349 



The late Mr, G. S. Perin, F.L S 

 F.R.G.S., F.K.H.S., Conservator of For-' 

 ests m Victoria, says of the Tasmanian 

 Bhie Gum m his report of 31st May 

 1886 :— ^' 



"The Blue Gum (Eucalyptus Glo- 

 bulus) of Tasmania is undoubtedly the 

 best timber in the Colony for all im- 

 portant constructive works. Its hard- 

 ness, density and weight, combined with 

 lasting qualities of a high order, place it 

 in the foremost position among Tas- 

 manian timbers. For marine work it Is 

 particularly suitable, as its hardness of 

 grain, together with the presence of kino- 

 tannic acid, wards off for a considerable 

 time the attacks of marine insects, until, 

 in fact, the sea water nullifies the elfect of 

 the acids contained in the wood, and thus 

 opens the way to their destructive pro- 

 clivities. The toughness and elasticity of 

 the wood is another factor in its favour, 

 as its capability of witnstanding great 

 transverse strain is remarkable, whilst 

 its power of resisting a vertical or crush- 

 ing strain is equally so, averaging .3. 078 

 tons on one square inch in experiments 

 on cubes of two inches." 



Mr. R. M. Johnston, F.L.S., F.R.S. 

 (Tasmania) describes the Blue Gum 

 (Eucalyptus Globulus) as producing "a 

 hard and heavy timber, very durable, and 

 taking a high polish. It is stronger than 

 English Oak, and may be used advan- 

 tageously for any purpose for which Oak 

 is used, i.e. : — For building ships, jetties, 

 bridges, house frames, wagons, carts, 

 plough and tool handles of all kinds. 

 The grain is interlocked, so that it makes 

 good felloes for wheels and railway 

 sleepers. The young wood is straighter 

 in the grain, and very suitable for cart 

 shafts and anything that requires tough- 

 ness, spring, and elasticity. This tree 

 has bpen planted all over the world, in 

 India, America, the Cape, and various 

 European countries." 



I send you a copy of the Crown Lands 

 Guide, 1901, published hy this Depart- 

 ment, containing some characteristic 

 A'iews of the timbers of Tasmania, from 

 an industrial aspect. The picture on 

 page 32 represents some of the Blue Gum 

 timber being obtained by Mr. ITeyn. 



In conclusion I would say that Tas- 

 manian hard woods, including Blue Gum 

 (Eucalyptus Globulus) and Stringy Baric 

 (Eucalyptus Obliqua), are in much request 

 in all parts of the world, and in the 

 States of the Commonwealth of Austra- 

 lasia, where durability, toughness, spring 

 and elasticity in timber are essential, and 

 it was therefore noticed with the greatest 

 surprise that contrary opinions had been 

 e.\])ressed by one of your Colonists. 



I have, &c., 



E. A. COUNSEL, 

 Surveyor-General and Secretary for 



Lands. 



To the Editor, "Natal Mercury," 

 Durban, Natal, South Africa. 



{To the Editor Agricultural Journal.) 



Sir, — We have seen the letter of the 

 Surveyor-General, Tasmania, to the 

 "Natal Mercury." 



In our opinion Mr. Moor is quite 

 right in what he says about the ordinary 

 Blue Gum grown in the Colony (Eucaly- 

 ptus Globulus). The timber is tough, 

 but in our opinion intractable. We have 

 tried tons of it, but can never rely upon 

 its keeping the shape into which it has 

 been worked. Possibly when growing 

 naturally in large forests, and not felled 

 till forty or fifty years old, and possibly 

 also specially seasoned, the remarkable 

 inclination to twist may be absent, but 

 on that point we cannot speak from ex- 

 perience. 



There are one or two other gums 

 grown in the Colony which give splendid, 

 useful timber, but not being certain, we 

 do not commit ourselves to naming them. 



Yours, &c., 



Merryweather & Sons, 

 Wagon Builders, etc 



Maritzburg. 



Mr. Moor, on the invitation of the 

 Editor of the '-lyiercury," made a short 

 reply to the foreging letter. He 

 • . "'Ir was fur from mv inten- 



