Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-16
FORTUNE IN TREES.
Story Of Big Values Produced BY the
Eucalyptus.

Not little anxiety has been felt by
those interested in the various in
dustries using hardwood concerning
the future supply. The destruction
Of our native forests has gone on
wantonly until the days are number
ed when these forests will be exhaust
ed. In some instances reforestation
is resorted to. but at best 1t will take
more than one generation for these
timber reserves TO produce a market
able crop, and 1t will be impossible
to turn the whole forest area again
into timber. America is facing the
same situation that prevails in China,
Persia, and Palestine, where forest
denudation has left hillsides bare and
unproductive. aided the progress OF
erosion, devastated once fertile fields,
and impoverished people.
The experts Of the United States ag-
ricultural bureau end foresty depart
ment, together with other students of
the foresty situation have given more
attention Of late to the eucalyptus
tree. This tree is a native Of Austria
liza, where II stands In the forests
riValing In size our own celebrated big
trees of California. Specimens of this
tree thirty feet In diameter and over
400 feet high, are frequently met
u with in the Australian forests This
tree was introduced into the United
States In 1856 by people returning
from Australia, who planted the tree
In California. It was planted merely
Tor curiosity or ornamental purposes
The rapid growth Of the tree soon
attracted the attention of Californians
and 1t was planted widely for wind
breaks, shade, and for fuel. Many
which were planted from twenty to
forty years ago in the odd corners of
the ranches and along the roadways
now stand as magnificent trees, tall,
straight, and solid.
/ Attention has lately been directed
to the quality Of the wood In these
trees. There are over $50 varieties
Of eucalyptus, some of which would
not be OF much value as timber, but
the species most commonly planted in
California today produce a wood re-
markable for the beauty Of its grain,
Its lasting qualities, either in the
ground or under water, and the hard
ness and strength of its texture.
Eucalyptus is as hard as oak, as tough
as hickory, and as beautiful as ma
hogany. In fact, eucalyptus wood Is
now being used for all the purposes
where hardwood is required. It takes
the place OF hickory In vehicle con-
struction, it replaces oak and elm in
the construction Of agricultural i'm
plements, and replaces birch and ma
hogany for interior finish and furni-
ture.
The thing which makes the eucalyp-
tus tree especially valuable Is the fact
that II grows more rapidly than any
other tree. These trees at the age OF
ten years will average from twelve
to twenty inches In diameter and from
100 to $50 in height. There is no
| other lumber making tree which can
be compared with eucalyptus in rap
idity Of growth. Individual trees
make remarkable growths; the writer,
travelling through California last
spring, saw tree four years old that
was fourteen inches In diameter and
| was shown another tree seven feet in
diameter and was told that the man
who planted 1t forty years ago was
still living In the house close by en-
joying its shade.
This tree can grow only under right
conditions. 1t must have the right
soil, the right moisture, and In
climate where 1t does not freeze. In
fact, frost seems to be the only thing
that can kill the eucalyptus tree. The
area Of the United States where the
eucalyptus can be grown SATISFACTORY
ly seems to be limited to the state Of
California. Men cut them and they
spring up Immediately from the
stump; three, four, and sometimes
even eight trees replacing the one
that was cut. This cutting and re-
growth apparently can go on indef-
been cut over several times, and yet
spring up anew, with as much vigor
as at the first.
In the time that 1t would take an
oak tree or hickory to attain market
able size, the eucalyptus tree would
have reached that size and been har-
vested three times, leaving a stump
that seemed to have drunk its full
from the fountain Of youth, ready to
produce unnumbered trees in the fu-
ture. If the government reports did
not bear testimony to the rapidity OF
the growth Of the eucalyptus tree one
would hesitate to speak Of it for fear
Of being disbelieved.
In not a few instances men who
planted waste corners Of their farms
and hillsides with eucalyptus trees
from ten to twenty years ago have
found that these trees from which
they expected nothing but shade for
stock or at the most fire wood, have
yielded them fortunes which have
made them Independent. One Of the
most remarkable instances Of this kind
was that experienced by Frank Meach-
am at Petaluma, Cal. Mr.. Meacham
planted a strip Of these trees for a
windbreak. There were seven rows
of the trees planted in a strip sixty
feet wide and one and one-half miles
long, containing 1000 trees.
These trees, eighteen years after
planting, by actual measurement, av-
eraged a little more than twenty-five
inches in diameter, and their average
height was estimated at 100 to $50
feet. If they had been but sixteen
inches in diameter instead Of twenty
two they would have contained, ac-
cording to the rule for estimating
standing timber, 440 board feet each.
The 1000 trees at that rate con-
tanned 1,760,000 feet Of lumber. The
lowest quotation of this class Of lum-
ber is $40 thousand for dimension
timber. At that rate, 1,760,0OO feet
Of lumber would be worth $4,000.
This amount Of lumber was produced
on eleven acres. In other words, this
crop Of timber yielded $12,S00 per
acre at the end Of eighteen years, or
little better than 500 per acre a
year.
OIHeTS seeing the SuCCeSS VI tic
pioneer eucalyptus growers have
walked up to the possibilities which
eucalyptus offers. The result Is that
at present extensive planting Of
eucalyptus is under way in this great
western state. In not few instances,
fruit growers are replacing their vine
yards and orchards with the eucalyp-
tus. In fact as one travels through
California today he sees on every
hand the towering tops Of these young
giants reaching up above surrounding
orchards or planted in grove forma-
ton from six to eight feet apart In
acreage tracts.
Where formerly these trees were
planted in the poorer parts Of the
ranches. they are now being planted
in the best Of California soil and are
responding to the care they are re-
ceiving with wonderful promise Of
large results. By the time the native
hardwood supply is exhausted. which
by the United States department is set
for fifteen years hence, vast groves Of
hat fN1a NJ cd In