The Australian Red Cedar is supposed to be the same species as the Cedrela toona of India. It somewhat resembles the Havannah cedar, but is of a coarser grain and of a darker colour, not unlike Honduras mahogany. It is chiefly used in Australia for joiners' work, such as doors, sashes, etc, and also for boatbuilding. Mr. Atwool does not consider it quite so good the average as Honduras mahogany, though he has seen specimens almost equal to Spanish mahogany for ornamental purposes. Like mahogany, it is usually brought into the market in short thick logs.

The weight of a cubic foot when dry is about 35 lbs.; and the transverse strength of a specimen 1 foot long between the supports and 1 inch square, and loaded in the middle, is about 471 lbs.

599. Norfolk island Pine (Araucaria excelsa) - This tree is a native of Norfolk Island and Australia. In the former place it is found growing to a height of over 200 feet, with a diameter of 10 feet, and has been known to reach the height of 267 feet, with a diameter of 12 feet for nearly 80 feet of its length. The wood is white, tough, and close-grained, containing a large quantity of turpentine. The few trees of this species that were felled in Australia were found diseased at the bottom of the trunk and under the bark; but the timber when sound is well adapted for indoor work, and will vie with oak for many purposes in building. It is considered very durable.

600. Moreton Bay Pine (Araucaria Cunninghami).* - This tree is to be found in great numbers in Queensland, growing to a height of over 150 feet, with a diameter of about 5 feet.

The wood is straight-grained, tough, and tolerably free from knots. The colour is similar to that of the yellow pine used in England. It is not so durable as Baltic pine, and it is very liable to the attacks of sea-worms and white ants.

In Queensland it is used for flooring boards and for building purposes generally, and as it splits easily it is also used as shingles for roofing. It holds nails and screws well. The weight of a cubic foot when dry is about 45 lbs.

* By Mr. William Spon, who resided for a short time in Queensland. Sooth Africa.*

601. The timber trees of the Cape Colony and Natal are chiefly evergreens. Their wood is dry and tough, and worked with more or less difficulty. Owing to the dryness of the soil and climate it is very liable to warp and twist in seasoning. Some descriptions shrink longitudinally as well as transversely, and with few exceptions the timber is not procurable in logs of more than 12 to 15 inches in diameter.

For these reasons European or American timber is used in preference to native in the larger towns, and in the neighbourhood of sea-ports. East Indian teak is also used for external doors and sashes.

Very few reliable experiments have been made on the timber grown in the colony. A fine collection of specimens are however to be seen in the Museum at Cape Town.