Feb. 1903.] BOTANICAL 60CILTY OF EDINBL'UGH 3o~> 



with limewater and copperas (sulphate of iron), give an 

 entire black on cotton and wool, and upon leather give a 

 light coloured tan. The swamp gum (F. CTunnii) and the 

 messmate (E. obliquci) are similarly worthy of attention. 

 It is also probable that the residue left after the distill- 

 ation of oil from the leaves may be utilised for tanning 

 purposes. 



I may state that the total number of species of 

 Eucalyptus in Australia and Tasmania, according to Baron 

 Ferdinand von Mueller's census, is 131 ; 60 per cent, of 

 which are available as timber trees, the remainder being 

 arboreous or shrubby forms. 



In Xew South Wales there are 48 species, of which 

 6 per cent, are restricted to the State ; and in Victoria 

 there are 35 species, of which 9 per cent, are restricted to 

 the State. Of the 'io Victorian species, 21 occur in the 

 Australian Alps. 



Eucalypius Globulus (blue gum).- — Baron Ferdinand von 

 Mueller states that within the last twenty years not even 

 the royal oak of England has had such an extensive 

 literature devoted to it as the blue gum ; and of these 

 works there are no less than 76, which of themselves 

 would fill a large volume. 



The timber is of a rather pale colour, hard, heavy, 

 strong, and durable, more twisted than that of E. oJiHqua 

 (messmate), E. amygdalina (white gum), and many other 

 fissile kinds, but not so interlocked as that of E. rostrata 

 (red gum), E. melliodora (yellow box), and most of the 

 species termed box trees. Its specific gravity varies from 

 •698 ( ? 0'968) to 1*1 08. In transverse strain its strength 

 is about equal to English oak. Its durability is greater 

 than that of the so-called white gum trees and all stringy 

 bark trees. In house-building it is one of our best timbers 

 for joists, studs, rafters, or any other heavy scantlings, and 

 is very largely used for this purpose. It will be seen that 

 the blue gum stands pre-eminent among the woods of all 

 countries in regard to strength, bearing nearly five times 

 the strain of American cedar. There is every reason to 

 believe, therefore, that it will be largely in demand when 

 its valuable properties become better known in European 

 markets. 



