EUCALYPTUS AMYGDALINA. 



of the largest oaks taken together with their branches. A standing tree at the same place 

 measured 3 feet from the ground 102 feet in circumference, but close to the ground even 130 feet ! 

 The rev. gentleman observed within a square mile at least 100 trees, none less than 40 feet in 

 circumference at the base (Dr. Masters). Mr. G. Robinson noticed in the back-ranges of Berwick 

 the circumference of a stem to be even 81 feet at a distance of 4 feet from the ground. (See 

 Ellwood Cooper's edition of some of my lectures and essays, p. 161). The same gentleman, 

 whose professional judgment as a surveyor would give every guarantee for accuracy, obtained at the 

 foot of Mount Baw Baw the measurement of an exceptionally large tree, which was 471 feet high. 

 From the Cape Otway-Ranges a tree is also on record by Mr. Walter, with a height of 415 feet 

 and a basal diameter of 15 feet, although the loftiest trees have not always the most colossal 

 stems. But though this Eucalypt of ours will probably maintain the actual supremacy in height 

 among trees of the globe, it must cede the palm of superiority perhaps to the Wellingtonia-Sequoia 

 and the only other congener of the Mammoth-tree of California in respect to height combined with 

 massive ramification and a crown of foliage dense to the summit in Sequoias because the final 

 extraordinary height of E. amygdalina is often attained only by a solitary straggling branch, 

 pushing singly towards the sky. It is a grand picture to see a mass of enormously tall trees of 

 this kind witli stems of mast-like straightness and clear whiteness so close together in the forest 

 as to allow them space only towards their summit to send their scanty branches and sparse foliage 

 to the free light. 



The timber is useful for many kinds of carpenters' work ; in drying it does not twist ; when 

 straight stems are produced in forest-valleys the wood splits better into palings than even that of 

 our Stringybark-tree, and this with such facility, that in some particular instance a laborer has 

 split 620 palings of 5 feet length in one day ; the timber is comparatively not heavy, as it floats 

 in water, unlike that of many other Eucalypts ; it is particularly well adapted for shingles, 

 palings and rails and also drawn into use for shipbuilding, especially kelsons and planking (see 

 F. v. M., Select Plants, Indian edition p. 107), but it has not been found very lasting underground 

 and does not afford a superior fuel ; indeed the stems, when fallen, perish more quickly than those 

 of many other Eucalypts, and thus the records of individual trees of marvellous height, when 

 measured lying on the ground, are often early lost. 



The utmost praise is due to Joseph Bosisto, Esq., M.L.A., J.P., for his lengthened and 

 extensive researches on the oil of this and other congeners, to the technical production, local 

 utilisation and mercantile export of which he has given large dimensions by his enterprise and 

 perseverance, it having fallen to the writer's share to draw in first instance attention to the 

 enormous yield of oil from the foliage of E. amygdalina. Mr. Bosisto sums up his experience 

 with the Eucalyptus-oils, as regards the percentage of the yield of the various species, on which he 

 experimented, in the followinu schedule : 



From 1,000 Ibs. of fresh leaves with their stalklets and branchlets 



Eucalyptus viminalis yields ... ... 7 ounces 



melliodora yields ... ... 7 



rostrata yields ... ... 15 



obliqua yields ... ... 80 



globulus yields ... ... 120 



Eucalyptus goniocalyx yields... ... 150 ounces 



Leucoxylon yields ... ... 160 



oleosa (mixed with other species 



of the Mallee-scrub) yields ... 200 



amygdalina yields ... ... 500 



But this average-yield, thus demonstrated by Mr. Bosisto to rise to more than 3 per cent, in 

 E. amygdalina, fluctuates during the various seasons, it being during the cool months of the year 



