184 POBEST CULTURE AND 



The Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) is another 

 of the famed artisan's woods of south-western Aus- 

 tralia. The Karri (Eucalyptus colossea or diversicolor) 

 attains, in favorable spots, a height of four hundred 

 feet. Eucalyptus megacarpa constitutes the Blue 

 Gum-tree, which rivals that of Tasmania and Victo- 

 ria in size, but is otherwise very distinct. Its timber, 

 as well as that of the Tuart, on account of their hard- 

 ness, are employed for tramways and other works of 

 durability. The fragrant wood of several species of 

 Santalum forms an article of commercial export. 

 Some kinds of Casuarina, quite peculiar to that part 

 of Australia, furnish superior wood for shingles and 

 for a variety of implements. Several species of Aca- 

 cia, especially Acacia acuminata, the raspberry-scented 

 Wattle, equally restricted to the south-west coast, 

 yield fragrant and remarkably solid wood and a pure 

 gum. To this part of Australia was naturally also re- 

 stricted the Acacia lophantha, which has, for the sake 

 of its easy and rapid growth and its umbrageous fo- 

 liage, assumed such importance, even beyond Austra- 

 lia, for temporary shelter- plantations. Many other 

 products, such as gum -resins, sandarach, tanner's 

 bark, all of great excellence, are largely available ; 

 but these substances show considerable similarity to 

 those obtained in other Australian colonies. 



The extraordinary abundance, however, of the Xan- 

 thorrhoeas through most parts of the south-west terri- 

 tory gives special interest to the fact (1845) promul- 

 gated by Stenhouse, that anthrazotic, or nitro-picric 

 acid — a costly dye — may, with great ease and little 

 cost, be prepared from the resin of these plants. In- 

 deed, this is the richest source for this acid, the resin 



