14 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
May 1, 1903s 
attention to the possibilities in wood-pay- 
ing, parquet flooring, carriage building, 
wood engraving, carving, brushmaking, 
casks, and boxes. He also puts in a plea 
for knowledge regarding wood pulp, and 
the value of timber ashes, and: says that 
the list might be made out to a wearisome 
length. We heartily endorse the hope that 
this work will receive large public sup- 
port. It is issued at one shilling per part, 
ot ten shillings for a set of twelve. The 
plates are beautiful and accurate descrip- 
tions, executed by Miss Margaret Flock- 
ton, and Mr. Maiden also acknowledges 
valuable aid from his assistants, Mr. Ernst 
Betche and Miss S. Hynes. 
The subjects under description in Part 
Tracers 
Grevillea robusta (silky oak). 
Ficus rubiginosa (rusty fig). 
Syncarpia laurifolia (turpentine tree). 
Pittosporum  phillyreoides (narrow- 
leaved Pittosporum). 
We are pleased to note that the first of 
the series opens with one of the Grevilleas, 
of which there are nearly 200 species. In 
the October issue of the “Australian Gar- 
dener” we wrote a special article upon Gre- 
villeas, making mention of their adapta- 
bility to cultivation, and the beauty of 
a number of the most readily procured 
varieties. ; 
As might have been expected, Mr. 
Maiden deals first with the botanical fea- 
tures of the genus, and the species under 
particular notice. The botanical, vernacu- 
lar, and ‘aboriginal names are interesting. 
Robusta, strong and firm; silky oak, from 
the silky underside of the leaves or the 
bright appearance of the freshly split 
wood; and the aboriginal Warra-garria, 
tuggan-tuggan, Koomkabang, presumably 
from any circumstance that may have 
played upon aboriginal genius, supersti- 
tion, or what you will. The writer then 
goes into particulars upon the leaves, 
graceful and fernlike, for table adornment, 
its orange-yellow flowers, rich in honey 
and ornamental, and the fruit with winged 
seeds, and the timber. By-the-way, we 
make bold to suggest that the descriptions 
of the plates could be advantageously 
printed at the foot of each plate. 
Regarding the suitability of the timber 
for wine casks, the opinion of Mr. Thomas 
Hardy, of South Australia, is quoted. This 
experienced winegrower tested the wood 
by placing shavings into the wine for two 
months without affecting the taste, and 
pronounced it suitable for casking. Other 
instances of its suitability for mercantile 
purposes are also quoted in regard to dairy- 
ing utensils. Millions of feet of this tim- 
ber exists in New South Wales, and not « 
stick of it is used, but it is found in usc 
in Ceylon. The difficulty appears to be 
in a deposit in the heart of the tree which 
injures the saw. Ceylon planters, however, 
speak of it as “one of the most valuable 
gifts which Australia has bestowed upon 
Ceylon.”’ The seed germinates readily, and 
is worth the attention of those in charge 
of our forest reserves. 
Ficus rupicinosa—the Rusty Fig—is 
_Warra, and Pearbbie. 
tree 1s recommended under proper treat- 
the second subject for treatment. 
botanical description states that the tree 
is of considerable size, with spreading 
branches, throwing out woody roots, which 
descend to the ground, forming pillars as in 
the Indian banyan tree. The vernacular 
names are Port Jackson fig, Illawarra fig, 
Rusty fig (because of the ferruginous ap- 
pearance of the young shoots), Native ban- 
yan, Narrow-leaved fig. A number of abo- 
riginal names are also given, amongst: 
them being Baira, Warrauka, and Pingy. 
The nurserymen catalogue it under the 
uame of Ficus Australis. It can be readily 
identified by similarities in common with 
the Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla). 
The species is very largely cultivated, par- 
ticularly in New South Wales. Exceed- 
ingly ornamental and affording beautiful 
shade, it is suitable for public reserves and 
parks. The timber is practically value- 
less, but the fibre of the roots is highly 
esteemed by the natives for their fishing 
nets. <A large amount of interest attaches 
to this tree because of the experiments 
that have been conducted upon the exuda- 
tion of a “milky” juice. This was thought 
to contain caoutchouc substance of com- 
merce, but the properties are up to the 
present valueless. 
