Page:On the characters, properties, and uses of Eucalyptus globulus and other species of Eucalyptus.djvu/13

 instance, railway-sleepers and maritime works. Various species, which we have not time to refer to, are also applicable to a number of other useful purposes—as shafts for gigs, spokes and felloes of wheels, boards for flooring, material for fencing land, poles of drags, &c.

Among the products obtainable from Eucalyptus wood we must not forget that of potash, more "particularly as this alkali can be obtained without sacrifice of any valuable timber, and from localities not accessible to the wood trade." The richness in potash of this wood may be estimated from the fact that Baron von Mueller found that the ashes of these trees "contained a larger proportion of potash than the Elm or Maple, which are the trees most esteemed for that purpose in America. The yield from the latter trees is estimated at 10 per cent. of the ashes, while that from the Eucalyptus is 21 per cent."

The barks of various species are also now used to some extent in paper-making; those of E. rostrata, E. obliqua, E. corymbosa, and E. goniocalyx are amongst those so employed. Several specimens of these papers, which are principally used for packing and printing, and for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. P. L. Simmonds, are now on the table. Good writing-paper has also been made from the bark of E. obliqua.

The barks of many species are also used extensively for tanning. They owe this property to the presence of similar constituents to those contained in oak-bark and other substances commonly employed in this country and elsewhere for a like purpose.

A number of species of Eucalyptus also exude a very astringent substance, which, from its resemblance to the ordinary medicinal kino both in appearance and properties, is commonly designated as Eucalyptus or Botany-Bay Kino. This substance, which, when it first exudes, trickles like blood down the bark of the trees in a semifluid state, ultimately hardens into dark red shining masses, which have a very astringent taste. It is employed for similar medicinal purposes as our official kino, and also for tanning and dyeing. Various specimens of this kino, derived from E. resinifera, E. globulus, E. corymbosa, E. rostrata, and E. citriodora, are now exhibited.

Another substance, called Eucalyptus or Australian Manna, is also yielded by E. mannifera, E. viminalis, and probably other species. Two varieties of this Manna have been distinguished, one of which is now exhibited. This is in small, rounded, opaque, whitish masses, with an agreeable sweet taste. It has a similar action to the ordinary Manna in use in this country, and contains somewhat similar