Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 195 



[Walter Gill]. Bees are particularly fond of the blossoms of this 

 tree, and the honey gained therefrom is clear and well tasted [Miss 

 S. J. McLean]. 



Eucalyptus leptophleba, F. v. Mueller. 



Queensland. Height rarely over 60 feet ; stem-diameter to 3 feet. 

 Timber strong, hard, very durable and variously applied, thus : for 

 bridge-structures, mine-props and fence-posts ; nearly always stipu- 

 lated in contracts, at places of growth, for buildings [Stephen John- 

 son]. One of the most eligible species for intra-tropic culture. 

 Allied to E. crebra. 



Eucalyptus Leucoxylon, F. v. Mueller.* ^-A. 



The ordinary Ironbark-tree of Victoria and some parts of South- 

 Australia and New South Wales. It attains a height of 100 feet, 

 and supplies a most valuable timber ; this shows great strength and 

 hardness, is much prized for its durability, is largely employed by 

 waggon-builders for wheels and poles, by ship-builders for top-sides, 

 tree-nails, the rudder (stock), belaying pins and other purposes ; it is 

 also used by turners for rough work ; it proved to be the strongest 

 of all the woods hitherto subjected to test by Mr. Luehmann and my- 

 self, bearing nearly twice the strain of American oak and ash, and 

 excelling even hickory by about 1 8 per cent. It is much recommended 

 for railway-sleepers, and extensively used in underground mining 

 work. The Railway-Commissioners of Victoria recently reported 

 sleepers, laid 24 years ago, still quite sound. It is likewise very ex- 

 tensively employed for the handles of axes and other implements by 

 Victorian manufacturers ; also for stockwhip-handles and policemen's 

 batons. The price of the timber in the log is about 2s. 5d. per cubic 

 foot in Melbourne ; the weight of such, when completely dried, vary- 

 ing from 63 to GS^lbs,, equal to specific gravity 1-024 1*106 [F. v. 

 Mueller and Rummel]. As it is for some purposes superior to that of 

 almost any other Eucalyptus, the regular culture of this tree over 

 wide areas should be fostered, especially as it can be raised on stony 

 ridges not readily available for ordinary husbandry. The wood is 

 sometimes pale, in other localities rather dark. The tree is generally 

 restricted to the lower Silurian sandstone- and slate-formation with 

 ironstone and quartz. Nevertheless, it accommodates itself to various 

 geologic formations, thus even to limestone-ground. The bark is 

 remarkably rich in kino-tannin, yielding as much as 22 per cent, in 

 the fresh state, but much less after drying; the fresh leaves 

 contain about 5 per cent, and the dried leaves 9 to 10 per cent. 

 This kino-tannin is not equal in value to mimosa-tannic acid from 

 Acacia-bark, but it is useful as a subsidiary admixture, when light- 

 coloured leather is not aimed at. Mr. Maiden found it to contain 

 42 per cent, tannin. As an astringent drug this kino is not without 

 importance. Wood-bricks from the timber of this tree should prove 

 particularly lasting. All wood-paving diminishes dust very much. 



O 2 



