The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-09
THE EUCALYPTUS HERE AND
ABROAD.

Los Angeles the State Department lately
required United States Consuls to report
on the extent to which the eucalyptus
globulus, or blue gum tree, has been
planted abroad, and the uses to which it
has been put. The information desired Is
published In the September issue Of the
Consular Reports. 1t is Of especial value
in this State, where the eucalyptus,
though an exotic, is commoner than our
indigenous trees.
The original blue gum is said to have
come from Van Diemens Land and to
have been introduced from there into
Spain, France and Italy. Our eucalyptus,
of which sixty varieties are growing In
this State, came from Australia. 1t COM
mended itself to approval from its rapid
growth, its Indifference to drought. its
ability to flourish in the most arid wastes
and its property of absorbing moisture in
malarlal districts. These remarkable
qualities in The Australasian tree Fave
been observed by European growers. In
Southern France. in the neighborhood OF
Nice, Cannes, Toulon and Marseilles.
it grows into forests of great trees in
seven or eight years. Some of the trees
bear wide-Spreading branches, which are
invaluable for shade. In Italy it has ex-
hibited the power OF drying moist soil and
distributing balsamc atmosphere, which
counteracts the effects of malarlous ell
mate. At entimiglia the neighborhood
of the railroad station was so impreg-
mated with malaria that the railroad hands
deserted; plantation of III eucalyptus
globulus trees was set out. and within a
few years the fever disappeared. In Spain
the eucalyptus globulus is called the
"fever tree" because it is believed to
purify boggy and aqueous regions, in
which fevers are generated.
1t is only fair to add that the nature of
the eucalyptus as febrifuge is denied by
high authorities. Professor Linersidge of
the University of Sydney states that in
Australia there are forests of eucalyptus
in which malaria reigns supreme. Pro-
fessor-now Senator-Crudei of Italy, the
discoyerer of the microbe of malaria, is
another nom believer in the efficacy of the
tree as a preventive of fever. Crudeli
SAYS that malaria is the product of an
organism which resides in the soil and re-
1uires a certain amount of moisture and
the action of the atmosphere for its de-
velopment; thus by covering the soil with
.
| the bacillus can be prevented from getting
| into the air. The eucalyptus. he says. ex-
ercises no percept:ble influence. Still, the
learned professor does not seem to have
shaken the faith of his own people in the
virtue of the eucalyptus; for some years
the italian Government has paid a bounty
to planters of that tree.
In this State the soft spongy nature OF
| the wood of the eucalyptus renders il
unsuited for use by the cabinet-maker OF
| toolmaker. tits i'm possible to make hoe
handle, or a wheel spoke, or pow beam
of eucalyptus wood. In Europe it is diff.
ferent. In Italy furniture is made Of
eucalyptus wood, and some varieties are
considered harder than teak. The tree /,
used in other ways which are unknown
here. 1t yields an essential oil, which il
highly considered in pharmacy, and j!
used for spraying the throat in cases o
severe Inflammation. A preparation from
the wood is said to be valuable as an anti
septic. The bark contains large proper
ton of taunip, which makes it useful a
an astringent and valuable in the tannery
DR.. Thomas Linn, an American settled IL
Paris, states that he has used the esseniis
oil of the eucalyptus in severe cases o
catarrh, and in the early stages of phthisis
In Spain the fibers are extracted from tn
long leaves and made into wrapping paper
In this State the eucalyptus, which n
learned Don Fernando Lempere pre-
nounces Eel ejor Go los arboles," is use
only for railroad ties, fences and tirewOoC
Foreigners seem to get more out Of tn
noble tree; when we buckle down to tn
work of making the most of our r,
sources we shall follow their example.