115 



"'Slaty Gum' is considered the best in the district (Mudgee), but unfor- 

 tunately the supply is not equal to the demand. Grows in the district west of 

 Heedy Creek. Used for all work where toughness is required. Differs from Iron- 

 bark, inasmuch as the log when drying at the butt cracks in rings, while Ironbark 

 radiates from the centre" (Forest Ranger Marriott). 



Mr. A. G. Hamilton {Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W., xii, 277) states that the 

 " Slaty Gum " is common on the ridges at Mudgee, where it does not attain a great 

 size, but on the flats at Tallewang it runs up into splendid trunks, which are much 

 used in bridge building, &c., and the timber is considered very durable. 



" Slaty Gum or Red Box," Lue, Mudgiee Line. " Fine large trees, 40 to 60 

 feet high, patchy or at times quite smooth, white with patches of grey bark ; this is 

 more applicable to the large trees ; the smaller are more of a scaly nature. The 

 latter designated ' Red Box ' ; the larger ' Slaty ' or ' Spotted Gum ' " (J. L. 

 Boorman). 



" Slaty Gum," Rylstone. " Large tall trees, clean stems, bark falling away 

 in long ribbons,- leaving a clean white stem with patches of dark green, the tips of 

 the branches of a mealy, powdery whiteness, sap timber pale yellow, centre red" 

 (J. L. Boorman). 



" Red Box," Rylstone. " Trees not so large as those known as ' Slaty Gum,' 

 and the bark is more scaly, but in wood and every other respect identical with Slaty 

 Gum " (J. L. Boorman) . 



"Red Box," typical for U. ovalifolia, R. T. Baker, Rylstone (R. T. Baker). 

 See H. G. Smith, Froc. Boy. Soc. N.S.JF., xxxiv, 290). Labelled indifferently 

 " Slaty Gum," "Red Gum," "Red Box," Capertee. " Some trees large and entirely 

 smooth-barked ; others small and stunted, with a ribbony bark. A large tree which 

 was felled showed narrow leaves at the top" (J.H.M. and J. L. Boorman). 



Following are some field notes : — 



" Cullen Bullen to Capertee. This species reminds one of Yellow Box {U. 

 melliodora) slightly — a ribbony gum on young trees, scaly bark when older, at least 

 as far as the first fork and often beyond. Handsome trees ; wood red ; we then 

 found a tree 3 feet in diameter, and reminding one a good deal of E. iereticornis, 

 the smooth part of a yellow^ cast. The buds of a yellowish cast and often a little 

 glaucous. Little conical opercula. Wood red. Very free flowerer. Fruits conoid " 

 (J.H.M.). 



"Slaty Gum," Bylong Creek, typical for E. Dawsoni, R. T. Baker. 



" Red Box." "Mountain Gum. Murrumbo, Goulburn River ; Camboon ; 

 Bylong (R. T. Baker). Three specimens showing transition from lanceolate leaves 

 to ovate." 