SYNCARPIA LAURIOFOLIA—the Turpentine 
Tree. The botanical name. is derived 
from sun (together) and karpos (a fruit), 
alluding to the fruits growing together. 
The vernacular name, turpentine tree, is 
described as unfortunate. It is suggestive 
of inflammability, while as a matter of 
fact it is one of the most unflammable, and 
carries no odor. The name is given because 
of the resin which flows from between the 
bark and the wood. The aboriginals have 
named it Booreah, Burra Murra, Killa 
The timber of ‘his 
ment for cabinet work. Its chief value 
is its durability, res’sting decay in +he 
ground whether from white ant or other 
causes, resistance to marine borers, and for 
building purposes in resisting fire. It is 
reported that the girders and joists of this 
timber in a building saved 1t from being 
gutted by a large fire. The Legislative 
Assembly of New South Wales called for 
é report upon this timber with reference 
to its resistance to the destructive toredo. 
The evidence contained in the report is 
very conflicting, but the finding of the 
jurors is that “the turpentine will resist 
the cobra (toredo) as well, or better, than 
any other hardwood, provided the bark re- 
mains uninjured.” The article further 
states that “this tree is one of the best in- 
digenous shade trees in the States. It is 
gregarious, and its noble, leafy head makes 
it an ideal tree under which to put garden 
seats, or to serve as shelter trees for men 
or animals in a paddock, or as specimen 
trees to give a park-like appearance to the 
land.” 
PITTOSPORUM PHILLYR#OIDES — narrow- 
leaved Pittosporum. This is described as a 
small, graceful tree or slender shrub. 'The 
name is derived from pitte (to pitch) and 
sporos (a seed), the seeds being sticky and 
sometimes black, like pitch. The verna- 
The 
cular names are butter bush, willow-tree, 
poison berry, and quinine-tree, each being 
descriptive of some peculiarity. It may be 
remarked that it is not poisonous, but the 
berries are very bitter or acrid. It carries 
also a number of synonyms, owing to its 
variableness. The leaves are spoken of as 
being very yaluable in time of drought, 
when sheep and catthe browse upon it. 
The dwarf character of the tree makes the 
timber of no value, except for the purpose 
of turnery. A fanciful little legend is given 
as coming from an aboriginal, who stated 
that when nobody lived in the country a 
long time ago, one of the berries opened, 
and out came a beautiful young black gin. 
She lived upon hunting, but pined for a 
mate. She noticed one day a bush with 
seed pods upon it, and as she watched it a 
fine young fellow came out of one of them. 
They greeted each other, and lived happily 
with their son and daughter, who settled 
upon the same lines lower down the creek.” 
The name of the seed pod that produced 
the blackfellow has not’ yet been dis- 
covered. 
We repeat our commendation of this in- 
teresting and instructive work upon forest 
flora, and trust that a wide circulation of 
ib may result in the cultivation of many of 
our native trees and shrubs, not only as 
additional ornaments to our (public and 
private gardens, but also in our forestries 
for their commercial economic value. 
We shall look forward with pleasure to 
the second- series, which we may anticipate 
to be equally as full of interest and instruc- 
tion as the first. 
[Note.—Since writing the above Part IT. 
has come to hand, and will be placed under 
review in our next issue.—Ep.| 
POOeO KH OOS 
PLANTS BENEATH TREES. 
The complaints that plants will not grow 
beneath trees would not be so numerous 
were cultivators more frequently to take a _ 
common-sense view of the matter. More 
often than not the trees beneath which 
plants refuse to grow are of secondary im- 
portance; in many instances their death 
would not provoke tears. Why not, then, 
make them suffer, that the plants inserted 
beneath them may benefit. 
Trim off as many of the lower bouglis — 
as circumstances permit; the tree will not - : 
die. Then with a good sharp spade dig 
a good dressing of well-decayed manure 
into the area it is proposed to plant. 
Hundreds of fibrous roots will be sacrificed _ 
if this operation is well carried out. But 
do not worry; even this will not cause 
the tree to succumb, unless it is made of 
softer stuff than any I have dealt with. 
With soil thus prepared, and a compen- 
sating use made of the hose and water can 
te atone for rains kept off che ground by 
the tree’s leaves, almost any plant will 
~ grow with a fair measure of success. Cer- 
tainly, very many of our annuals will do 
sy. The system is, in fact, best suited 
to the growth of annuals, as their death 
