114 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



New South Wales. This tree attains a height of about 120 

 feet, and is generally found growing on sterile ridges, not 

 extending to the higher mountains. The wood, which con- 

 tains a good deal of kino, is used for fence-rails and rough 

 building purposes, also extensively for fuel ; the fibrous dark- 

 brown bark serves for roofs of huts and also for tyeing. 



Eucalyptus maculata, Hooker. 



The Spotted Gum-Tree of New South Wales and South 

 Queensland. A lofty tree, the wood of which is employed 

 in ship-building, wheelwrights'* and coopers' work. The heart- 

 wood is as strong as that of British oak (Dr. Woolls) . 



Eucalyptus marginata, Smith.* 



The Jarrah or Mahogany Tree of South- West Australia, famed 

 for its indestructible wood, which is attacked neither by 

 chelura, nor teredo, nor termites, and therefore so much 

 sought for jetties and other structures exposed to sea- water ; 

 also for any underground work, telegraph poles, and largely 

 exported for railway sleepers. Vessels built of this timber have 

 been enabled to do away with all copper-plating. It is very 

 strong, of a close grain and a slightly oily and resinous nature ; 

 it works well, makes a fine finish, and is by ship-builders here 

 considered superior to either sal, teak, or any other wood except 

 perhaps English or Live oak. In West Australia it is much 

 used for flooring, rafters, shingles, also for furniture, as it 

 takes a good polish and then looks very beautiful. It is not 

 too hard, and is thus more easily worked than E. redunca and 

 E. loxophleba. The wood from the hills is darker, tougher, 

 and heavier than that from the plains. Well-seasoned timber 

 weighs about 64 Ibs. per cubic foot; freshly cut, from 71 to 76 

 Ibs. It is one of the least inflammable woods according to 

 Captain Fawcett. In West Australia it is regarded as one of the 

 best woods for charcoal. The trees should be felled in autumn or 

 towards the end of summer, in which case the timber will not 

 warp. The tree grows chiefly on ironstone ranges. At Mel- 

 bourne it is not quick of growth, if compared to E. globulus, 

 Lab., or to E. obliqua, PHer., but it is likely to grow with 

 celerity in mountainous country. In its native country it 

 presents the features of the East Australian stringy bark 

 forests. Stems of this tree have been measured 80 feet to the 

 first branch, and 32 feet in circumference at 5 feet from the 

 ground. Instances are on record of the stem having attained 

 a girth of 60 feet at 6 feet from the ground through the 

 formation of buttresses. 



