BY R. H. CAMBAGE. 691 



The differences, however, between these two trees, especially in 

 the bark, seem sufficient to warrant their being considered speci- 

 fically distinct. Some general characters, however, such as bark 

 (partly), foliage, and in some cases the fruits, suggest a consider- 

 able affinity with E. ohliqua, L'Heritier. 



The timber of E. delegatensis is fissile, easily worked, and used 

 for all kinds of structures, but is not considered very durable in 

 the ground. Although it is used in the framework of buildings, 

 the blocks upon which it stands are selected in the Bago district 

 from healthy trees of Peppermint {E. amygdalina), though in no 

 other part of this State have I known the latter species to be 

 specially recommended for its durability under ground, and am 

 inclined to think that its value here is of a comparative nature. 

 This Mountain Ash evidently produces a timber which requires 

 to be well seasoned, otherwise it shrinks very much. The floors 

 of verandahs and balconies in the towns of Adelong and Tumut 

 give evidence of the shrinkage which takes place in the flooring 

 boards, the cracks between them in many instances being more 

 than a quarter of an inch across. 



In the Tumbarumba to Laurel Hill district it is E. amygdalina, 

 which is known as Peppermint, and E. dives as Messmate, though 

 this order is reversed in other parts of the State. No trees of 

 the latter species were seen near Laurel Hill, but it was noticed 

 that some bushmen called all the small trees of E. amygdalina 

 Peppermint, while some of the large ones were pointed out as 

 Messmate, thus showing that even local knowledge must some- 

 times be received with caution. 



One resident of Laurel Hill informed me that goats would eat 

 the "sucker" leaves of all the local Eucalypts except those of 

 E. amygdalina, and some trees which he ringbarked near his 

 residence were kept " suckered '.' in this way till they died, but 

 the Peppermints were allowed to remain untouched. 



A feature in connection with the vegetation of Laurel Hill, 

 which is about 3,300 feet above sea-level, is its resemblance to 

 that of parts of Tasmania, and this is owing for the most part to 

 the similarity of climate. The geological formation of the locality 



