The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-04

The Reuue des Deur Mondes for January l
contains an interesting article on the euca-
lyptus globulus, or blue.gum of Tasmania.
It will be read with disappointment, how
ever, BY cultivators of the tree in this coun-
try who hope to obtain some light on the eli
matte conditions essential TO its fourishiDg
away from its native seat. The writer, d..
PlanchoD, insists on the distinction that trees
may be naturalized but not accimated. They
will either grow or not grow In given To-
cality, and experience alone can determine
what region is suitable for them. Nor is there
necessarily reciprocity in this naturaliza-
ton Of plants and vegetables. From England,
for example, numerous wild and cultivated
plants have passed to Australia and thrlved
there, though generally deteriorating; but not
single Australian species has yet been pro.
pagated in England outside of ornamental
gardens, where they are cultivated by thou
sands. Even in Southern Europe and North
ern Africa, all that can be said of the euca-
| lyptus is that it has been introduced but not
vet naturalized- in other words, it still re.
uuires the care of map. The experience of
the Cape of Good Hope, the Argentine Re.
public, of Cuba and California. is passed
over BY M. Planchon. who confines his at
tention to the shores Of the Mediterranean.
| In Algiers the giant tree has prospered won
derfully, and already has given new cnarac-
ter to the landscape. Twenty years ago II
grew there unknown, but cultivation on
large scale and with purpose was not
attempted till 1922. 1t now lines
the railroads and highways, and IS OBJ
servable singly, In clumps, and in
groves, so that it seems like part OF the lndl-
genous vegetation. 1n the south OF France
it thrives only where the orange tree does
without artificial SHELTER. e., in the East
ern Pyrenees, the Var, and the Maritime
Alps; the best-known sites being BY e-es,
Cannes, Antilles, Nice, Villetranche, ana MO
naco, Open.air cultivation has been tried at
MONTPELIER, Marseilles, and Narbonne, but
not without great risks and disappointment;
and NJ. Planchon decides adversely on the
climate of Lapguedoc and even of the west
err portion Of Provence.
In our southern States the chief hope re-
posed in the eucalyptus is that it will over.
come miasmata; and not without reason.
The "fever tree" is the name given it in
Spain by the people Of Valentia from prac.
tical acquaintance with its properties. Not
oply does it absorb immense quantities OF
moisture from swampy soils, and give OIL
baisamic effiuvium, but it furnishes the ma
terra nedica with substance which is
lebrfuge in the case of large number OF
intermittent fevers; it has dsintccting and
antiseptc qualities; topcally applied TO
wounds it promotes cicatlzlng; its leaves
ia q moderate infusion will supply the
place of tea as stimulating beverage,
and rolled into cigarettes they have so0th-
ing effect on the respiratory organs. Pros'
per Merinea is said, in his last Illness at
Cannes, 10 have derived benefit in this way
from The smoking Of them. The eucalyptus
essence has also been administered for bron-
cbial affections in the form Of lozeDges and
a. toilet article, of a powerful and very per-
sistent odor, has been made of it. Great as
are these uses, the tree is perhaps still more
to be welcomed for its timber. It's rapid
growth is not incompatible las is usually the
case) with compact texture, whose
value is heightened by the presence OF
resinous substances, emInently ADAPT
ing the wood to resist salt water, anu
thus to play an important part in naval
architecture. For the same reason 1t does
not rot in the soil, and is used for railway
sleepers, for posts and piles, for bridges,
viaducts, etc., etc. Some Of the allied spe'
cies of the eucalyptus globulus are taller
than it is, though mention is made oil blue
gum plank nearly ITO feet long. single
eucalyptus amygdalina has been known TO
surpass in height the Strasburg splre, ana
even the Great Pyramid. For further par
ticuars respecting the subject Of this note
we must refer to NJ. PlanchOn'S article,
which is remarkable, considering that the
author is Frenchman, in suggesting now
certain peculiarities of the blue gum lend
support to the development theory OF the
natural creation.-- The Nation, February IL.