EUCALYPTUS TBEES, 23 



to American Rock Elm. A test of strength has been 

 made between sftme Blue Gum, English Oak, and In- 

 dian Teak. The Blue Gum carried fourteen pounds 

 weight more than the Oak, and seventeen and one 

 fourth pounds more than Teak upon the square inch. 

 Blue Gum wood, besides being used for ship-building, 

 is veryextensivelj' used by carpenters for all kinds 

 of out-door work ; also, for fence-rails, railway sleep- 

 ers — lasting about nine years — for shafts and spokes 

 of drays, and a variety of other purposes." 



Eucalyptus rostrata, the Red Gum of Victoria, 

 South Australia, and many river-flats in the interior 

 of the Australian Continent. Although a native tree 

 of this colony, it has been introduced into this list on 

 account of its wood being of extraordinary endurance 

 under ground, and, for this reason, so highly valued 

 for fence-posts, piles, and railway sleepers ; for the 

 latter purpose it will last at least a dozen years, and, 

 if well-selected, much longer. 



It is also extensively used by ship-builders * * *. 

 It should be steamed before it is worked for planking. 

 Next to the Jarrah, from West Australia, this is the 

 best wood for resisting the attacks of sea- worms and 

 white ants. For other details of this and other native 

 trees I refer to the report of the Victorian Exhibition 

 of 1862 and 1867. 



The tree attains a height of fully one hundred feet. 

 . The supply for our local wants already falls short, and 

 it cannot be obtained from Tasmania, where the tree 

 does not naturally exist." 



In my correspondance with Mr. T. W. Herkimer, 

 who lived ten years in Australia and Tasmania, spend- 

 ing about half the time jn each place, and yariously 



