64 



Sieb.) on the ridges. Not often cut in the saw-mills, because it is heavy and 

 hard to saw, perhaps also because it is often faulty. It is very durable- 

 timber, and is used for posts and rails, and also for palings. It is very durable 

 in the ground, lasting longer than Red Mahogany. Mr. li'orester Macdonald 

 told me of round posts in the ground near Kempsey quite sound after thirty 

 years. It is stated to gum the saw. 



The following letter was written to me by Mr. C. J. Cullen, of Kin- 

 cumber, some years ago: — 



There is on my land at Klncumber the remains of an old fence that I am 

 credibly informed was erected flfty-five years ago (i.e.. I'^.'iT), and although most 

 of it has succumbed to wear and tear and bush fires, many of the posts and 

 rails remaining are still quite sound. I am not sure how many kinds of timber 

 were used, but can identify some of the posts as " White Mahogany," a timber 

 that, I believe, under favourable circumstances would last 100 years, in the 

 ground or out of it. . The tree has a rough bark of a yellowish-brown or 

 ginger colour, and the wood is a pale yellow. It is excellent for any puipose in 

 building except for sawn boards, as it chafes (sic) into concentric rings. It 

 win do, however, for piles, girders, or sleepers, and will last double the time 

 that Ironbark, Box, or Turpentine will. 



In the Kincumber (Gosford) district White Mahogany is a well-known 

 timber, and the balance of evidence available to me shows that it is durable. 

 At the same time there is no doubt that we can have inferior White 

 Mahogany, just as we can have inferior kinds of other 'timbers. 



The Official Catalogue of the Queensland Forestry Museum, 1904^ says: 



A large tree, with a fibrous persistent bark ; wood of a light-brown colour, 

 close grained, fairly hard, and very 'durable. 



Used for all kinds of building purposes, and for fencing posts and rails. 



Size.— It attains the dignity of a large tree, with a height of 100 feet, and 

 a trunk diameter of 5 feet; but its usual size is much less. 



Ilahitat. — It is confined to Eastern ISTew South Wales and Queensland. 

 Its southernmost locality known to me is the Port Jackson district; its 

 most northern is Eockhampton, Queensland, occurring in coastal districts 

 and tablelands. Westerly I have it from Drake, near Tenterfield; but its 

 range is worthy of further investigation. 



I do not doubt that a good deal of country reported to be Stringybark is 

 really White Mahogany of one form or another. Both trees like the same 

 situations — well-drained, sterile hills and mountain sides. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 12(1. 



A. Juvenile leaves. 



B. Flowering branch. 



c. Fruits (Gosford District). 

 n. Smaller fruits from Brisbane. 

 E. Buds. 



Eucalyptus goniocalyx, F.v.M. 



The Mountain Gi'.m. 



Botanical Name. — Oonicalyx, from two Greek words — gonio (an angle), 

 and Jcarpos (a fruit), in reference to the raised ed,ge on the fruit. 



Vernacular Names. — This is the common " Spotted Gum " of Victoria 

 (the common " Spotted Gum " of New South Wales is E. maculata), and 

 the " Mountain Gum " of New South Wales. 



