BY R. H. CAMBAGE. 573 



ascending the western slopes, passing right through the belt and 

 beyond the eastern limit of var. albeiis, and continuing upwards 

 to within a few miles of Orange, though above an altitude of 

 3,000 feet it seems rare. This distribution is important in view 

 of the probable future of this tree in regard to its bearing on the 

 Eucalyptus oil industry. 



In going from Ophir to Mullion Creek Railway Station the 

 country again rises, and E. hemiphloia var. albens is soon left 

 behind. Other Eucalypts growing on the elevated parts are E. 

 viminaUs, E. Bridyesiana, E. mdliodora^ E. tereticoruis, E. maci'o- 

 7'hyncha, E. maculosa, E. Cambagei, E. hcemastoma var. Tnicrantha, 

 E. polyanthema, E. dives, E. amygdaJina, Labill. (Peppermint), E. 

 rubida and E. coriacea. 



Other plants within sight of the road are Acacia dealbata, A. 

 tindidifolia, A. lanigera, A. Cunn., Cassinia Theodori, Daviesia^^. 



Two other plants found in the district were Pidtencea ternata, 

 F.V.M., and F. styphelioides, A. Cunn. 



Eucalyptus amyydalina is usualh^ known on the western high- 

 lands as Peppermint, but towards the coast where the trees have 

 greater proportions they are very often called Messmate. The 

 first name is suggested from the strong smell of the crushed leaves, 

 while the appellation of Messmate infers that these trees " mess- 

 mate " with or partake of the characters of other trees. The 

 trees showing outward affinities to E. aniygdalina, and which 

 suggest the name of Messmate are probably E. dives (Peppermint) 

 and one of the Stringybarks growing in the locality. 



E. amygdalina usually grows with a grey bark not unlike that 

 of E. dives, but perhaps a little more fibrous in large trees. The 

 two species are easily separated on sight by the leaves, those of 

 the former being narrow, while those of the latter are fairly 

 broad, especially on the young shoots. The fruits of E. dives are 

 slightly the larger. The timber of E. amygdalina is not con- 

 sidered to be of much value, being soft and likely to decay when 

 used i]i exposed situations. This species is not very plentiful in 

 the Orange and southern Bathurst districts, and Mullion Creek 

 marks the most north-v/esterly locality in which I have ever found 



