316 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JsourNAL. [1 Aprin, 1898. 
Forestry. 
SOME TIMBER TREES OF QUEENSLAND. 
By J. W. FAWCETT, 
Member of the English Arboricultural Society. 
PREFACE. 
Iw the following articles, which comprise the observations of the writer together 
with those contained in the writings of others who have studied, either in part 
or as a whole, the forest flora of this great island continent of ours, I shall 
try to give a concise account of some of the more valuable timber trees of this 
colony which form a great part of our industrial and commercial productions. 
Should any reader be able to give the sizes of any large trees in the 
colony, or furnish photographs or sketches of any forest giants, I shall be most 
happy either to receive or see in the Queensland Agricultural Journal such 
notes or productions or photos. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
Owing to its vast area and its diversity of altitude, climate, and soil» 
Queensland possesses a greater variety of indigenous trees than the other 
colonies, and perhaps more than could be found in a similar extent 
of country in any other part of the world. In the earlier days of 
settlement there were, and in several undeveloped and unsettled districts 
there are still, immense tracts of country covered with magnificent 
forests, which yielded and will yet yield timber unsurpassed for 
many purposes by kinds produced in other parts of the continent and the 
world. Through neglect, and, what may be termed bad usage, together with 
the great want of legislation on the matter, our native forests are becoming 
rapidly exhausted., In many districts, and especially around the larger centres 
of population, where, only a few years ago, first-class timber was abundant, it 
is now getting scarce, simply because the trees (irrespective of species) haye 
been ruthlessly destroyed by sawyers, settlers, splitters, and timber-cutters, 
without making any provision for the renovation of the forests and for future 
supplies. Though we still have considerable supplies of timber trees available, 
yet they are annually rapidly diminishing, and unless a regular system of 
forestry is adopted it is only a question of time when the supply will more or 
less fail us. With proper care our supplies of timber may be made to increase 
and become equal to colonial demands. What is wanted is, forest conservation, 
for the time is at hand when itis necessary to legislate for the future supply of 
useful timbers. By so doing a complete change would doubtless be brought 
about, and what must eventually become an important and valuable industry 
would be saved for posterity. 
The cultivation of timber trees is a labour which might be carried on to a 
greater extent by the Government and by private individuals with profit. As 
our indigenous timber trees vary considerably in their requirements, and as we 
possess species suitable for every variety of climate and soil, the many lands which 
‘are too poor for remunerative cultivation or pasture might be profitably utilised 
in the growth of certain species of timber trees. It is also quite possible for us 
to cultivate with success many exotic species, for, though our native trees are 
excellent, they are mostly hardwoods, and unsuitable for several purposes, 
