and Bridges, Harbours and Rivers, Government Architect, &c., use such large 
quantities of timber that it would be desirable if they could adopt concerted action to establish seasoning 
depots in various parts of the State, and draw supplies as required. Private persons could supply timber 
(cut at the proper season), in the log or sawn, and this could be stored in the Government seasoning sheds, 
and drawn upon for public works as required. In this way the use of green timber could be done away 
with, while the use of sheds would enable the timber to be classified as regards kinds and qualities to a far 
more accurate extent than it is at present. To initiate and establish these reforms could not be done 
without expense, but I feel sure it would be wise expenditure, which would be recouped over and over 
again in the improved and more uniform quality of the timber. The example would, I feel sure, soon be 
followed by private enterprise. Let us now turn to the case of the private supplier and user. 
I know something of the practical difficulties which beset a timber merchant in Sydney—for 
instance, in obtaining a supply of a certain timber growing in a forest (say) hundreds of miles away— 
procuring it both true to name and in a seasoned condition. I have often pondered over the matter, and 
have wondered whether, seeing that the State is the principal proprietor of forests, and that it has already 
a staff of forest officers, whether State depots (under lease or otherwise) might not be established, where 
stocks of timber might be held, such timber having been felled at the proper time, seasoned for a suitable 
period, and branded’ with a mark which would guarantee its true name. To carry out this plan would 
necessarily require a State subsidy for a time, but I think that, under all the circumstances, a reasonable 
subsidy would be justifiably spent. In a few years I feel convinced that the advantages of seasonably 
felling, of seasoning, and of properly naming our timbers, would become so apparent that private enterprise 
would take the matter up, and the State could withdraw from what might, at first sight, 3 appear 
interference with private enterprise. We are at the present time giving our producers object lessons in 
many ways, and I do not think that a little State guidance in regard to the utilisation of our forest wealth 
would be either illogical or undesirable. It is, of course, understood that in making the above crude 
suggestions I am only expressing my individual opinion. 
Size.—I have no data as to the size of this tree in New South Wales. As I 
have seen it, it has been a small or medium-sized tree. Bentham describes it as a 
large tree (referring to Queensland, of course). Most works on Indian plants that 
refer to it describe it as a small tree. 
Habitat. —It is a native of India and Ceylon, Sumatra and Java. 
As regards Australia, it is a common Queensland plant, occurring in the 
coastal brushes. 
