NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT. It is hereby notified that all matter contained in the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales is protected by copyright. Newspapers desirous of republishing any articles may do so, and are merely required to make the usual acknowledgment. 4th June, 1894. Useful Australian Plaŋts. BY J. H. MAIDEN, No. 27.-WOOLLY-BUTT (Eucalyptus longifolia, Link et Otto). Other Vernacular Names.-The name "woolly-butt" is given from the sub-fibrous appearance of the bark of the trunk, supposed, by a powerful stretch of the imagination, to resemble (dirty) wool in appearance. I never could see any particular appropriateness in the name. The bark of apple (E. Stuartiana) is far more woolly-looking. In the South Coast District it also goes under the name of "redwood" or "peppermint." The origin of the former name is obvious enough. The name "peppermint" is not so clear in this instance, but it is adopted by so many people that notice must be taken of it. It has apparently arisen from the fact that the bark often resembles that of the peppermint (Eucalyptus amygdalina). It would appear that the name woolly-butt" is mostly used from the Victorian Border to Bermagui, and in the Sydney District, while the names "redwood or "peppermint" are most frequently employed from say Wagonga to the Shoalhaven. Just to add a little more to the confusion (1 fancy I hear somebody say, "Bother those Eucalypts!"), the name "woolly-butt is sometimes also tacked on to bluegum (E. saligna), the wheelwrights' wood, because of the similarity between the two trees. I may mention that it is difficult to realise how similar in appearance E. longifolia and E. saligna can be, unless one has travelled through the forests of the South Coast. Sometimes, in the Bega District, the tree is called "box," but the use of this name for this tree should be discountenanced. Aboriginal Names.-Mr. Forester Allan tells me that the name formerly used by the aborigines in the Ulladulla District was "mudione." The late Sir William Macarthur stated that "gnaoulie," or "ngaouli," was the aboriginal name for the "woolly-butt of Illawarra," but it is just possible he confused this species with E. saligna (the reasonableness of which has already been alluded to), as he particularly draws attention to "its very high repute for wheelwrights' work." Botanical Name. Eucalyptus, already explained. Longifolia, Latin, longleaved. The leaves of this Eucalypt are frequently long, but the "mountain gum" (E. goniocalyx) has exceptionally very long leaves. I have measured some almost 17 inches long without the stalk. Other Eucalypts have leaves of greater length than those recorded for the woolly-butt. Fruit.-The fruits are larger even than those of the bloodwood (E. corymbosa), being the largest-fruited Eucalypt in the Sydney District at least. They are usually in threes, candelabra-fashion, a characteristic brought out in the drawing. Leaves. The tree has not attracted much attention as an oil-yielder, and all our knowledge of its oil is based on some experiments by Mr. Bosisto, many years ago, on some leaves obtained from East Gippsland. The oil is described as clear and colourless, "much resembling an expressed oil, and possesses the property of imparting an indelible stain to paper," indicating that some resinous matter is held by it in solution. Its specific gravity bears out this supposition, being no less than 940. The taste of this sample was camphoraceous and aromatic; its odour like that of the Melaleuca oils. The yield from 100 lb. of leaves was 3 oz. 3 dr. Exudation.-Like most Eucalypts, it produces an astringent gum, or, to speak more accurately, a kino. This kino has the property of forming a muddy solution in water, and hence falls into my "turbid" group of kinos. As soon as it is dry it is exceedingly brittle, and readily reducible to a fine powder by mere pressure of the fingers. Timber-Deep red in colour, much resembling red ironbark in this respect. In parts of the South Coast the two timbers are associated, and I have been informed, on the spot and elsewhere, that woolly-butt has often been supplied to Government officers and others for ironbark. The resemblance of the two timbers, coupled with the fact that woolly-butt is far easier worked than ironbark, would always tempt bushmen to substitute the former for the latter. It may be that the very high praise that woolly-butt receives for durability by bushmen who are interested in singing its praises is not wholly deserved, but I do not think its value in this respect has been very much exaggerated, as unmistakable instances of its durability have come under my personal notice. It is, in fact, a splendid timber for posts or underground work, resisting attacks of white ant and dry-rot. It is unsuitable for purposes where strength and elasticity are required, on account of its comparative brittleness, particularly near the heart of the tree. I have drawn attention to its value for wood-paving purposes; in such a situation its durability would have full play, while its lack of tensile strength would be no drawback. It is not a favourite with saw-millers, on account of the faulty character of many of the trees, but little need be wasted if the framing of a contract permitted the inspector of timber suitable discretion. It is used for fencing and rough building purposes. It is only fairly good to dress, tearing under the plane in patches. Some years ago Mr. C. J. Cullen informed me of the existence of a woolly-butt fence at Jamberoo which was erected in 1851. A portion of it was then (1892) in a good state of preservation, and likely to last for many years longer. Mr. Cullen pertinently remarks: "Much, of course, depends on the state of the timber when it is cut down, and the time of the year when this is done. The timber of the fence referred to was taken from a sound, healthy tree that had not begun to decay, and it was cut down in the winter." Mr. Forester Allan reports: "I have known posts that were thirty years in wet marshy land, and quite fresh, showing no sign of decay when taken out. It is a splendid timber for wet ground." Size.-Height, from 80 to 150 feet, with a diameter of 2 to 5 feet in the South Coast, where the tree attains its greatest size. |