EUCALYPTUS DIVEESICOLOR. 



compeers elsewhere. Wicltlis of timber of as mucli as 12 feet can be obtained from E. diversicolor. 

 The wood is light-colored, bends freely, is. of straight grain and tough, but not so easily wrought 

 as that of E. marginata ; it is particularly in request for large planks and sought also for shafts, 

 sijokes, felloes and rails ; it has also come into use for shipbuilding — for jjlanks, rudders and 

 even masts. According to a note in the West-Australian Catalogue of the Paris Exhibition of 

 1878 a baulk, which at Cape Leeuwin had been exjjosed to the wash of the tides since twenty-six 

 years, continued still sound. The durability of the timber, when for lengthened periods under- 

 ground, has as yet not been proved. 



Mr. Th. Laslett (Timber and Timber-Trees, p. 198) states the results of his experiments on 

 the strength of Karri-wood to be as follows. The pieces experimented on for deflection measured 

 7 feet in length by 2 inches square, six different trials being made : — 



Deplection. 





Under a Pressure of 

 390 lbs. 



After the Weight was 

 removed. 



At the moment of 

 breaking. 



Total Weight required 

 to break each piece. 



Maximum 

 Minimum 

 Mean 



Inches. 



1-35 



0-75 

 1-01 



Inches. 



0-10 

 0-0 



0-4 



Inches. 



7-50 

 4-60 

 6-06 



lbs. 



955 

 725 

 8624 



English Oak of the same dimensions supported a weight of 806J lbs. (average of twelve trials). 



Mr. Laslett's experiments on the tensile strength of Karri-timber gave the following results, 

 the pieces being 30 inches long by 2 inches square : Maximum weight borne, 31,360 lbs. ; minimum, 

 22,120 lbs. ; average of six experiments, 28,280 lbs. 



Cubes of 6 inches bore a crushing strain of from 175 to 195 tons, average 185 tons, or per 

 square inch 5'14 tons. The specific gravity of the wood was found to be from 0'885 to 1-023, 

 average 0'981. 



The first records given by collectors of the bark and other characteristics of this species did 

 not lead to the identification of the huge trees of the Karri-dales ; this circumstance and some 

 disparities of characteristics led to the belief, that the gigantic Karri was specifically different, 

 and hence it became temporarily distinguished as E. colossea, under which very impressive 

 designation it chiefly still passes in the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, where this noble 

 Eucalypt, with numerous other species, was first introduced by the writer. The specific name, 

 which by priority has claim on permanency, was derived from the color of the leaves, different on 

 both sides. The growth of the tree is comparatively quick ; in poor sandy soil near Melbourne 

 about 23 feet in nine years. The leaves of very young trees assume a broader more oval form, as 

 is the case with many other congeners ; in small seedlings the leaves are already conspicuously 

 stalked. Young branchlets compressed-quadrangular. Bruised foliage of Cajuput-odor. Leaves 

 more or less shining above. Unexpanded calyx clubshaped-ellipsoid. Lid rarely broad-conical. 

 Filaments whitish. Anthers dorsifixed. Fruits attaining a length of fully half an inch, moderately 

 contracted towards the orifice. Valves sometimes much narrowed upwards. Fertile seeds dull- 

 black, almost ovate, plan-convex ; sterile seeds much more numerous, considerably smaller, light- 

 brown, irregular in form, many very narrow. 



