120 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



one tree twelve years old was 100 feet high and 6 feet in girth at 3 

 feet from the ground ; to thrive well there it wants an elevation of 

 not less than 4,000 feet. In Algeria and Portugal it has furnished 

 railway-sleepers in eight years, and telegraph-poles in ten years 

 (Cruikshank). On the mountains of Guatemala it attained in twelve 

 years a height of 120 feet and a stem-circumference of 9 feet (Bou- 

 card). According to the Rev. D. Landsborough it proved hardy in 

 the isle of Arran. For scenic window-culture in cold countries E. 

 globulus was first recommended by Ucke, for culture in hospital- 

 wards to decompose contagia by Hosier and Goeze. Eucalyptus-leaves 

 generate ozone largely for the purification of air ; the volatile oil is 

 very antiseptic. The price of the timber in Melbourne is about Is. 

 7d. per cubic foot. 



Eucalyptus gomphocephala, Candolle.* 



The Tooart of South -West Australia ; attains a height of 120 feet, 

 the clear trunk up to 50 feet long. The wood is tough, strong and 

 rigid, the texture close and the grain so twisted as to make it diffi- 

 cult to cleave. It shrinks but little, does not split while undergoing 

 the process of seasoning, and is altogether remarkably free from 

 defects. It will bear exposure to all vicissitudes of weather for a 

 long time, and is particularly valuable for large scantling, where 

 great strength is needed ; in ship-building it is used for beams, 

 keelsons, stern-posts, engine-bearers and other work below the 

 floatation ; recommendable also for supports of bridges, framing of 

 dock-gates and for wheelwrights' work ; indeed it is one of the 

 strongest woods known, whether tried transversely or otherwise 

 (Laslett). This species, as well as E. odorata, E. foacunda and E. 

 decipiens, thrive best in limestone soil. 



Eucalyptus goniocalyx, F. v. Mueller. 



From Cape Otway to the southern parts of New South "Wales, rare 

 near St. Vincent's Gulf (J. E. Brown), generally known as Bastard 

 Box, mostly found on clayey ridges. A large tree which should be 

 included among those for new plantations. Its wood resembles in 

 many respects that of E. globulus and is comparatively easily 

 worked. For house.building, fence-rails and similar purposes it is 

 extensively employed in those forest districts where it is abundant, 

 and has proved a valuable timber. It is especially esteemed for 

 wheelwrights' work (Falck). Our local experiments gave the 

 strength greater than than that of E. amygdalina and E. obliqua, 

 but less than that of E. globulus. 



Eucalyptus Gunni, J. Hooker.* 



Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales, ascending Alpine eleva- 

 tions. In the lowland along fertile valleys it attains a considerable 

 size and supplies a strong useful timber. It is here mostly known 



