240 A CONTBIBTJTION TO, ETC. 



tunity of examining both trees in a living state, would suppose them 

 to be allied, as they vary so much from each other in bark and 

 habit. 



(2.) E. obliqua ; (4.) E. capitella ; and (5.) E. macrorhynclia, 

 are, I believe, different forms of " Stringy Bark," varying accord- 

 ing to the soil and elevation in which they grow, and according to 

 theirproximitytothesea-coast. Sir William Macarthur forwarded 

 to the Exhibition four varieties of the wood from trees ranging 

 between 100 and 120 feet in height. Some of these woods were 

 reported to be excellent for house- carpentry, such as flooring 

 boards, battens, &c., whilst others were considered inferior in 

 quality. In some parts of the colony, the " Stringy Bark" is 

 valued for fencing purposes, and according to Dr. Mueller, it 

 " constitutes the main mass of the forests of our more barren 

 mountains, the height of trees of greatest size ranging from 300 

 to 400 feet." The Doctor also states, " the paper prepared from 

 the bark of this tree is not merely suited for packing, but also 

 for printing, and even writing. It may also be employed for 

 mill and paste boards. The pulp bleaches readily. I regard it 

 as the most important material drawn on this occasion into use, 

 for be it remembered that this tree covers many of the barren 

 ranges from St. Vincent's Gulf to G-ipps-land, and that it equally 

 abounds in Tasmania. Its bark, as is well known, is extremely 

 thick and bulky : it moreover, separates with the utmost facility, 

 and is hence universally used for thatching rural dwellings in or 

 near the ranges. Indeed, the supply is available by millions of 

 tons. * * * * It yields readily to mechanical appliances 

 on account of its lax and loose texture, and is also easily acted 

 on by caustic soda for conversion into pulp." In addition to the 

 ordinary purposes to which the Stringy Bark is applied in these 

 colonies, I may mention that it has been successfully manufac- 

 tured into door-mats. The flower buds and seed-vessels are subject 

 to considerable variation, the former being sometimes hemis- 

 pherical and sometimes conical ; and the latter being sometimes 

 pedicelled and sometimes sessile, those near the coast being much 

 larger and -inclined to a globular shape. 



(3.) E. dives, and (6.) E. piperita, are two of the species called 

 " Peppermints," the first being a small tree with opposite or 

 alternate leaves, and the latter a very large one resembling 



