The San Francisco call., 1909-02-27

I cooper on MS ranch near santa bar
bara. The we'll known Widney and Ma
deau groves. set out in 1874 and 1875.
( were the first extensive plantations
made near Los Angeles.
BLUE GUM BEST KNOWN
For general purposes the blue gum,
eucalyptus globulus. has been used more
combined, and even today the knowl-
! edge of most laymen of the eucalypts
/ is confined to their acquaintance with
/ this species. Several other species.
+ however, possess special qualities which
warrant their selection for particular
uses and for certain localities. Among
these are the red gum, eucalyptus ros-
/ trata; sugar gum, eucalyptus coryno-
calyx; mama gum, eucalyptus vimi-
nails; gray gum. eucalyptus crebra;
/ lemon gum, eucalyptus citriodora; red
mahogany. EUCALYPTUS resinifera. The
I rapid growth and splendid development
of all of these rank them as timber
eucalypts.
The selection of the species to be
planted in any certain grove will be
/ influenced by the purpose for which
I the planter desires 10 plant. A good
profit is assured if an inferior. quickly
! developing species Is planted for fuel.
But planting for fuel, in the long run,
say the experts, is the least profitable
! of all, for hardwood tree, while some
what longer in attaining the cutting
/ stage, is worth several times as much
money.
WOODS SOFT AND HARD
The wood of the different species
varies from a wood as soft as that of
our pines to very hard, close grained
and variously colored kinds, equal to
our native oaks and hickories. Among
the large number of species may be
found some that can be substituted for
nearly all our present commercial
woods, although the eucalyptus wood is
harder to work.
The hardwood planning mill at San
! Jose has sawed up many thousands of
! feet Of eucalyptus lumber the major
/ portion being from blue gum, or euca-
! lyptus globulus, logs OF considerable
age This lumber has been used to
/ MI orders for felloes of large wagon
wheels, poles, singletrees, doubletrees
and reaches, hay press blocks and insu-
lator pins. The lumber is being used in
every place where great strength is
required, and the finished product
! commands a price never lower than
! that of the best oak lumber
Other mills are also saving this
wood and it's value for all hardwood
purposes is becoming more and more
appreciated. The red gum, eucalyptus
rostrata, is now in wide demand for in
terror finish and furniture, and both this
! species and the blue gum are well es-
tablished as commercial hardwoods.
The difficulty is, and must be for years
I to come to secure supplies equal to the
demand.
GROVES TO SUPPLY DEMAND
As most Of the trees now growing
were set out as windbreaks, or for
shade or ornamental purposes, they
are not readily available for the mills,
/ ho from
the groves which are now being set
out The mills will increase as rapidly
as there is material 70 be obtained for
the saws.
The area within which the timber
/ eucalyptus may be successfully propa-
gated has been broadly defined by the
California state board of forestry as
that bounded by the frost line. The
mama and gray gums may be safely
planted when the temperature does not
drop below % degrees Fahrenheit.
/ Commercial planting outside the 22 de-
grees Fahrenheit isotherms is not rec
/ ommended for any species, nor outside
the 26 degrees Fahrenheit and 28 de-
grees Fahrenheit isotherms for blue
and sugar gums, respectively.
For successful growth the require
ments of the eucalypts for soil and
moisture are but little more elastic
than for temperature. 1t is unwise to
]
soil. or where the water table is far
below the surface.
RAPID GROWTH NEEDS FEEDING
Planters should not forget that the
rapid growth and proper development
of eucalypts are contingent on their
food supply rather than on inherent
quality Where the water table is ac-
eessible at not more than 25 feet below
the surface, good growth may be ex-
pected.
Regarding the selection OF species
for planting Forest Circular No. of
the state board of forestry has the
following:
Generally speaking, the blue and
sugar gums should be chosen for
planting within their thermal ranges.
outside these the red, gray and mama
gums must be considered as the lead
4 ing species. Whenever the selection
Of species lies between blue and sugar
gum. the kind of product desired and
/ the amount of soil moisture present
must determine the choice
SUGAR GUM HAS STRENGTH
IF firewood, piles or dimension stuff
/ is desired, the blue gum should be
selected. especially il there is no
marked deficiency of soil moisture. II
poles. ties or a wood OF unusual dura-
I bility and strength is desired, the su-
gar gum should be chosen. particu-
! Iarly if the situation is rather arid.
The sugar gum is the more drought
resisting. but the blue gum is the
more rapid growing.
"Outside the planting range of the
blue and sugar gums the red gum
comnends itself. owing to its frost
hardness and the durability of its
timber In frosty or swampy loca-
tions 1t should receive first prefer