FOREST RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA. 253 



selected, as it is often marred by numerous veins. These, how- 

 ever, exude a gum which possesses important medicinal properties, 

 and is used locally for tanning. The term " red gum " is common 

 to many Australian eucalypts, particularly to the Eucalyptus 

 rostrata of Victoria and the Eucalyptus resinifera of New South 

 Wales. Wandoo {Eucalyptus redunca) is a wood that needs to 

 he better known. It covers a considerable area, and it is com- 

 puted that there are from 6 to 7 million loads of marketable 

 timber available for use or export. It is well suited for railway 

 and wheelwright work. York gum (Eucalyptus loxophleba), 

 another widely-distributed timber, is a strong, tough wood, suited 

 for general purposes. The same also may be said of the yate 

 gum {Eucalyptus cornuta) and other eucalypts of this nature, of 

 which this State and Australia generally possess a great variety. 

 The Acacia saligna, (a species of wattle) supplies a valuable 

 tannic acid — mimosa tannin — of which the bark contains about 

 30 per cent. The well-known raspberry jam {Acacia acuminata) 

 is a beautiful wood, suitable for cabinet work. Another acacia, 

 the badjong {Acacia microbotrya), is used for barrel staves and 

 soft-wood joinery. There are many other timbers in this State — 

 casuarinas, banksias, and conifers — suitable for building, furniture, 

 and fancy work, which are available for exjjort. 



Tasmania. 



The most important and best known tree of the Tasmanian 

 forests is the blue gum {Eucalyptus globulus). Its name is 

 derived fi'om the colour of the young growth. In size it compares 

 with jarrah and karri. The colour of the matured wood is golden 

 yellow to purplish bx'own or buff. It is in considerable demand 

 for harbour works. Good piles, like those supplied for the national 

 harbour works at Dover, can be obtained up to 100 ft. in length, 

 with only a moderate taper. It has been tried for street paving 

 in London, though with only moderate success. If sound and 

 well selected, blue gum is one of the most important and valuable 

 trees of Australia, and, according to recent reports by the Govern- 

 ment of Tasmania, is available in any quantities. On account of 

 its rapid growth, and the pungent and odorous exhalations from 

 its leaves, it has been widely planted in Southern Europe, par- 

 ticularly in malarial districts, with most beneficial results. In 

 South Africa, India, and particularly in the Southern and Western 

 States of America, extensive plantations of blue gum have been 



