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as well as from the continual firing of the grass in the forests, which must dry up the sap of the young trees. It also deserves to be noticed, that several of the gums, iron, and stringy bark, mahogany and box trees, which were felled at the first establishment of the colony, are now perfectly sound and hard, though exposed to the weather for fifteen years.
From the foot of the Blue Mountains[1] specimens of three or four kinds of timber, unknown
at
- ↑ This is an elevated ridge running in a direction between the E. N. E. and E. and not more than five leagues from the banks of the Hawkesbury at Richmond Hill. All beyond this ridge is literally a terra incognita, for though several attempts have been made to pass them, not one has yet succeeded; but it is probable these failures have proceeded more from want of proper method, or of common perseverance, than from any obstacles presented by the mountains themselves, for the highest part of the ridge does not appear to equal the common mountains of Wales and Ireland, Upon this subject (as well as upon others of the colonial system) we may apply the remarks of a learned writer, "Projects thought desperate in days of ignorance have, in more enlightened times, been brought to a successful issue;" and "individuals have often failed in their attempts for want of public encouragement, and public enterprizes from want of concurrence among individuals."
Weight of a cubic foot of the timber of New South Wales. Wt. when cut down, Jan. 1804
lbs.Wt. at the present time Aug. 1804. Gum, red 79
—— blue 68
—— black butted 71
Bark, stringy 67
—— Iron 74
Mahogany 66
She-oak 65
Box 77
Tea-tree 69
learned
