Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-10-19
PLANTING EUCALYPTUS.
(By the Agriculturist.)

| (By the AgficulturiSt)
| The Arizona Experiment Station has
j been studying EUCALYPTUS, with view
to ascertaining which ones can be sue
cessfully grown in southern Arizona.
| The EUCALYPTUS are eVergreens belong
| ing to the genus Eucalyptus, of which
there are about $50 species. They are
! indigenous to Australia and the ada
! cent islands, and have been introduced
! into many parts of the world having a
similar climate. The different species
require different conditions of soil and
climate. About so species thrive in diff
ferent parts of the southwestern Unit
ed States. Few of the species have
common names that distinguish them
from each other, hence in speaking Of
them it is necessary to use the scien-
tific names in order to be accurate.
The one most commonly grown in Cali
fornia, where the EUCALYPTUS have found
special favor, is Eucalyptus globulus,
commonly called Blue Gum there.
A much smaller percentage of the
Eucalypts thrive here than in Califor-
MIA. In fact, it has been commonly
supposed that none would thrive here.
This opinion was probably based upon
the fact that E. globulus, the preva-
lent one in California, endured neither
the heat of our summers nor the frosts
of winter
It has been found that several
species resistant to both heat and mod
crate cold do thrive here few of
which will probably grow nearly if not
quite as rapidly as the Blue Gum does
in California. A few plants of various
species have been set in various parts
of southern Arizona from time to time
oir- ThnCa
that have done the best are E. vini-
nails, E. rostrata, E. leucoXylon, e.
hemiphloia, and E. gomphocephala, the
first two having made the most rapid
growth. Six-year- E. viminalis
trees near Phoenix range from eight to
fourteen inches in diameter and forty
to fifty feet high. One six-year-old E.
rostrata tree is eighteen inches in di-
ameter and about forty-ffve feet high.
The Eucalypts being of much eco
nomic value it is desirable that such
species as win thrive here be intro
duced as rapidly as practicable. Be
sides being useful shade trees, and con-
sequently adding much to the appear
ance of the landscape, especially dur
ing winter when there are few other
evergreens in southern Arizona, they
are valuable for fence posts, for fuel,
ana IOf d great variety OIL purposes 1OT
which hard wood is needed. The hardy
species mentioned can be grown in any
part of Arizona where the temperature
never falls below IS to IS degrees F.
Young Eucalypts may be obtained
of nurserymen or grown from seed.
Unless one has proper facilities for the
propa cation of seedlings and has had
some experience in growing delicate
plants it will be cheaper to purchase
the plants of grower
Probably the best time to sow the
seed in our climate is November. Sow
in boxes three or four inches deep and
eighteen to twenty-four inches square,
using for a seed bed a mixture of vege-
table mould and sharp sand. Scatter
the seed evenly over the surface and
cover about one-eightll inch with finely
sifted soil. The seed should be Watered
lightly daily, care being taken that
the surface never becomes dry. The
young plants should appear in from
one to two weeks. After this, be care
full to avoid keeping the seed bed too
damp, or fungi may attack and destroy
the young plants. A good plan is to
water only during the warm part of the !
day, that the soil may become partially /
dried promptly. If possible, rain water
or distilled water should be used for !
watering the young seedlings. as the /
salt and alkali of the waters Of AIi- /
IONA are apt to cause corrosion at the |
surface of the soil.
When about three inches high the /
young plants should be transplanted /
into fresh sofia mixture of clay loan, |
well rotted manure, and sand. They |
may be set about two inches apart each !
way. Eucalypts make better growth I
if planted out when six to twelve I
inches high than if left in the seed T
boxes until larger. During most sea- I
sons April will probably be the best I
month for setting them in the field T
None should be set after the early part I
of May.
For fuel or timber they may be set T
six to ten feet apart each way. They I
grow straighter and make better tim +
Der if planted near together in blocks /
than if scattered over a farm. If cut i
to the ground when a sufficient size for F
that may be cut - a fsSE years