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and north, makes the air at times redolent of Eucalyptus oil. It is one of the oils 
with pleasing odour, of a peppermint character, and appears to be emitted most 
during the prevalence of light rains or mist. During hot weather or spells of 
drought this delicious aroma is far less exhaled, or, if emitted, it at once ascends, 
and is not evident to the olfactory organs of man. 
A commonly-held opinion is that the function of the emission of Eucalyptus 
oil vapour from the eaves of trees is to envelop the tree with a medium which 
checks the transpiration of water -from them. But this explanation, based on an 
observation of Tyndall, may not be true, or not of general application, in view of the 
fact above stated, the result of observations extending over many years, that a moist 
state of the atmosphere induces the emission of Eucalyptus oil in E. amygdalinct. 
To me this aroma is delicious, and directly one observes it one is tempted to 
expand one’s lungs and drink it in. I can only compare it to the delicious odour of 
the Pine forests of Europe. Residence in the vicinity of Pine forests, it is well 
known, alleviates certain distressing symptons in throat and lung diseases, and in the 
early stages of consumption may assist to bring about a permanent cure. Let Pine- 
trees he planted in Australia for health and other reasons, by all means, hut I think 
the tree I am now describing will be found even more useful to Australian conditions. 
It is very readily propagated, and although it is naturally only indigenous in the 
colder parts of New South Wales, I do not doubt that it can be readily acclimatised 
in many other parts. 
If I were to be asked my favourite Eucalyptus tree, I think I should probably 
name E. amygdalina. When allowed fair-play it is a beautiful species, with dense 
masses of pendulous foliage, and shapely withal. So many of our Eucalypts rapidly 
grow into forest trees, that it is a pleasure to know a tree of medium size which 
affords excellent shade. It can be readily controlled by judicious pruning, and the 
delicious and exhilarating odour its leaves naturally emit, and which is much 
intensified if they be crushed in the hand, has been dilated upon. 
Timber. —Pale-coloured (nearly white) when newly cut, but drying to a 
pale brown. Often liable to gum-veins, which tend to form thin concentric rings. 
Of inferior durability and strength as a very general rule, but some apparently well 
authenticated instances of the comparative durability of this timber for posts and 
shingles, and other purposes, have come under my notice. 
While New South Wales timber of this species is looked upon as very 
inferior, as regards durability and general quality, in Tasmania it is looked upon as 
much more valuable, as the following reports show ; this is not the first occasion on 
which I have pointed out that New South Wales and Tasmanian reports vary as 
regards the same species. 
Dr. Crowtlier, of Tasmania, showed at the New Zealand Exhibition of 18(55 
portions of stumps which had been felled thirty-two years (the stumps remaining 
B 
