TIMBERS. 459 
Height, up to 300ft. 
Tasmania, Southern and Eastern Victoria, and sparingly in 
Southern New South Wales. 
278. Eucalyptus gomphocephala, DC., B.FI., iii., 231. 
The ‘‘ Touart,” ‘‘ Tooart,”’ or ‘‘Tewart” of Western Australia. Some- 
times called ‘‘ White Gum.” 
This wood is of a pale yellowish colour, is remarkable for hard- 
ness and strength, is very heavy, of a close and twisted, and even 
curled grain, rendering it difficult to cleave, and (what in 
Eucalyptus timbers must be considered a particularly valuable 
quality) it shows no aptness torend. (Mueller.) A sample sent to 
the Colonial and Indian Exhibition was examined by Mr. Allen 
Ransome, who thus reported on it: “ This wood is of a light-brown 
colour, heavy, durable, and tough. From the sample sent, some 
felloes were shaped, and some spokes turned, the finish from both 
machines being all that could be desired.” 
The following information regarding this wood is taken from 
Timber and Timber Trees, by Thomas Laslett, late Timber 
Inspector to the Admiralty :— 
“It is a very sound wood, possessing few or no defects, with 
the exception of a mild form of heart and star shake at the centre, 
which would necessitate a small amount of waste, if it were 
required to reduce the logs into thin planks or boards; but if 
employed in large scantlings, it will be found a most valuable 
wood, especially when great strength is needed. 
““The Tewart shrinks very little in seasoning, and does not 
split while undergoing that process; it is also a characteristic of 
this wood that it will bear exposure to all the vicissitudes of 
weather for a long time without being in any but the least degree 
affected by it. I have known it subjected to this severe test for 
fully ten years, and when afterwards converted, it opened out with 
all the freshness of newly-felled timber. Possibly no better 
evidence is required to show that this is a durable wood. 
“Jt is used in ship-building for beams, keelsons, stern-posts, 
engine-bearers, and for other works below the line of flotation, for 
which great strength is required, a weighty material in that position 
not being objectionable in a ship’s construction. 
