13G 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 22. 
trees of this class. When at full maturity they are rarely 
sound at heart, and even when they are so, the immediate 
heart-wood is of no value on account of its extreme brittle¬ 
ness. In sawing up logs into scantlings, or boards, the 
heart is always rejected. The direction in which the larger 
species split most freely is never from the bark to the heart 
(technically speaking, the “ bursting away”), but in con¬ 
centric circles round the latter. Some few of the smaller 
species of forest trees are exceptions to this rule; such as 
the different species of Casuarina, Banksja, and other 
species belonging to the natural order Troteacese. The 
latter, however, with little exception, belong to class B. 
They split most freely the “ bursting way;” as do the oaks, 
<fcc., of Europe and America. A very serious defect prevails 
amongst a portion of the trees of this class, to such extent, 
as to demand especial notice here. It is termed “ gum 
vein,” aud consists simply in the extravasation, in greater or 
less quantity, of the gum resin of the tree in particular 
spots, amongst the fibres of woody tissue, and probably 
where some injury has been sustained; or, which is a much 
greater evil, in concentric circles between successive layers 
of the wood. The former is often merely a blemish affecting 
the appearance rather than the utility of the timber; but 
the latter, when occurring frequently in the same section of 
the trunk, renders it comparatively worthless, excepting for 
fuel. In the latter case, as the wood dries, the layers with 
gum veins interposing separate from each other; and it is 
consequently impracticable to take from trees so affected, a 
sound piece of timber, excepting of very small dimensions. 
The whole of the species of Augophora, or Appletree, and 
many of the Eucalypti, or Gums, are subject to bo thus 
affected; and it is the more to be regretted, because it ap¬ 
pears to be the only reason why many of the trees, so 
blemished, should not be classed amongst the most useful 
of the hard woods of the colony. 
Another characteristic among these hard woods is de¬ 
serving of notice. Although the majority of them make 
excellent fuel, and are valuable on account of the compara¬ 
tive quantity of steam they are capable of generating, the 
greater part are slow to kindle, and a few of them will 
hardly burn at all. To this circumstance, probably, is to be 
attributed the small number of houses burnt, in a climate, 
and among a population, likely to afford an unusual pro¬ 
portion of suclr accidents. Few of the species of Eucalypti 
are rich in potash; but several of the genus Angopliora 
contain it abundantly. 
It would be difficult to form even an approximate estimate 
of the number of species of Class A, producing good timber, 
throughout the settled districts of New South Wales. It is 
believed that very few of them have a wide range; the same 
local names being applied many times over to different 
species, in different districts. 
O/ass B. —Barren scrub, covered either wholly with low 
shrubby vegetation without trees, or with short-stemmed, 
stunted trees, rarely or never producing serviceable timber. 
The same dry character of vegetation prevails over this de¬ 
scription of country as over the last. The “ bush-fires ” 
which sweep over these barren scrubs once, at least, in 
every four or five years, effectually prevent the species which 
do not grow with naked trunks from attaining the dimen¬ 
sions they might otherwise be susceptible of acquiring. At 
each burning the majority are killed to the ground, to be 
reproduced from the collar. Good specimens of their wood 
for illustration, are, therefore, scarcely attainable. It may j 
be observed, that the majority of the beautiful flowering j 
shrubs of the colony have their habitats in this sort of ! 
country; which is always more or less rocky, stony, or j 
sandy. 
Class C .—Rich brush, or “ cedar brush.” Tracts of j 
country rarely of great continuous breadth, but often alter- j 
nating at short intervals with Class A, and prevalent only at I 
moderate distances from the sea, or, at all events, to the i 
eastward of the great dividing range. This description of 
wood-land often occupies country covered with rocks and 
stones, but of such geological character that a rich soil 
results from their decomposition. It usually follows the 
courses of streams; and, in a country favourable, geologi¬ 
cally speaking, to the formation of good land, the cedar 
brushes fill up the valley and the gorges of ravines with 
their dense vegetation. They are to be found in the greatest 
perfection at Illawarra, a few miles from the open sea-coast, 
upon natural terraces, skirting the mountain side, at various 
elevations up to 1,500 feet; and upon rich alluvial plains, 
particularly in the districts to the northward of Sydney, 
where they are described to be of great continuous extent. 
