HARDWOOD RECORD 



23 



TWO CLUE GUM AND ONE MANNA GUM LOGS WHICH HAVE 

 BEEN STEAMED AND ALLOWED TO COOL IN SATURATED VAI'OK. 

 THE LARGE CHECKS MEASURE 214 INCHES ACROSS. 



mens at Santa iloniea are some^xbat crooked in form. It does not 

 stand bard frost but is said to grow well on the soutbern coast of 

 California and fairly well in the dry valleys. Its adaptability to 

 California, however, is not well known. It is said to be the best of 

 the eucalypts for saw timber and one of the most durable under 

 ground. 



4. Blaekbutt (E. pilularis) is a tall tree, but does not stand 

 either extreme heat or frost. It is said to do best on the southern 

 coast, but not in the hot, dry valleys. It is the most durable of the 

 genus, but warps and checks badly in drying. 



5. Eed gum (E. rostrata) is a medium sized tree of fairly straight 

 growth in close plantations on good soil, but grows crooked in the 

 open. It is not .as rapid in growth as blue gum. It stands slight 

 frost and alkali soil, but not extreme cold or heat. It does best in 

 moist situations and will endure inundation. The wood is very 

 durable under ground but warps, cheeks and shrinks badly in drying. 

 It is said to resist white ants, and is brownish-red in color. 



6. Gray gum (E. tereticorius) is a tall tree but inclined to grow 

 crooked even in close plantations. Its growth is about the same or 

 slightly less rapid than that of red gum. It endures slight frost and 

 considerable drought and will stand inundation. It is fairly tolerable 

 of alkali soil. The wood is said to be fairly durable under ground, 

 but warps, shrinks and cheeks badly in drying. It is brown or 

 slightly reddish-brown in color. 



7. Bed flowering ironbark (E. sideroxylon var. rosea.) is a medium 

 sized tree of fairly good form, but inclined to be rotten hearted and 

 contain resin pockets. It is of a deep, cherry-red color ; very durable 

 in gi'ound ; dries splendidly without undue shrinkage, or warping or 

 cheeking, but is unsuitable for a lumber tree on account of its growth 

 characteristics. It endures frost, but not extreme drought or heat. 



8. Broad leaved ironbark (E. sideropliloia) grows best in moist 

 situations free from frost, but endures slight frost. It does not 

 endure extreme heat or drought; is a tall tree, rather a slow grower 

 in California, fairly straight in form; not well known. Its wood is 

 said to be very durable under ground, but its suitability for lumber 

 not well known. 



9. Leather jacket (E. punctata) is a medium to large tree of 

 fairly rapid growth and very straight in form. It endures frost and 

 is said to endure heat and drought. The wood said to be very 

 durable under ground. Properties for lumber are not well known. 



10. Swamp mahogany (E. robusta) is a medium sized tree of very 

 rapid growth and splendid form. It does not endure drought or 

 severe frost, but will survive inundation and grow in water. The 

 wood is said to be fairly durable in ground, and to be resistant to 

 the white ant. Its qualities for lumber are not well known. 



11. The blue gum (E. globulus), karri (E. diversicola) and the 

 manna giun (E. viminoUs) are rated as neither durable nor suitable 

 for lumber, which has proved true in the experience of the Forest 

 Service with the blue and manna gums. The blue gum, however, 

 heads the list as resistant to marine borers. Recent tests in San 

 Francisco harbor, however, do not substantiate this report. 



Very little is known in regard to the wood of the bastard mahogany 

 (E. lotujoictes) although the trees grow well at Santa Monica and 

 are of fairly good form. 



Jarrah (E. marginata) is considered one of the best for lumber in 

 Australia, and the most durable and resistant to marine borers, al- 

 though doubt is thro^\-n upon the last, at least for San Francisco 

 waters, by the results of some piles reputed to have been of this 

 species. It is also said to be resistant to attack of the white ant. 

 Unfortunately, however, jarrah is reputed not to thrive in the state, 

 and no specimens i-ould be found. 



There ai'e many other species of eucalyptus which will grow in more 

 or less wide range throughout California, but they are all unsuit- 

 able for either lumber or poles for various reasons. 



This list of species is not intended in any sense as final, but merely 

 the logical conclusion from a carefuly study of authoritative litera- 

 ture, taking the qualities and uses of the wood from the statements 

 concerning Australian material, and the growth requirements and 

 form of tree from actual experiences of various writers in California, 

 as well as descriptions of the species in their native habitat, supple- 

 mented by my own observations. 



One fact is most striking and significant : blue gum (globulus) is 

 considered far from the best of the woods, either for saw timber or 

 for durability. Yet it is the one species that has been planted and 

 extolled above all others in California. "Why is this so? 



It would seem as though in the mad haste of planting anything 

 by the name of eucalyptus, enthusiasm had carried away discretion, 

 people having been misled by the general outward appearance of the 



TOP E.VD OF LOG NO. 110 DIRECTLY AFTER SAWING TRUNK IN 

 TWO. NOTE LACK OP USUAL CHECKING WHICH OCCURS IN 

 SMALLER TREES. 



