U fr]
i: I i.
Tasmania; indeed Tasman’s carpenter was already astonished at
the hugeness of the trees there. The wood is fissile, well adapted
for shingles, rails, staves, inner building-material and many other
purposes, but it is not a strong wood. Th at of the smaller rongh-
barked variety has proved lasting for fence-posts. Bees draw mucli
honey from the flowers of Eucalypts. La Billardiere’s name applies
ill to any of the forms of this species. Plants raised on rather barren
ground near Melbourne have shown nearly the same amazing rapidity
of growth as those of E. globulixs ; yet, like those of E. obliqua, they
are not so easily satisfied with any soil. In the south of France this
tree grew to a height of 50 feet in eight years. I t has endured the
frosts of the milder parts of England, with E. Gunnii and E. cordata.
In New Zealand it has survived the cold, where E . globulus succumbed.
E. amygdalina, E. urnigera, E. ooecifera, E. rostrata and E. corymbosa
have proved more liardy than E. globulus, E. diversioolor, E. resinifera,
E. longifolia and E. melliodora at Rome, according to the Rev. M.
Gildas, E. coccifera being hardier than any other. Professor Ch,
Naudin believes, th a t E. amygdalina will prove hardy along the
western maritime districts of France as far north as Brittany ; the
ordinary variety proved also hardy in the mild climate of Arrau [Rev.
D. Landsborough] ; also along with E. globulus at Falmouth [G. H.
Taylor], the typical rough-barked form enduring more frost than the
sylvan form E. regnans. In Gippsland it ascends to an altitude of
4,000 feet. Mons. F. de Rochemache observes, th a t E. amygdalina
grows nearly five times quicker iu Sonth-Europe than Pinus Larieio.
This tree and others with very oily foliage have to be specially guarded
against forest-couflagrations. The prospect of distilling the now
well known Eucalyptus-oil from different species as a new industry
was pointed out by the writer of this work already, 1853, in his
annual report to the Government, printed by order of the Victorian
Parliament then. I t was first brought extensively into commerce by
Mr. Bosisto, who has the credit of liaving ascertained many of the
properties of this oil for technic application. Single consignments
of 2,000 lbs. have arrived from Mr. Bosisto’s establishment in London.
I t is this species which yields more volatile oil than any other hitherto
tested, and which therefore is largely chosen for distillation; thus it
is also one of the best for subduing malarian effluvia in fever-regions,
although it does not grow with quite the same ease and celerity as
E. globulus. Dr. Cnrgenven found Eucalyptus-oil, combined with
thymol and other antiseptics, highly efficacious in the treatment of
scarlet-fever and other infectious diseases, especially as an external
application. Fresh Euoalyptus-branchlets, particularly of E . amjg-
dalina, should he daily placed into the sickroom of phthisic patients,
best under the bedstead, the effect being not only anti.septic, but
also sedative and to some extent hypnotic. Colonel Warren quotes
from scripture in reference to the medicinal value of the Eucalypts:
“ The leaves of the tree shall be for the healing of the nations.”
The respective hygienic value of various Eucalypts may to some
extent be judged from the average percentage of oil in their foliage.
as stated below, and as ascertained by Mr. Bosisto, a t the author’s
instance, for the Exhibition of 1862:—
E. amygdalina
E, oleosa
E. leucoxylon
E. goniocalyx
E. globulus
E. obliqua
3'313 per cent, volatile oil.
1-250 „ „ '
P060
0'914 „ „
0-719
0-500
The lesser quantity of oil of E. globulus is however compensated for
by the vigor of its growth and the early copiousness of its foliage.
The proportion of oil varies also somewhat according to locality and
season. E. rostrata, though one of the poorest-in oil, is nevertheless
important for malaria-regions, as it will grow well on periodically
inundated places and even in stagnant waters not saline. According
to Mr. Osborne’s experiments, initiated by myself, Encalyptus-oils
dissolve the following, among other substances, for select varnishes
and other preparations : camphor, piiie-resins, mastic, elemi, sandarac,
kauri, dammar, asphalt, xanthorrhosa-resin, dragon’s blood, benzoe,
copal, amber, anime, shellac, caoutcliouo, also wax, but not g u tta percha.
These substances are arranged here in the order of tlieir
greatest soluiiility. The potash obtainable from the ashes of various
Eucalypts varies from 5 to 27 per cent. One ton of the fresh foliage
of E. globulus yields about 8^ lbs. of pearl-ash ; a ton of the green
wood, about 2¿ lbs.; of dry wood, about 4J lbs. The kino of E.
amygdalina is almost completely soluble, as well in alcohol as in
boiling water, and contains a t an average about 58 per cent, of tannin
[Maiden]. For chemical determinations of tan-principles in bark
aud kino of various Eucalypts may also be referred to Prof. Wiesner’s
published early observations on material supplied by the writer of
this work. For resins, tar, acetic acid, tannin and other products
and educts of many Eucalypts, see various documents and reports
of the writer, issued from the Melbourne Botanic Garden already,
1866. Professor Ch. Naudin has published quite recently a valuable
treatise on tlie Eucalypts, which have been introduced into France
and Algeria.
E u c a ly p tu s B a ile y a n a , F. v. Mueller.
South-Queensland and Nortliern part of New South W'ales. A
tree to about 100 feet high ; bark remarkably tenacious [Bailey].
The timber splits easily, yet is tough and durable, thus locally used
-for fence-posts and similar purposes [A. Williams]. This species,
unlike most of its congeners, can be grown to advantage on sandy soil.
Brandies more spreading and foliage more dense than of most other
Eucalypts.
E u c a ly p tu s b o t r y o id e s , Smith.*
From East-Gippsland to South-Queensland. Vernacular name
Bastard-Mahogany, and a variety called Bangalay, the latter