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in public works for such purposes as railway sleepers and posts, where long lengths 
are unnecessary. Frequently good lengths cannot be obtained, and if they could the 
tensile strength of this timber is not equal to that of the best ironbark. 
This tree has a straight even bole; the timber is of the highest reputation for strength and 
durability, and is very much used for large beams in stores for heavy goods, poles for bullock drays, 
railway sleepers, girders and piles for bridges, and other purposes where great strength is required. It is 
one of the best fuel woods in New South Wales for domestic uses and steam-engines. Tts average weight 
is from 75 to 78 lb. per cubic foot when green, and it loses 3 to 5 lb. in drying within the first two 
years.—( General Report , Sydney International Exhibition , 1879.) 
Colour of timber dark red. A most valuable and durable timber for all kinds of outdoor and strong 
work. Tt is extensively used for fencing and building, railway sleepers, girders, beams, joists, shafts of 
drays, and all descriptions of work where strength and durability are required.—(Forest Ranger 
Postlethwaite, of Grenfell.) 
Red Ironbark very plentiful all over the Mudgee district. Used for naves, spokes, shafts, and 
nearly every description of rough carpentry. The timber of this species growing in this district seems to 
be easier worked than similar trees growing elsewhere.—(Forest Ranger Marriott, Mudgee.) 
Found about Harvey’s Range, Dubbo, and a small patch on Hermitage Plains Timber red and 
soft ; soon wears. Not considered a good timber. Will not be taken for public works. Used for fencing.— 
(Forest Ranger Martin.) With reference to the statement about public works, it is inferior to E. crebra, 
but Mr. Deane (Engineer-in-Chief for Railway Construction) told me he would use it for sleepers, as its 
durability is good. He informed me that he would judge each sleeper on its merits, no matter from what 
species of Ironbark it may have come. 
The timber is used freely for railway sleepers, and although it is considered one of the finest woods 
of the west, it is not to be compared for general use with E. paniculata, Sm , the Grey or White Ironbark 
of the coast. The wood of the latter tree is tough, while that of the Western one is comparatively dry and 
brittle.—(R. H. Cambage.) 
A railway engineer- informed Mr. J. V. de Coque that his experienee of 
Mngga only gave the timber a six or seven years’ life. 
Mr. J. V. de Coque gives the following interesting notes of Mugga and 
Ironbark ( E . crebm ) in the Dubbo district, where both are abundant and associated :— 
On entering a forest where the two timbers grow the Mugga shows first—seems to grow at its 
best on outskirts of timber belt. The two timbers, Mugga ( sideroxylon ) and Ironbark (crebra), are easily 
distinguished growing owing to the deep red colour of the Mugga bark and the gum crystals which are 
embedded throughout the bark. The Mugga seems to be the happy home of the big grub Endo.ryla, and 
from what I can learn from the saw-millers, they state that they rarely find any hole to denote the entrance 
of the insect. In sawing Mugga timber it rapidly clogs the teeth of the saw with a resinous substance. 
Tt is therefore objectionable to the sawyer. I cut two logs myself over the circular-saw bench. The 
ironbark piece cut clear, the Mugga even in so short a piece clogged the teeth. 
The only timber I know which puts so much resinous matter on the saw is the E. ylobnlus of 
Victoria and Tasmania, which can only be cut to satisfaction with a spray of water constantly flowing 
between the teeth. 
E. sideroxylon is not a common tree in Victoria, hence the Following 
unpublished notes by the late Mr. G. Perrin, Inspector of Forests, in 1898, are 
interesting :— 
The Red Ironbark (E. sideroxylon )* is next to Red Gum (E. rostrata) in commercial importance, 
and, like the Red Gum, this tree has been shamefully misused in the past, and for this misuse the miner 
* Also known as E. teucoxylon ; I prefer the specific name as given above, because the South Australian Blue Gum 
is also named E. leucoxylon, and is similar to our White .Ironbark, the former being a red wood. The specific name a? 
above is, in my opinion, preferable.— G. Perrin, 
