69 



Vernacular Xanies. It is usually known as " Stringybark " in Tasmania 

 and South Australia, and t<> a less extent in Victoria; in. the last State, 

 however, it is usually known as " Messmate," because it is associated or 

 mess-mates with other Stringybarks and fibrous-barked Eucalypts. The 

 same name is in use in Southern New South Wales, as, for instance, at 

 Sugarloaf Mountain, Braidwood, and at Tantawanglo Mountain, near Oath- 

 cart. Apparently this is the most widely-used name for it in New South 

 Wales, and the term " Stringybark " does no't seem to be usually applied to 

 it in this State. It has been sold in recent years as Tasmanian Oak. 



Because it is usually rough-barked to the ends of the branches, it some- 

 times goes by the name of " Woolly-topped Messmate " in the Braidwood 

 district (Monga, &c.). Other names are "Bastard Stringybark," "Woolly 

 Butt," or "Woolly Bark," and White Stringybark," all in use in New 

 England, New South Wales. 



Bark. Rough-barked to the ends of the branches; the bark of the trunk 

 and branches is decidedly fibrous, but the fibres are not so clean and tena- 

 cious as those of the true S'tringybarks, and the bark is not so suitable for 

 roofing. 



Timber. That from New South Wales localities is a rather inferior, 

 coarse, open-grained, porous wood, liable to shrink and warp. It is not 

 esteemed for public works in New South Wales. Its open nature may be, 

 at least in part, a consequence of rapid growth, for which, according to 

 several authorities, E. obliqua has the reputation. 



It has been used in the Braidwood and Cooma districts for many years 

 for building purposes. In Victoria and Tasmania it is largely used, and a 

 recent official publication of the latter State says : " It is our most valuable 

 wood." In considering the value of this observation, it should, of course, 

 be borne in mind that neither of these States possess a series of excellent 

 timbers such as New South Wales can boast of. At the same time it is 

 quite possible that Tasmanian and Victorian grown timbers of this, species 

 are superior to that grown in New South Wales. Howitt, a leading 

 Victorian authority, groups it as a " second-class timber," adding that 



Although a fairly durable and useful timber, it has generally the fault of 

 being more or less full of gum-veins, and is thus unsuitable for many purposes. 



Another authority says: 



Although of an inferior class, it is used for a great variety of buiding pur- 

 poses, notwithstanding some liability to warp or twist. . . Supplies a good 

 deal of second-class sawn timber in the market. (Mueller, in Cat. Tcdi. M-us., 

 Melbourne. ) 



As this work seeks to impartially report on the qualities of the products 

 of the various species, in whatever State they are produced, some lengthy 

 statements in regard to Tasmanian-grown timber are given at this place. 



Following is a report by Mr. Allan Ransome, of London, on a Tasmanian 

 sample (see Kew Bulletin, May, 1889) : 



A very strong, tough wood, with a straight grain, in appearance somewhat 

 resembling American Ash. From its great strength and toughness it is well 

 adapted for carriage, cart, and waggon huilding, wheel-work, and agricultural 

 machinery, as well as for the framing of railway carriages and trucks. It la 

 also a valuable wood for the stronger description of building constructions, and 

 would make excellent railway sleepers. From the peculiar strength of the 

 fibre of the grain, it will not maintain a good surface, as, even when per- 

 fectly dry, the grain rises, so as, to render it impossible to polish it successfully. 



