The herald., 1895-07-02
FACTS ABOUT
EUCALYPTUS
A Very Interesting Letter
From One Who Has
Studied It
MANY THINGS COMBINE TO
Influence the Eucalyptus in Its Growth
and the Value Of Its Timber.
Valuable Information

Few Californians have made the subject
Of the eucalyCpus tree as close study as
has Abbott Kinney. His researches in
tie mater have been of practical char
acter, and he has also sought the opinion
Of many persons in position to impart
Information. The following letter is from
Walter Gill, Of the forestry department of
South Australia. and contains some in
formation OF interest to Southern Califor-
mia.
Forest Department, Adelaide, s.A.,
May "a, '94.
Hon A. Kinney:
Dear Sir-I see longer time has
elapsed, owing to other work. than had
intended, since my last letter of April 8,
'94, so, without further preliminary, I
will at once take up the last, and, from
some aspects. probably the most port
ant. point on which you seek some in
formation, viz, the true valuo OF the JAZZ
yah OF West Australia Eucalyptus mar
ginala) In resisting teredo. This opens
out another wide question, embracing
the important details OF (a) the kind OF
site and soil on which the tree has
grown: (b) the age at which it has been
felled; (c) the time of year at hich it
has been felled; (d) the care with which
1t has been seasoned or whether it has
rity or the want of it, shown by the indi-
vidual forwarding it. The last point is
the most important OF all, and consti-
tutes the absolute key of the whole po-
sition, but, inasmuch as the "millen.
ium" has not yet arrived, the man who
relies too implicitly on the assured exist
ence Of perfect integrity IN any one diIec-
tion may find his honest trust rewarded
by some unlocked for results.
Referring in detail to the several points
named it may be definitely stated that
the same kind of tree will produce tim
ber CT kind which exhibits great varia-
,tion, according to the nature OF the soil it
grows on, and the position OF the site as
regards its exposure to various winds, its
elevation and position in full sunlight all
day, or its being found in deep gully
with only moderate sunlight and but lit
tie, If any. disturbance in the air around
it. Therefore, according as the tree grows
wise, will it produce timber, good, bad or
indifferent, though of the same species.
This. l gather from most authentic
sources of information. is exactly the case
with the iarrah. 1t may be first. rate in
quality from one spot, and would then re-
sist teredo. and again, coming from an
other quarter. would be comparatively
worthless. A similar case can be cited
IN connection with our sugar gum (e.
eorynocalyx). This tree, when growing
on the Huiders' ranges, (quartzite and
iron and sandstone) running east OF
Spencer's gulf, produces splendid timber,
hard, dense and splitting indifferently.
post. telegraph pole or axle bed. When
grown, however. on Kangaroo island IN
sandy bottoms of small creeks, flooded in
winter, 1t Is OF far too open a character to
make sleepers good for anything, as in
seasoning it will just all split open in
unified or the purpose originally contem-
plated. Tho mama gum varies greatly.
In some places considered worthless, in
others regarded as fair timber. The
same with stringy-park le obliqua etc.,
captellaa) of South Australia; grown in
excellent tim Der; but in soil less suit
able. timber of scant importance; but
enough has been said on this head. as
similar remarks may be made "re'' tim
bers in most parts of the world. Your
own country will, no doubt, afford cases
parallel with these of our gums. The Sec
ond point, as to age. in one of much mo
a young tree, but it may. lack maturity;
Or. grown on poverty stricken site,
it may be old and past its prime.
is wanted. Many small tree
has been regarded as young, when it
bearing witness to the poverty of its bab.
itat by its lack of DEVELOPMENT.
The question as to the time OF year in
which It has been felled is. of all points,
. most vital one. You probably are not
quite IN such a position to estimate the
more definite times for growth and rest
than have our gums. The fall of leaf of
deciduous trees at once tells the lumber
gettei that the sap is down (if he cares
about it at ally but the trouble is to tell
exactly when the sap OF gums is down,
and this can only be judged of approxi-
mate!y as to the individual tree, by its
showing no young and luxuriant growth.
1t is also generally considered that after
tree has concentrated its vital efforts on
the production of its flowers and seed
vessels that u period of comparative in
,nctivity follows; this inactivity may CO.
incide with the autumn or winter season,
or it may not as our autumns and win
ters are seldom alike rs to time and char
acter fof any two seasons running, and
solitary trees may be Towering and crow
ing at all times OF the year.
Frost is always most important factor
in regulating the growth of gums. When
less. according to circumstances; but then
frosts are SO erratic. l have been camp
ing out in April and risen to find my
beard and hair white with hOarfrost some
times, ana yet other years hardly a sign
of frost will appear all through the VIM
ter, and perhaps most disastrous one
may occur as late as October, between
two and three months after the usual per-
iod for them.
Rains, again, or their absence, are
equally important in determining the
growth period. They come in quite as
erratic way as frosts, and hence effect
alterations in the efforts of
our gums to grow. From this it may be
easily inferred how probable it is that
timber may be felled when in full sap
not always of set purpose; perhaps quite
as often from want of knowledge; and a
tree thus felled will certainly not prove as
good timber as it would if felled with sap
in comparatively an inactive state. The
which 1T IS very unsatisfactory to have to
observe. 1t seldom or never commands
the careful attention it demands. The
neglect Of it results in great damage
possibly in some cases irreparablo dam
age. to the reputation of the timber
which is the subject of it, also as well as
much pecuniary loss to the individual or
company purchasing it. It is too vast
matter to enter on the subject of season
Ing here. further than to state that this,
In conjunction with the other points
touched on. may have had something to
DO with the failure of Jarrah timber to
withstand teredo where that has been
the experience.
The question of the integrity of any
person or persons forwarding jarrah is,
Is previously indicated, the key to the