The herald., 1896-06-22
THE EUCALYPTUS

The volume Of Abbot Kinney on the
Eucalyptus, lately published in this
city, will meet a want that has long
existed, and has been supplied none too
soon. This remarkable tree is pecu-
liarly suited to the requirements of
Southern California, as if the foot had
been measured for the shoe. In brief
review of the work of Mr.. Kinney The
Herald hopes to draw attention, not
only to the interesting facts he pre-
sents, but also to the openings he sug-
gests for new and profitable industries.
The preparation of the book has been
attended with no little labor, but it has
evidently been a labor of love as well
as diligence. The author has not only
ransacked all available sources of in
formation in different languages, and
in other lands. but he has also contrib
uted the results of years of personal OBJ
servation and practical and expensive
experiments. He has demonstrated that
the eucalyptus deserves to be regarded
as the pride and prince Of our forest
trees.
A summary outline of the volume will
show the wide range of methods and
Mr.. Kinney has brought to his task.
Opening with some general points con-
nected with the germs of the tree, he
briefly recites its history, and gives an
account Of It's transfer from it's original
home to other lands Many facts are here
given, which hitherto have been I'M
known to ordinary readers. Probaly
not more than one among hundred in
telligent persons knows that nearly one
hundred and fifty distinct varieties eX-
ist of this wonderful genius. Following
these comprehensive details the author
takes up the several species which have
been or are likely to be deserving of cul
ture in California and with discrimina-
tion notices such as are of little account
as we'll as those which may be presumed
to repay propagation. Nearly fifty of
these varieties are described and many
of them illustrated with plates which
greatly help the careful reader. A study
of these species prepares US to attend
to the various uses and advantages be-
longing to the eucalyptus. And prob
ably there Is not upon the earth tree
that is, on the whole, more useful. Its
uses range from the medicinal and san
itary, in which there Is acknowledged
by the highest medical authorities to
be ''the promise and the potency of
wonderful healing and prophylactic
properties. down to that to which a Par
adise Valley nurseryman has appro-
priated it. This gentleman takes the seed
cup of one variety and polishes it into the
bowl of tobacco pipe to the delight of
sundry lovers of the weed. There are
some eleven or twelve distinct uses to
which the tree and its products may be
devoted, and many of them especially
desirable under the conditions which
exist on this coast. All these are traced
out satisfactorily.
Justice would not be done Mr.. Kin
ney's efforts to render his work exhaust
i've without allusion to the botanical
data which he has embodied the various
medical opinions which he has collected,
and the experiments which he has con-
Quoted or caused to be conducted by
chemical experts and others. The essay
of S. nj. Woodbridge, Phi. D., commend
ed, as it Is, by Mr.. Kinney, will call
special attention to the subject of his
tests and their results. The process of
cultivation is also clearly and fully
treated, and where now only here and
there these trees are seen crowning the
landscape, it is to be hoped that soon
many waste place will be enriched
with stately eucalyptus giants, which
will lift their proud heads hundreds Of
feet above the soil