40 



Anomalous Group. 



1. Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallow-wood). 



2. Eucalyptus maculata (Spotted Gum). 



3. Eucalyptus corymbosa (Bloodwood). 



Tallow-wood, Spotted Gum, and Bloodwood are sufficiently distinct from 

 each other and from all others to be kept in a group ,of anomalous timbers. 



Eucalypttis microcorys, E.v.M. 



THE TALLOW-WOOD. 



Botanical Name. Microcorys, from two Greek words signifying " a little- 

 helmet," in allusion to the comparative smallness of the cap (operctdum) of 

 the bud. 



Vernacular Names. Tallow-wood is the name by Avhich the timber and 

 tree are universally known in Xew South Wales, owing to the greasy nature 

 of the former. This is taken advantage of in using it for ball-room flooring. 

 In Queensland it goes more or less under the names of " Peppermint,"" 

 " Turpentine," and " Red Stringybark," names which in Xew South Wales 

 are appropriated to different trees. The two former names are in allusion 

 to the oil contained in its leaves, the last in allusion to the colour of its 

 bark, and not because of the colour of its wood, as is Red Stringybark in 

 New South Wales. 



Bark. The bark (often of a " corrugated " appearance) is sub-fibrous, 

 of loose, and even woolly, texture. In colour it is of a sort of brick or rusty 

 red, and is persistent even to the smallest branches. 



" It has a corrugated, somewhat fibrous or stringy bark, which is always 

 riddled with the ' roads ' of white ants into within \ of an inch of the sap- 

 wood." (Forester W. P. Pope, late of Aiurwillumbali.) 



Timber. Its colour is usually yellowish-brown or yellowish (sometimes, 

 e.g., at Camden Haven, much of the timber has a pink tinge), and like 

 many other timbers darkens with age. One of the least liable to shrink of 

 all our hardwoods. It is heavy, strong, and durable. It may be planed and 

 turned with great satisfaction. It is not easily split, the greasy substance 

 contained in it making it a tedious matter to get the wedge to " draw." I 

 would express the opinion that, after Ironbark, Tallow-wood is the most 

 valuable of our hardwoods. 



It is used for flooring, particularly in ball-room?. For this latter purpose 

 it is selected on account of its greasy nature. It is excellent for decking, 

 hand-railing, girders, and some other parts of bridges. A favourite for 

 building work generally, and it does not burn readily, which, in buildings,, 

 is, of course, a recommendation. It is, perhaps, the most valuable wood ^ in 

 New South W T ales for paving blocks. It makes admirable posts and rails, 

 lasting an indefinite period either above or below ground, but difficult to 

 split for these purposes, as already remarked. V hite Mahogany is not. 

 infrequently substituted for Tallow-wood. Both are good timbers, and can 

 stand on their own merits. The substitution can be readily detected by any 

 man with a fair knowledge of colonial timbers. 



