The San Francisco call., 1908-10-09

short time of maturity.
BERK ELEY, Oct. SIN a bulletin.
the most comprehensive ever issued on
the subject, Norman d. Ingham OF the
agricultural experiment station of the
university department Of agriculture,
has revealed a few Of the uses to which
the eucalyptus can be put. Ingham
has made a careful study of the 100
different species of the eucalyptus and
pronounces II the tree of the twentieth
century. Some of the species are as
hard as hickory. while others are as
soft as pine. The tree can withstand
temperature of 18 degrees as well as
120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Growing equally well in swampy
places, the eucalyptus can live on a
desert.
While the age OF maturity varies in
the different species ample returns on
an investment can be expected in 10
years, according to Ingham. In 80
years the blue gum viii have the hard
ness Of hickory.
In summing up the uses Of the tree
Ingham said in part:
Since the introduction of the first
species Of eucalyptus the seeds of other
by seedsmen. nurserymen and in many
cases ranch owners, until at the present
time there are growing in the state
nearly 100 species, The University of
California has 20 named species grow
Ing on the forestry station grounds at
Santa Monica, Cal; there are specimen
trees Of nearly every species over 10
years of age and bearing seed at the
present time. while there are young
trees Of all the promising lumber eu-
calypts.
GROW IN ANY SOIL
From this large selection there can
be. chosen species that VIII grow on
nearly any soil in a frostless region,
while there are a few that can endure
temperature as low as Is degrees F.
without injury.
Eucalyptus planting has now passed
the experimental stage and may be
considered without question as COM
mercial proposition. The value of the
crop and the possibilities of growing
II IN California have been sufficiently
demonstrated TO make judiciouS plant
ings. even on a large scale, perfectly
safe. with an assurance Of sure and
reasonably large profits.
The profits TO be derived from euca-
lyptus in the future will be found in
hardwood lumber for wagon work.
farm and other Implements railroad.
coach and house flnishings furniture
etc; ties. telephone poles and bridge
timber VIII also prove profitable For
any Of the above named products of
eucalyptus at least 10 years growth
will be required. and of course the
older the trees the greater the profits
In proportion.
The eucalyptus lumber is being used
IN every place where great strength is
required, and the finished product is
valued at the same price as oak lumber.
Other mills are also saving this wood
TO some extent in a local way and its
value for all hardwood purposes is be-
coming more and more appreciated.
EncaI XnrnE r0Cfr1fG the rad fS
now finding considerable use for in
terror finish and furniture and both this
species and the blue gum, eucalyptus
glObulus. are becoming established as
commercial hardwoods. There is no
doubt of their greatly increased use II
supplies were available.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
OF the well known eucalyptus oil
extracted from the twigs and leaves of
the tree the writer declared it has
great medicinal properties. as it is non
irritant antiseptic. He said:
The leaves and twigs of the tree,
when distilled, produce an oil which has
great medicinal properties, and is used
quite extensively In medicine at the
present time This oil is a nonirritant
anriseptic. which can be used without
the slightest injury on all the tissues
of the body and internally in very
small quantities
Comparing the fruit industry with
the growing Of the eucalyptus for
profit Ingham continued:
Eucalyptus planting commercially has
a number Of points in its favor as an
investment over the fruit industry.
principally because the fruit business
is mora or less of an uncertainty, while
the timber proposition is comparatively
sure A heavy rain dnging the bloom
ing period of the fruit trees checks fer
tilization, small crop being the re-
suit; this is not the case with the wood
crop where the more ratn the greater
growth and profits We harvesting
period Of most fruits extends over but
a Few weeks, and II II is not gathered
at that time the crop is a total loss:
while. on the other hand, the harvest
ing period Of the timber trees extends
over a lifetime.
Summing up the versatility of the
tree he includes its worth as a bee
pasture:
All Of the eucalypts have more or
less value as bee pasture when in
bloom, and from the large number OF
species growing in the state 1t is pos
sible to select a group that will furnish
bloom for the bees to work on the
year round