254 TRANSACTIONS OP ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



made. In a report on Eucahjpts Cultivated in the United 

 States, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1902, this 

 tree is described as the best all-round eucalypt. As an illustration 

 of its use for harbour purposes, the report states that a contractor, 

 who was constructing a pier at Oceanside (California), required a 

 few piles of Oregon timber to complete his contract. As these 

 were not, for the moment, to be had, he obtained from a neighbour- 

 ing plantation some piles of blue gum. When it became necessary, 

 some years later, to repair the pier, these were found to be the 

 only sound piles in the structure. "The demand for these piles," 

 the report states, "is now greater than the groves of eucalyptus 

 can supply," 



Stringy bark (Uucalyptus ohliqua) is a more widely distributed 

 tree than blue gum. It attains an immense size. The timber 

 varies considei'ably, according to the situation and soil in which 

 it grows. It is used for similar purposes to blue gum, biit it is 

 more subject to gum veins, and has, therefore, to be carefully 

 selected It should be serviceable for street paving, but its 

 tendency to warp and shrink renders careful seasoning and pre- 

 paration necessary. 



Among the other timbers of Tasmania which ai-e available for 

 export, blackwood {Acacia melanoxylon) and myrtle {Fagus 

 Cunninghamii) are the best known and most in demand. Black- 

 wood is extensively used for furniture, panelling for railway 

 carriages, wainscotting, and interior fittings. It resembles cedar 

 in appearance. Alcock k Son, of Melbourne, use it for billiard 

 tables, and CoUard k Cullard, of London, for pianos. It has 

 lately been supplied to the Admiralty for gun carriages, having 

 passed the necessary test in the Government arsenals. Myrtle 

 has been favourably reported upon by Messrs Raiisome, saw-mill 

 and mechanical engineers, of Chelsea, for its strength and high 

 finish. Fine examples of its use, with blackwood, for dados and 

 wall linings may be seen in London. 



In addition to these there are the Huon pine {Dracrydium 

 Fraiiklinii), an exceedingly tine timber, light and strong, which 

 should constitute a useful and valuable commercial asset for local 

 and export purposes. 



New South Wales and Queensland. 



I dr) not propose to give any detailed description of the timbers 

 of these Stat(;s, since, as already indicated, sufficient particulars 



