THE TIMBERS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 207 



We have also a brush box coming to us from the vicinity of 

 Cape Hawke and along the northern rivers ; an inferior timber, 

 the use of which should be avoided ; it is easily recognised by its 

 dull almost white colour when dry. In comparison with other 

 box timbers it is very free in grain and soft. 



True Red Box — (Eucalyptus polyanthema, Schau.) 



This timber must not be confused with the pink timber of the 

 south, known by the same vernacular name. It is found at its 

 best in the Mudgee district, and is dark red in colour, resembling 

 the red gum (E. tereticornis ) somewhat in appearance when dry ; 

 very tough and interlocked it stands well in the ground, but is 

 too hard for general building purposes. It is very durable and 

 shrinks but little. 



Yellow Box — (Eucalyptus melliodora, A. Ounn.) 



Also dense and interlocked. Stands well in the ground, also 

 when exposed to running water in culverts, etc. It is in most 

 districts subject to concentric gum rings, making it unsuitable for 

 piles or girders. It does not grow to any size in this Colony. 



Blue Gum and Flooded Gum — (Eucalyptus saligna, Sm.) 



It will be seen that I have given this species of Eucalyptus two 

 vernacular names. I find this necessary owing to the fact of the 

 former being a superior timber to the latter, and in the building 

 trade they are known as two distinct timbers, the blue gum being 

 accepted where the flooded gum is rejected. 



Blue gum is a close grained valuable timber for general house 

 building, and is much in favour among architects. It takes the 

 plane readily and presents a beautiful face when worked, resem- 

 bling the red mahogany in appearance. It also rarely shows any 

 disposition to split or warp after drying. The flooded gum on 

 the other hand is short in grain, very brittle and decays quickly. 

 The name blue gum is most unsuitable ; we have two other blue 

 gums in the colony E. globulus and E. Maidenly to neither of 

 which it presents the slightest resemblance. 



