11 



others. It is excellent for posts, piles, girders, Ac, and is nsef ul for general 

 tuilding pnpposes. It ■would be desirable to thoionghlj test it for the 

 decking of bridges. 



Distribiftion. — ^Xorth coast and coast monntain districts. 



<Ju^ntifff acailahle. — Xot one of our most plentiful timbers, but still 

 fairly abundant. 



(c) Tallow-wood {Eucalyptus mierbeoryg, F. t. M.) 



(An Dlnstrated descriptiTe artide on this timber wiQ be fonnd in the Agrienltaral Gazette 



for May, 1894.) 



Name. — Given beeiuse of its slippery, greasy nature. 



CTiaraeterulies. — Of a canary-yellow (or sometimes reddish) colour when 

 freshly sawn, drying to a pale brown. One of the least liable to shrink of 

 all onr hardwoods. It is heavy, strong, and durable. It may be planed 

 and turned with great satisfaction. It is not easily split, the greasy sub- 

 stance contained in it making it a tedious matter to get the wedge to " draw." 

 I would express the opinion that, after ironbark, tallow-wood is the most 

 valuable of our hardwoods. 



Principal uses. — ^For flooring, particularly in ball-rooms. For this latter 

 purpose it is selected on account of its greasy nature. For decking, hand- 

 railing, girders, and some other parts of bridges. A favourite for building- 

 work generally. It does not bum readily, which in buildings is. of course, 

 a recommendation. It is perhaps the most valuable wood in Xew South 

 Wales for paving-blocks. It makes admirable posts and rails, lasting an 

 indefinite period either above or below ground, but difficult to split for these 

 purposes, as already remarked. White mahogany is not infrequently sub- 

 stituted for tallow-wood. Both are good timbers, and can stand on their 

 own merits. The substitution can be readily detected by any man with a 

 fair knowledge of colonial timbers. 



Distribution. — Coast district and Dividing Eange, from Newcastle north- 

 ward. 



Qfiantity available. — ^Fairly abundant. 



(d) Spotted Gum (Ewcalyptm imiculaia. Hook. f.,^. 



Name. — This is a smooth-barked tree, but which has blotches of a whitish 

 colour on the bark, owing to the outer layer of bark peeling o£E in patches. 

 This gives the trunk a spotted appearance. 



Characteristics. — A pale yellowish brown timber, usually with a pretty, 

 wavy graiD, which looks well under polish. It is particularly tough, and it 

 is one of the best of our timbers for bending, even when cold. It is very 

 durable, though its sapwood is particulariT liable to decay. 



Principal uses. — For wheelwrights' and coach-builders' work, it is for 

 some uses unequalled amongst colonial timbers. Its power of bending into 

 various shapes is very usef ol. It is used for cross-pieces, shafts, and poles 

 for drays, boggles, naves, and spokes, handles, agricultural implements, 

 boring-rods (artesian), framing and honse-building generally, tram-raOs for 

 the conveyance of logs from the forest to the mill, bridge-decking and ship- 

 planking. In view of the conflicting statements which have been made in 

 regard to the durability of this timber for wood-paring, the Minister for 

 Mmes and Agriculture appointed a committee of experts to inquire into the 



