110 



"Slaty Gum." Type localities, "Ridges on the watershed of the Goulburn 

 River (R.T.B.) ; across the Main " Divide " at Oassilis, and north-west of Pilliga " 

 (Professor Warren). 



I have given careful attention to this species for many years, but cannot find 

 botanical differences sufficient, in my opinion, to justify the establishment of a 

 second species out of the " Red Box or Slaty Gum" series. I look upon Slaty Gum 

 as large, erect Red Box grown under favourable circumstances. Accompanied by a 

 collector, Mr. J. L. Boorman, I made careful observations. Then I sent Mr. Boorman 

 alone to carefully investigate the trees, and he performed his duty in an intelligent 

 manner. Although satisfied with his repoi'ts, I went again into the field with him, and 

 the three trips resulted in the accumulation of a large and varied quantity of 

 botanical material, including timber and bark. I found people indifferent as to 

 the use of the names " Slaty Gum or Red Box," applying them indiscriminately as 

 a very general rule. More than one timber worker told me they were the same tree, 

 and all the evidence 1 accumulated points in the same direction. As the confusion 

 in regard to "Red Box and Slaty Gum" has become considerable, I have below given 

 full notes made in the field by my collector and by other observers, and add the 

 following report from him, which was written in the field : — 



With reference to your instructions to collect all available evidence in regard to Red Box and Slaty 

 Gum, I respectfully report that I went to Tallawang (some 6 miles from Oulgong), out towards Cobborah, 

 where it grows to fine tall trees on the ridgy ground near to the Reedy Creek ; at Gulgong it grows all 

 around the district of a much more stunted growth. At Lue it grows (large trees) about 5-6 miles in a 

 western direction from the railway line ; the more stunted forms occur all around the immediate district of 

 Lue. There again at Rylstone, some 5 miles on the Ilford Road, it again reaches to fine trees. 



From a personal conviction and from reliable information, the Slaty Gum and Red Box are identical. 

 The term "Slaty Gum" is applied to the more robust trees of the " Red Box," from the cleaner stems, 

 for these trees have a greater tendency to throw oflF the bark more regularly, falling in ribbons, and not 

 in " scales," so to speak, as in the case of the less healthy trees ; this is not invariably the case, as exceptions 

 do constantly occur. This (April) seemingly is the season of the year for shedding of the bark. A 

 Mr. Taylor, native of Ryhtone (a carpenter), says there is no difference in the timbers or in the habit of 

 the trees, " Slaty Gum " being only larger than "Red Box." Mr. James Holmes, Gulgong, who pointed 

 out to me the tree at Reedy Creek, calls " Red Gum " and " Slaty Gum " one and the same ; Mr. Hatton, 

 living at Coomber, says that " Slaty Gum " is nothing but " Red Box." 



In 1905 Mr. Andrew Murphy, an experienced man, whose chief occupation 

 is the collection of Eucalyptus seed, wrote to me : " Last week I went to Rylstone 

 intending to get the Rylstone Slaty Gum, Eucalyptus Dawsoni. I could not see any 

 difference between it and Eucalyptus polyanthema, and came to the conclusion that 

 they are identical. As I have a supply of E. polyanthema on hand, I did not collect 

 more." 



The Rev. Dr. Woolls wrote me in 1891 : "The Slaty Gum is the same as Red 

 Box, and has a splendid timber." 



Mr. Baker deals with the matter of Red Box and Slaty Gum in Proc. Linn. 

 Soc. N.S. W., xxi, 4.48, 1896, and I think the conclusion he then arrived at, to keep 

 the forms to which he referred under E. polyanthemos, was, sound. 



