A Mountain Ash or Tasmanian Oak. 



(Eucalyptus Delegatensis, R.T.B.) 



A straight-grained, fissile timber with the general facies of English Ash when first cut, 

 but tones down in colour, when it acquires quite an Oak appearance. It planes well, and is 

 specifically on the light side, is strong, with a good resilience ; a first class bending timber, and 

 does not warp if carefully seasoned. 



The tree is a quick grower, and so is one of the best for forest cultivation. 



It is a splendid furniture timber, and is extensively manufactured into various articles in 

 this connection in Tasmania, where it is also used for Church decoration such as carved 

 screens, office fittings, panelling, &c. 



The original common name of Ash is now being superseded by that of Oak, as manu- 

 factured articles have a great resemblance to that timber, and are exported under the name of 

 " Tasmanian Oak.' ! 



Description of the Tree. It is a very fine specimen of the forest giant, with a 

 stringybark stem and smooth branches, .and glaucous branchlets. The leaves are fairly 

 large in size, of the usual lanceolate, oblique shape pertaining to the Genus, often glaucous, 

 with a well marked venation the lateral veins forming an acute angle with the midrib. 

 They are quite aromatic when kept in a closed box. The buds are numerous in axillary 

 peduncles, operculum hemispherical, depressed. The fruits are variable in shape, ranging 

 from hemispherical in some Tasmanian forms to oval-pyriform in the New South Wales 

 species ; rim truncate, slightly domed or countersunk, under ^ inch long. 



Geographical Range. South-east highlands of New South Wales and Victoria, 

 and the highlands of Tasmania, where it is known in the field as " Gum-topped Stringy- 

 bark." 



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