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THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Notes on Australian limber Trees. 



THE following notes, written by Mr. 

 Walter Gill, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., Con- 

 servator of Forests, South Australia, have 

 been forwarded to the Hon. F. R, Moor, 

 M.L.A., and are published by direction : — 



Eucalyptuii leucoxi/lon (Mueller), ver- 

 nacular name " Blue Gum." References : 

 Bentham's Fl. Austr., Vol III., f. 209. 

 Mueller's Select Extra Tropical Plants, 

 138. Mueller's Eucalyptographia, 1st 

 Decade. Widely distributed throughout 

 South Australia, attaining a height of 

 from 80 to 100 feet, and a diameter of 3 to 

 5 feet. The timber is exceedingly strong and 

 durable, generally weighing from GO to 70 

 lbs. i3er cubic foot when seasoned. It makes 

 excellent naves, felloes, spokes, sleepers, 

 posts, mining timber, well slabs, piles, 

 and telegraph poles ; very useful also for 

 purposes requiring great lateral strength. 

 The colour of the timber varies from pale 

 yellow to brown, and even pale red or 

 pink in some localities, and is thus often 

 well adapted for furniture, especially for 

 parquet flooring in combination with 

 other gum timbers. The bark, which is 

 fibrous in character, affords a good 

 material for paper. 



Eucalyptus rostrata (Schlecht), verna- 

 cular name " Red Gum." References : 

 Benth Fl. Austr., Vol. III., f. 240. Muel- 

 ler's Select Extra Tropical Plants, 145. 

 Mueller's Eucalyptographia 4th Decade. 

 A fine large tree of spreading habit found 

 extensively throughout South Australia, 

 attaining frequently a height of 100 feet, 

 but generally developing a large bole of 

 from 6 to 8, or, in special cases, of 10 feet 

 in diameter at the base. The quality of 

 the timber varies with the kind of 

 " habitat." That grown on hilly ground 

 cannot be excelled, though somewhat 

 lighter than that grown in rich moist 

 land, and according to situation. The 

 weight per cubic foot varies from 50 to 70 

 lbs. in seasoned timber. The colour is 

 generally dark red, hence its name ; and 

 though sometimes hard it is more easily 

 worked than any other gum. It is ad- 

 mirably adapted for a great variety of 



uses, either above or under ground or in 

 water. As fencing posts it will last 30 

 years, and even more, standing unrivalled 

 for this purpose ; nor can it be excelled 

 for piles or railway sleepers when of the 

 best quality, as it resists well both the 

 white ant and the teredo. For ship-build- 

 ing, house and wagon work it is well 

 suited, and also for many minor uses, 

 amongst which it may be noted that it is 

 much preferred for bullock yokes, as it 

 wears smooth without splintering. As a 

 timber for furniture, especially veneers, 

 selected pieces are admirably fitted, the 

 mottled and wavy figure often met with 

 being singularly beautiful ; when very 

 dark in colour it frequently resembles the 

 best mahogany. It also makes good blocks 

 for street paving, and an excellent material 

 for parquet flooring. Single trees when 

 felled and converted into sleepers have 

 occasionally produced as many as 100, 220, 

 and even 250 sleepers of the dimensions 

 6 ft. 6 in. X 8 in. x 4^ in. 



Eucalyptus corynocalyx • Mueller) ver- 

 nacular name " Sugar Gum." References : 

 Benth Fl. Austr. Vol. III., f. 218. Muel- 

 ler's Select Extra Tropical Plants, 134. 

 Mueller's Eucalyptographia 2nd Decade. 

 This tree is found in South Australia, 

 principally near Port Lincoln, in Flinder's 

 Ranges, and on Kangaroo Island. The 

 wood is hard, dense, and durable, losing 

 but little in seasoning ; it weighs, when 

 dry, generally 65 to 70 lbs. per cubic 

 foot. It is yellowish brown in colour, 

 often showing a handsome wavy gi'ain. 

 It is used for posts, rails, piles, wheel- 

 wright's work, and railway sleepers, 

 also for furniture ; selected specimens 

 cut to veneers have proved very effective; 

 while, for parquet flooring, in common 

 with several other Australian timbers, it 

 possesses many serviceable qualifications. 



Eucalyjdus hemiphloia (F. Mueller), 

 vernacular name " Box Gum." Refer- 

 ences : Benth Fl. Austr., Vol III., f. 216. 

 Mueller's Extra Tropical Plants, 121. 

 Mueller's Eucalyptographia, 5th Decade. 

 A fair-sized tree, often of spreading 



