132 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



is as good as represented and fully equal to the sample. A few 

 unscrupulous or careless dealers have aroused a feeling of suspicion 

 against our countrymen, so there is a little prejudice to overcome and 

 our competitors are not slow in using the ad vantage given them. The 

 merchants of England claim these markets as their right, and the 

 national pride, if not prejudice, of these people predisposes them to 

 favor their own countrymen, while France and Germany are striving, by 

 subsidies and low prices, to increase their trade here, so that Americans 

 are compelled to rely upon the merits of their wares and the enterprise 

 of their agencies. 



But what is more needed to extend our trade than anything else, 

 other things being equal, is that our strong exporting firms, mer- 

 chants, manufacturers, etc., should establish agencies in this country, 

 witTi active, wide-awake, honest, enterprising, Americans in charge, to 

 handle and display American goods and keep American ideas, wares, 

 enterprise, and inventions constantly before the people. 



In transportation we have the advantage over any other country, 

 and our people should have, and will have when they deserve it, 40 per 

 cent of the trade of Australasia, instead of 3 per cent as now. 



GEO. W. BELL, 



Consul. 



SYDNEY, March 27, 1894. 



SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



NATIVE WOODS. 



Apart from other characteristics, the trees of South Australia are 

 not as tall as those which are found on the northeast and west of this 

 territory. The eucalypti do not exceed 100 feet to 120 feet in height. 

 Among the twenty species of eucalypti which appear in the extra- 

 tropical parts of south Australia there are only a few varieties which 

 ;ire held in special estimation. 



They are commonly called red, white, and blue gum, stringy bark, and 

 peppermint. These are used for various purposes, such as building, 

 rough carpentry, wheelwright's work, and for fuel. The red gum (Euca- 

 lyptus rostrata) is very hard and solid, weighing about 62 pounds to 

 the cubic foot, and when properly seasoned is impervious to the white 

 ant; it is, however, most difficult to work up. The stringy bark (E t 

 obliqua) has its habitat principally on the hills. It sheds its bark in 

 long fibrous strings, which loosen and droop down as they become 

 detached by the newly-formed bark underneath. This process gives 

 to the trunks of the trees a ragged, untidy appearance. The stringy 



