246 A CONTRIBUTION TO, ETC. 



that some of the species have obtained favourable notice in 

 Europe for the strength and durability of their timber, and whilst 

 much remains to be developed with regard to their adaptation to 

 the purposes of the artisan, the observations of scientific men will 

 render more evident the inexhaustible resources our Gum trees 

 afford to medicine and the arts. The astringent properties of the 

 bark and resins of some species have already been acknowledged in 

 the Pharmacopoeia, and recent experiments have proved that 

 the volatile oils contained in the leaves are highly valuable, whilst 

 the wood yields " charcoal, crude wood, vinegar, tar, and incon- 

 densible gases."* In fact, the consideration of the genus opens 

 questions of intense interest, whether viewed practically or sci- 

 entifically, and as our knowledge of the species increases, many 

 of the gum trees which at present are little esteemed, will be 

 regarded amongst the most valued of our vegetable productions, 

 and afford abundant resources for the employment of labour and 

 capital. 



* For some interesting particulars respecting the value of our Gum Trees, 

 we arc indebted to the " Documents relating to the Intercolonial Exhibition 

 1866-67, by Dr. Ferdinand Mueller, F.E.S." 



NOTES. 



PAGE 3, LINE 28. 



According to the recent arrangement of the species of Eucalyptus, 

 in the third volume of the Flora Australiensis, E. resinifera 

 is applied to the Bed or Forest Mahogany, and E. rostrata to a 

 species not found in the Parramatta District. The Iron Bark 

 and Blue Gum, therefore, to which allusion is made, are E. 

 paniculata and E. sideropldoia, " the White and Keel Iron Barks," 

 and E. yoniocalyx, the Blue Gum. 



