528 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS. 
Ovens River (Victoria) it is known as “‘ Box,” and as ‘‘ Peppermint Gum.” 
In Victoria it is called ‘‘ Binnap” by the aboriginals of the Yarra. 
The timber varies from a light colour to a dull brick colour; 
that from straight stems is employed for shingles, rails, and also 
as rough building material. It is not so durable as the wood of 
many other species of Eucalyptus, but is stronger than that of 
£). amygdalina, and E. obliqua. (Mueller.) It is very dutable for 
underground work. In the extreme south of New South Wales 
it is used for a variety of purposes, including rails and wheel- 
wrights’ work. The heart-wood is of no use, at least in that 
district, so that about a foot of the centre of the tree has generally 
to be left as useless. The Yarra (Victoria) aboriginals used to 
make Geeaus (flat shields) out of this wood. 
The Tasmanian wood of this species is said to afford the 
finest split stuff (for palings, shingles, etc.) in the world (Tenison- 
Woods), but Dr. Woolls says this wood is not much esteemed, 
probably with the meaning in Baron Mueller’s remarks above, or 
because it is only fit to be used in the whole log, as it is apt to 
split, and is usually full of hollows containing gum. 
At the London International Exhibition of 1862, a magnifi- 
cent spar of this gum was shown from Tasmania. It was 23oft. 
long, and cut into roft. lengths.” The specific gravity of this 
timber is about .685. Aton of dry wood yields about 32lb. of 
crude potash, or 13lb. of pure potash. (Mueller.) It has suc- 
ceeded admirably at Abbottabad, Punjab, India. (Gamble.) 
Following are brief descriptions of some timbers of this 
species in the Technological Museum :— 
1. “Manna Gum.” Warm brown colour, and coarse in 
grain. (Victoria.) 2. “ Ribbony Gum.” Straight in the grain, 
easy to work, coarse in grain; colour, buff; diameter, 2 to 3ft.; 
height, 60 to 8oft. (Delegate, N.S.W,) 3. This is also from 
Delegate, but from a variety of the species, as it is quite different 
in every respect from the normal species, “ Ribbony Gum.” Flesh- 
coloured, moderately heavy, very straight in the grain, good to 
work, but requires careful seasoning ; diameter, 2 to 3ft; height, 
60 to Soft. 4. No. 28, London Exh., 1862; 108, Paris Exh., 
