44- 



The' quantity of caoutchouc in Eucalyptus leaves has not been ascertained. 

 So far as I am aware, but it is not likely ever to be a commercial source of' 

 that article. Mr. H. G. Smith has published a paper on this substance in 

 Eucalyptus corynibosa and some species of Angophora in Proc. Boy. Soc.^ 

 N.S.W., XL ii. 133 (1908). 



Fruit. — Note the shape of the fruit, which is often like a small form of 

 the Bloodwood (E. corymbosa). !N"ote the tubercular prominences which are 

 often seen on the fruit. 



Timber. — ]rollov?ing are extracts from a Report on Spotted Gum, drawn 

 up by Messrs. G. S. Gowdery, J. V. de Coque, and the author, a Committee' 

 appointed by the Minister for Mines and Agriculture to investigate it. 

 The full report will be found in the Agricultural Gazette for April, 1896 : — 



Spotted Gum is a timber in regard to whose merits or demerits there exists- 

 very strongly-formed opinions, which are, jn some cases, we are afraid, rather 

 the result of tradition than of personal observation and experience. 



That Spotted Gum timber has been used in the past to a considerable extent 

 In paving the streets of Sydney is beyond doubt. We have taken the precau- 

 tion to secure and carefully examine a considerable number of blocks from 

 various parts of the city, not only of Spotted Gum, but also (for purposes of 

 comparison as regards durability) other hardwoods used for a smllar purpose. 

 We have devoted a considerable amount of time to the diagnosis of these 

 different timbers, which has helped us considerably in arriving at a unanimous 

 opinion. We recognise that there are conflicting interests involved in the 

 Spotted Gum question. But the fact must be borne in mind that if the export 

 trade of hardwoods, particularly for wood-blocking purposes, shall acquire, 

 and continue to maintain, the dimensions we believe to be in store for it, we, 

 shall require all our suitable hardwoods for shipment, and we think that 

 there will not only be lucrative employment for existing sawmills, but also 

 for fre.';h ones in new forests in different parts of the State. 



We have no hesitation in stating that Spotted Gum, subject to certain condi- 

 tions which we shall .enumerate, compares favourably with the other timbers 

 we have examined, and we recommend its use for wood-blocking in Sydney,. 

 as well as for export, but subject to strict supervision as regards quality. 



Timbers mistaken fob Spotted Gum. 



To add to the inherent difficulty of the subject, some of our correspondents- 

 are under the impression that the Spotted Gum of New South Wales (and 

 Queensland) is identical with that of Victoria. The Spotted Gum of New 

 South Wales (Eucalyptus ntaculata) does not extend to Victoria, and the \ic- 

 torian Spotted Gum, whose botanical name is Euoalyptiis goniocaJi/x is an 

 Inferior timber to it. ' 



Another correspondent alludes to a bastard Spotted Gum at Orange, which 

 is a most inferior timber ; we know of others in the Mudgee and Qiieanbeyan 

 districts, both nearly worthless timbers, and any itnpression that they were 

 varieties of the true Spotted Gum would be injurious to the reputation of 

 that timber. 



Mr. Forester MacDonald has seen the Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora 

 lanceolata), which • somewhat resembles the Spotted Gum in bark, cut up for- 

 Spotted Gum. Angophora timber is very inferior, and, if passed as Spotted 

 Gum, wpuld undoubtedly prejudicially affect opinion in regard to the merits of 

 that timber. A certain amount of discrepancy In regard to reports is also to 

 be accounted for by wrong diagnosis of timbers. Blackbutt, Stringybark, and 

 even White Gum, of coarse, wavy grain, have all been sent to us as Spotted 

 Gum, to which they bear a superficial resemblance more or less strong. 



Specific Uses to which Spotted Gum has been put. 



Our correspondents have used Spotted Gum for railway fencing, hammer 

 and axe handles, way-levers, shipbuilding, paving-blocks, sleepers, decking and 

 deck guards for bridges and wharfs, girders in bridge and flood openings, house 



