67 



greatest luxuriance in mountain districts, and its timber is thought to 

 mule ash. Sometimes called " Black Ash," but this name should be 

 reserved .for E. xlcllulata. It is sometimes called " White-topped Ironbark" 

 in Tasmania, where then? an.' no true Ironbarks. It has been also eall> d 

 " Blaekbutt." but that name should be reserved for E. pilularis. It h:-s 

 been called " Messmate" or " Stringybark " at the Dromedary. X.S.W., but 

 tlie use of such names for this species is to be deprecated. Dr. A. W. 

 llowitt said il was also known in South-eastern New South Wales as 

 "Silver-top" -tnd " Hastard Ironbark.'' 



Hurl.-. In young trees the bark often somewhat resembles " Stringybark " 

 when viewed from a little distance. Hence the tree has been sometimes 

 called Stringybark, with a qualifying adjective. In older trees the bark 

 becomes denser, darker coloured, more furrowed and rugged in character. 

 The casual observer might be excused if he took the tree, for an " Ironbark," 

 but a closer examination would show the bark to be neither dense nor tough 

 enough. The small branches are smooth. 



The smooth bark of saplings appears always to be glaucous. 

 Mr. W. Haeuerlen, many years ago, sent me the following note from, 

 Braidwood in regard to this tree, referred to by him as "White Ironbark ": 



Sawyers here lei! me that, after gently burning this bark, they use the black 

 remainder as an ink or marking to strike their Hues in squaring timber. For 

 this purpose they simply mix the black substance, left after charring, with a 

 small quantity of water, so as to obtain a thick syrupy substance, through 

 which they draw their marking line; when striking the line, this substance 

 gives a clean, well-defined line without burr or wings: in striking, the sub- 

 stance does not "fly" off the line, as they say is the case when they use the 

 bark of the Keel Ironbark, or any of the other Gums. 



The bark of the Jtcd Ironbark ( xiilrro.i-i/laii] , they say, leaves a more gritty 

 or harsh substance after, charring, which does not answer their purpose. 



i'. Pale-coloured and fissile; very suitable for inside work, but not 

 durable when not protected from the weather. It seems to be a favourite 

 food of white ants. It is also often pipy, and for these two reasons it is 

 disliked by timber-getters. 



Following are the earliest notes I can get of this Hmber: 



"'Mountain Ash" I Illawarra I . "Willow or White Top" (Her; 

 Height. .lO-ll'u feet. Diameter. 24-4S inches. Much valued for rough pur] 

 in districts where the better sorts of timber are not produced. This sj. 

 usually occupies rough, rocky sites, and seems to form a link between the 

 division of Ironharks and that of the Gums. 



With very dark-coloured, rugged outer bark on the trunk, and smooth white 

 bark on the branches. Timber very hard, tough, and durable, much prized for 

 poles and shafts of drays. ( Macarthur. London Exhibition, isr>2. i 



I'sed for waggon-rails, shafts, poles, and other work connected with carriage- 

 building. (F. 1J. Marriott, Mudgee.) 



I'sed by wheelwrights for spokes and naves of wheels. (Vcncrdl 

 /;.//(.. 1ST!).) 



Mr. Alien Kansoine tested samples of this timber sent from New South 

 Wales to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. From the specimen, sub- 

 mitted spokes were turned, casks made, and boards planed. " In ail 

 cases it proved an. easy wood to work." 



The following is evidence as to the durability underground of this timber. 



The timber used in the Long Tunnel Mine (a damp mine). Walhalla. Gipps- 

 land, consists chiefly of ];. Kh licriinia. /;. ruititrUiifn. /:. t>hli</ti, I-:, dini/f/da- 

 lina, and /;. riminalix. The first of these, E. Kichcriana, is by fur the best; It 

 lasts many years. (Tisdall. J'roc. R.S. Victoria, 1S87, p. 43.) 



