EUCALYPTUS EEDUNCA. 



As this species of Eucalyijtus for ages to come will supply timber to local saw-mills on an 

 extensive scale, it may be here the proper place to offer some observations on the best mode of 

 preparing Eucalyptus-timber as a superior article for the lumber-market. What in the Report, 

 issued by the West-Australian Government on the " present condition of the forests and timber- 

 trade " has been said, to secure Jarrah-timber of the best quality, a,pplies as well to the generality 

 of Eucalypts. On this subject Mr. George Simpson of Bunbury speaks from long experience 

 with authority. He points out particularly in reference to the Jarrah, that Eucalyptus-timber 

 on account of its density cannot be seasoned in the log; timber 12 feet by 12 inches sqimre, 

 left where hewn for seven years, shrank when cut into boards nearly as much as newly felled 

 timber ; indeed exposure of logs to drying influences will season only the outer part, and this 

 to the injury of at least the circumferential portion. He therefore very properly insists on the 

 desirability, that the stems after felling should be sawn up at once into the requisite sizes ; the 

 sawn timber should forthwith be removed to the stacking shed, and to prevent fissuration and 

 warping should be lightly covered with sawdust, the latter being the easiest obtainable and 

 appliable material for preventing too rapid an evaporation of the natural moisture of the timber, 

 sawdust being a slow conductor of temperatures. Eucalyptus-timber (at least that of Jarrah) 

 requires for seasoning by this method about three months for widths of 3 x 2 inches, and about 

 twelve months for widths of 12 x 12 inches. As regards the time of felling Mr. Simpson is in 

 accord with all rational observers, urging that the trees should be felled, when the flow of the sap is 

 least active, therefore towards the end of the summer-season, before heavy rains during the cooler 

 months have set in, to start anew a vigorous circulation of the sap. This gentleman remarks 

 further, that even the stumps of such Eucalyptus-trees, as were felled in the wet season, split 

 much more than when the felling took place in the drier part of the year. Great care should also 

 be taken to prevent too severe shaking of the stems in felling, otherwise the timber will show 

 defects, though sometimes only after having been in use for awhile. Much crushing can often be 

 obviated by directing the fall towards underwood and away from stony or rocky surfaces. To this 

 mishap, trees to which " ringing " has been applied, are still more subject, irrespective of the 

 injury to the outer portion of the stems through cracking in exsiccation, while standing lifeless 

 exposed to the vicissitudes of weather, and irrespective of the difficulty of passing the saw 

 through Eucalyptus-wood, hardened by drying. 



Explanation or Analytic Details. — 1, an unexpandecl flower, tlie lid lifted; 2, longitudinal section of an uuex- 

 panded flower ; 3, some of the outer stamens detached ; 4 and 5, front- and back -view of an anther with part of its 

 filament ; 6, style and stigma ; 7, longitudmal section of a fruit ; 8, two transverse sections of fruit ; 9 and 10, fertile and 

 sterile seeds ; 11, portion of a leaf ; all figures magnified, but to various extent. 



