THE GEITUS EUCALYPTUS. 231 



does not attain a great size, and grows principally in low grounds 

 near the salt water. It occurs also between Parramatta and 

 Liverpool, and in the neighbourhood of Kichmond, as well as in 

 the county of Camden. In the latter district, it sometimes is 

 found 100 feet in height, but although a fine looking tree, the 

 wood is much inferior to that of the Grey Gum (E. tereticornis) . 



(19.) E. maculata, or the Spotted Gum, is very well known by 

 the spotted or mottled appearance of the bark, and is one of our 

 handsomest gums, attaining the height of 100 feet and upwards. 

 This species is well defined by its double operculum and urn- 

 shaped seed vessel. Very opposite opinions are expressed re- 

 specting the value of its wood, some asserting that in point of 

 utility, it is nearly equal to English Oak, whilst others affirm that it 

 is only serviceable as firewood. Sir William Macarthur described 

 the Spotted Gum, as " a good timber tree, with lofty straight 

 bole, in increasing reputation for ship-building, but not to be 

 compared for strength and durability with the best description 

 of Gums." Mr. Backhouse gives a more favourable opinion, and 

 practical men say that it may be used for the staves of casks, and 

 the upper parts of railway bridges. It is not a favourite wood 

 for fencing, as the rails and posts are reported to decay very soon, 

 but this want of durability probably arises from not removing 

 the sap wood. It seems very likely that the Spotted Gum varies 

 according to the age of the tree, and other accidental circum- 

 stances, whilst the prevalence of this tree in any particular 

 district generally indicates a poor soil. 



The half-barked trees may be considered under the following 

 species : (1) E. virgata ; (2) E. obtusiflora ; (3) E. pilularis (4) 

 E. Ucolor ; (5) E. hemipldoia ; (6) E. IracJiypoda ; (7) E. longi- 

 folia ; (8) E. diver sifolia ; and (9) E. oleosa. 



(1.) E. virgata or the Mountain Ash is a fine tree, sometimes 

 120 feet in height, and usually growing in rocky situations on 

 the Blue Mountains, near Berrima, &c. The lower part of the 

 tree is covered with a fibrous bark, whilst the branches are 

 smooth. It is said that the wood makes better staves for casks, 

 than the Spotted Gum does, and that it may also be advan- 

 tageously employed for shafts, rough carpenter's work, and 

 fencing. 



(2.) E. obtusiflora is an inferior kind of Box or Blackbut, 



