29 



T would cordially invite correspondence on the very interesting subject I 

 have brought before my readers. In deciding what are fodder-plants, it 

 should be remembered that during droughts stock will eat almost anything, 

 but plants that animals only eat as a last resource should not be accounted 

 fodder-plants. Of course it is quite possible that collectors have mixed 

 their specimens, and that stock really eat or reject different species. The 

 matter should be cleared up. 



'Seed. — This is one of the few species of Eucalyptus whose seed, after 

 grinding on Stones, yielded food for the blacks. 



Timber. — Mr. R. J. Dalton, of Wanaaring, says: 



Box Trees. — There are several varieties of Box ; some are good, for all klnda 

 of work,, while . others, especially a kind which we call Swamp or Black Box, 

 is very Indifferent, not even being good for firewood. This is Eucalyptus 

 bicolor. 



The aborigines used to make narrow shields of it. 



It does not appear to be a favourite timber. While used for fencing, it is 

 not a favourite, because of its hardness, interlocked and crooked character^^ 

 making it difficult to obtain eitlier posts or rails. It is, however, very 

 durable. 



Size. — ^A spreading tree of medium size, with a trunk diameter of 2 or 3 

 feet; the trunk is, however, not long. 



Habitat. — It seems to be confined' to South Australia, Victoria, New. South 

 Wales, and Queensland. 



From St. Vincent's Gulf and the Murray River and Its lower tributaries, 

 through Eastern Australia, and particularly Its eastern tracts to Carpentaria, 

 at least as far as the Flinders and Gilbert Rivers, but reaching also, in some 

 places, the coast tracts. (Mueller, iu Eucal-yptographia.) 



This reference to " coast tracks " applies, as regards Eastern Australia, to 

 Queensland solely. E. bicolor is a dry country species, and in Central and 

 Northern Queensland many western New South Wales species approach the 

 coast. It prefers rich flats, which are liable to occasional submergence. 



"A Box, low straggling tree, something like E. melliodora (Yellow Box) 

 in habit. The leaves have, however, generally a bluish tint. Tree, 2 feet 

 6 inches in diameter, perfectly sound, with fine hard red timber, and very 

 little sapwood. Kerang, also Bumbang, near Euston, N.S.W." (J. 

 Blackburne.) 



New South Wales is the State in which it is the most abundant. 



In my " Critical Revision of the genus Eucalyptus," Part XI, I have 

 given the localities in considerable detail, and my readers are referred to 

 them. 



It is common in the Riverina. It is a,bundant on the Lachlan, Barling, 

 and Paroo, thence more northerly into an extensive area of Queensland. 



Scone is the most eastern New South Wales locality so far recorded. It 

 is what we call a " dry country " species. 



It is one of the most widely diffused of the Eucalypts, and I do not doubt 

 that more careful search will very greatly extend its recorded range. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 164. 



A. Juvenile leaves. 



B. ]i'lowerlng twig with immature fruits. 



c. Mature fruits. I 



