THE TIMBERS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 213 



name Eurabbie is purely local. I found that it does not attain 

 anything like the size or height it is to be found in the two 

 colonies referred to. 



Blue Gum — (Eucalyptus Maideni, F.v.M.) 



Up to a quite recent date this timber was supposed to be the 



true globulus, and received the name given to it by Baron von 



Mueller, owing to the Curator of our Technological Museum 



having discovered that although in outward appearance it closely 



esembled the true blue gum, yet botanically it differed. 



It grows in limited patches along the southern ranges, on the 

 ridges and sides of mountains, and is often difficult of access. Its 

 timber is quite distinct from the E. globulus in colour and texture, 

 and is mostly to be found full of gum veins, and shells sadly in 

 small sizes. It is dark yellow in colour, remarkably tough and 

 interlocked, and very durable. In large sizes such as squared 

 piles and girders it bears an excellent record, particularly in the 

 Braidwood district. For building purposes it is only suitable in 

 large sizes, such as beams, etc. ; in scantling sizes it warps and 

 opens. When green it is easily worked but when seasoned it is 

 almost of the consistency of bone and stands exposure well. In 

 round piles there are few timbers to equal it in durability. 



Bloodwood — (Eucalyptus corymbosa, Sm.) 



This timber can be dismissed in a few words. In colour it 

 ranges from a dirty white to yellow, is full of gum-pits, splits 

 and opens badly, also shells. When green it is soft and spongy, 

 but dries hard. Is only suitable for fencing posts, in the ground 

 it resists white ants to a great extent, but for general purposes it 

 is a worthless timber. 



Swamp Gum Tree — (Eucalyptus Gunnii, Hook.) 



Another worthless timber, soft and spongy, open in grain and 

 retains moisture. I have seen it in bridge decking decay after 

 two years. It is totally unfit for any work whatever, and should 

 never be used under any circumstances. 



