THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



NOTES ON THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OF TASMANIA, AT 

 THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1S62. 



BY WILLIAM ARCHER, F.L.S. 



The principal timber trees of Tasmania, such as the blue gum, stringy- 

 bark, white gum, or gum-topped stringy bark, swamp gum, and pepper- 

 mint tree, furnish a hard, close-grained, and strong timber, which is used 

 in ship-building and house-building, and generally for all the purposes 

 to which oak is applied in England. Huon pine is very durable, and 

 is employed for boat-building, for which it is peculiarly adapted, and for 

 house-fittings, &c. Blackwood makes excellent naves and spokes, cask 

 staves, &c. Native myrtle is valuable for house-fittings. Swamp gum 

 yields the finest palings and other split-stuff in the world. Sassafras 

 affords timber for house-fittings, bench-screws, lasts, &c. Celery-topped 

 pine is chiefly used for masts and ship's spars. The different kinds of 

 timber in the following list are arranged according to their value. The 

 diameter of the trees is measured at the height of 4 feet from the ground. 



Blue Gum {Eucalyptus globulus, Lab.) — The common name is derived 

 from the bluish-grey colour of the young plants. Diameter, 5 to 30 

 feet ; average of those felled for use, 6 feet. Height, 150 to 350 feet ; 

 sp. grav. about -945 to 1-055. Abundant in the southern and south- 

 western parts of the island. Cut for house-building, it sells at 8s. to 10s. 

 per 100 superficial feet — for ship-building, at 12s. to 14s. 



Stringy Bark {Eucalyptus gigantea, Hooker, fils.) — Common name 

 taken from the coarse fibrous bark. Diameter, 4 to 24 feet ; average of 

 sawn about 5|- feet. Height, 150 to 300 feet ; sp. grav. about - 905. 

 Abundant everywhere upon hilly ground. Price, the same as that of 

 blue gum. 



Swamp Gum. — White Gum {Eucalyptus viminalis, Lab.) — Common 

 names, from its growing to perfection in humid situations, and from its 

 gigantic white trunk. Diameter, 4 to 18 feet ; average, about 5^ feet. 



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