They produce few shrubs, but a variety of trees of consider¬ 
able altitude ; frequently of comparatively slender growth, 
almost universally clothed with beautiful, dense, bright 
green foliage, their umbrageous character being much in¬ 
creased by the numerous lofty ligneous climbers (“ bush 
ropes”), which attain their topmost branches, and fre¬ 
quently throw themselves from tree to tree. At Illawarra, 
and in some other districts, four species of arborescent 
ferns, and two noble species of palms, add materially to the 
tropical aspect of this description of country. A few of the 
trees of Class A are to be observed thinly scattered through 
the cedar brushes. In such case they often attain the most 
magnificent dimensions; but their general character remains 
unaltered. During the heats of summer, the atmosphere of 
the cedar brushes is always much less dry, and the tem¬ 
perature more equable, than it is upon adjoining lands not 
clothed with rich vegetation. Bush fires rarely or never 
extend into their recesses; which are difficult to penetrate, 
even on foot, owing to the numerous irregularities of surface 
which prevail, and to the tangled nature of the vegetation. 
These difficulties apart, nothing can be imagined more 
charming to the beholder; especially wffiere glades or natural 
openings occur, to enable him to comprehend the full gran¬ 
deur of the still life around him. The extreme loftiness of 
the noble trees, which are thrown together in surprising 
variety, with stems, rarely cylindrical, but of the most pic¬ 
turesquely irregular forms, covered with mosses and orchids, 
and loaded aloft with huge masses of epiphytical ferns of 
exquisite beauty; all these vegetable wonders, viewed in the 
transparent, green, and almost sunless light, which even on 
the brightest days pervades their recesses, combined with 
the delicious fragrance, and the agreeable temperature, 
which in fine weather invariably characterises the cedar 
brushes, astonish and gratify the lovers of sylvan scenery. 
But, although the senses are charmed, the difficulties in 
exploring them, to ascertain of what species of trees they 
consist, are very great; and still more serious are the ob¬ 
stacles to be surmounted, in getting out new trees when 
found. , 
(To he continued.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Dairy Maid. — An Old Subscriber “ wishes to know what would be the 
best and simplest work on the dairy for a young and inexperienced dairy 
maid to read who is anxious to undertake the charge of a dairy of six 
cows, and where such a book can be procured?”—The very book you 
seek for is a small volume, called The Dairy Maid, published by Mr. C. 
Knight in 1847. 
Temperature (J. B. H.). —A thermometer for showing the at 
mospheric heat should be hung facing the north, two feet from the wall, 
and five feet from the ground. The average daily temperature is found 
by adding the highest and lowest temperature together, and dividing 
their aggregate by two. 
Dioscorea japonica (A Subscriber ).—What we have said about 
D. battata will apply to this. 
Poultry [E. Fairbrother). —We have not received the queries you 
refer to. 
Kid Boots. — A Lady wishes to know the best composition for clean¬ 
ing these. 
Cow-keeping (L. IF.). — Buy our 100th number. It will give you the 
plain information you seek for. 
Guano-water [Sylvia). — Mix half-an-ounce of guano with each 
gallon of water. We never knew Clematis raised from seed ; but it 
might be done. A light soil, with plenty of leaf-mould mixed with it, is 
well-suited for Primroses and Polyanthuses. 
Cottage Gardening (J. P.).—There is a very useful little pamphlet 
on the subject, entitled “ Cottage Gardening, by James Main, F.L.S.” 
It is reprinted from the second volume of the’ “Journal of the Royal 
Agricultural Society.”—Any one having a White Pea Hen for sale may 
write to the Rev. J. H. Payne, Colney Parsonage. 
Names op Plants ( Lindum ). — Yours is Abutilon striatum. 
[Mitcheldever). We cannot decipher your name; but the plant found 
by your little boy, “under a common Laurel,” is the Greater Tooth- 
wort ( Lathrwu squamuria ). It is a parasite, attached to the roots of old 
trees in shady places. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ 
Church, City of London.—May 22, 1855. 
