1 Dec., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 591 
TREE PLANTING BY FARMERS. 
Tree planting by farmers is being encouraged in a practical way by the Division 
of Forestry of the United States Department of Agriculture. A circular has 
recently been issued stating that the Division is prepared, as far as a limited 
appropriation will permit, to render practical and personal assistance to farmers 
and others by co-operating with them to establish forest plantations, wood lots, 
shelter belts, and wind breaks. An expert tree planter has been placed in 
charge of a section of the Division which has been organised for this work, and 
he will be assisted by collaborators in the different States who are familiar with 
local conditions. It is proposed that visits be made by the superintendent of 
tree planting or his assistants to the lands of farmers desiring aid in forestry, 
and that working plans be given, including help in the selection of trees, infor- 
mation about planting, and instruction in handling forest trees after they aré 
planted. Copies of the circular may be obtained by those interested in the 
subject on application to the Bureau of Forestry, Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D.C. 
SOME TIMBER TREES OF QUEENSLAND. 
By J. W. FAWCETT, 
Member of the English Arboricultural Society. 
THE SPOTTED GUM (ZUCALYPTUS MACULA TA, Hook). 
Borantcan Descrterroy.—The Spotted Gum is a fine, large, handsome 
tall tree, growing to a height of from 60 to 100 and even as much as 150 feet, 
with a diameter of from 2 to 4 and even 5 feet, It very often reaches the 
height of 50 to 70 and even as much as 90 feet without a branch. 
Bark,—The bark is smooth, and of a whitish colour. It is deciduous, and 
falls off in patches, leaving an indentation where each piece was peltately 
attached, and thus giving the trunk a mottled or spotted appearance. 
Leaves.—The leaves are alternate or opposite, often very large and coarse, 
ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate-faleate in shape, from 4 to 6 inches or more in 
length. 
Flowers.—The flowers are large and paniculate, and are in flower from 
June to August and September. 
Fruit.—The fruit is a semi-globose or pitcher-like capsule, about 4 inch 
in length, and nearly as much in breadth. ‘The seeds, which are black, are ripe 
from March to May. 
Vernacunar AND Boranicat, Names.—The Spotted Gum, so named from 
the bark falling off in patches and giving the stem a spotted appearance, is 
also known as the Sugary Gum, from the supposed sweetness of the pollen of 
the flowers. 
Disrrrpurion.—The Spotted Gum is found only on poor soils, and is 
generally found on clayey Jands and on stony ridges in the coastal districts of 
Southern Queensland, and also in New South Wales. When growing on 
voleanic and rich soils it yields a valuable timber, but that of low, sandy, and 
poorer soils is only moderate. 
Usr.—The Spotted Gum yields a very elastic, durable, strong, tough, lightish 
erey timber. It is very valuable and highly prized for many purposes, on 
account of its great strength and elasticity, in carriage and wheelwright’s work, 
for the manufacture of buggy shafts and poles for felloes and the cogs of wheels. 
Tn bridge building it is used for members under tension, and has been found to 
have the highest constant strength of any of the Queensland timbers. Jt is 
also employed in shipbuilding and the manufacture of staves for casks. The 
sapwood decays quickly, but the heartwood is said to be as strong as British Oak. 
It is of a greasy nature, but works well, It would prove a suitable timber for 
paving blocks, ' \ 
