Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-18
How the Eucalyptus Should be Planted.

In answer to many inquiries from
all sides concerning the eucalyptus,
in which so much interest is shown at
present, DR.. William H. Gibbons, of
Alameda, has kindly furnished the
Rural Press with the following hints
concerning its growth
The habits of the trees, like the
habits of animals, differ. The full
development of any organized struc-
ture depends on it's being placed under
conditions which best coincide with
its natural habits. Our common oak
(Quehcus -Egylops,) scarcely ever
attains hight exceeding fifty feet.
1t has no central axis, its numerous
branches are regularly uniform in
size, and singularly erratic in regard
to direction. You cannot train one of
these trees when sapling, and make
it assume the form of q chestnut,
poplar, or an eucalyptus. Nor can
you trim an eucalyptus and make it
assume the form of an oak. The roots
of different trees also vary in direc-
ton, in depth and in bifurcation ac-
cording to the soil in which they
grow. BY nature, the relation
between the form and mass of tree
and of its roots, as q general rule, is
uniform. Should there be deficiency
or poverty of soil, heather root nor
top is developed. Should the trunk
be deprived of its small branches and
leaves, there follows a deficiency in
the new wood of the tree, which is apt
to be brittle and succulent. Again, q
young tree has more rapid growth of
root, than oftop. But the root derives
its pabulum from the leaves which
prepare, or assimilate the sap. What
ever deprives the young tree of its
natural proportions of leaves, inter-
feres not only with the growth of the
tree itself, but with the extension of
the root. Whatever impairs the
growth of the root, impsirs the general
health and vitality of the tree.
The eucalyptus, in its natural locali-
ties, attains a hight of from 300 to 400
feet, with diameter of 40 feet. Its
first two years growth from the seed
| is largely occupied in making root.
Cut off its side brances; and you cut of
the organs which supply the roots with
food. Dwarf the root. and you produce
a tree, ill-shaped, ungracetul, which
having no firm support in the ground
is liable to be blown over by any high
wind. s.so,...s
There is too much carelessness on
the part Of some, too much ignorance
on the part of others, in transplanting
and cultivating trees our gardeners
ball up the roots of our eucalyptus
like, mass of worms, and sell them
thus, ready for planting. Many
purchasers dig o small, shallow hole
and set the trees in just as they bring
them from the nurseries and cover
them up. They grow, but having no
extension of root, and no more depth
of soil than the gardener has depth OF
brain, they grow until heavy wind
comes round and blows them over.
They are reset, their tops are cut of
and they grow again, looking as much
like an eucalyptus as jackass does
Hike philosopher. The hole for a
tree should always be from eighteen
inches to two feet square and of like
depth; it should be filed to within
eight inches Of the top with good
vegetable mold or compost. The root
should be trimmed SO as to leave nc
accumulation of twisted roots, and the
tree then planted 80 as to be about one
inch below its earth liner So planted,
it cannot fail to grow, and with ordi-
nary care it will never blow over.
= The Paddock elms of Boston, that
for q hundred years have braved the
battle of the elements, must submit
their groaning trunks to the unsenti.
mental chopper. AS might have been
expected, Oliver Wendell Holmes
raised his voice in protest against the
materialistic spirIt which would make
cord-wood out of the historic tees.
Holmes thought it wasn't fair to bring
up the question of the removal at this
season. Wait until June next, he
pleaded, when the elms have put forth
their foliage and when the sun Is
strong; then adjourn the meeting OF
the committee to the cool umbrage OF
the trees, and If it be then decided that
they must fall he himself would
| sharpen the axe to cut them away for