THE EUCALYPTUS IN THE FUTURE. 



663 



traexpanded flower-bud, being cup-like below and cone-like at top, 

 was not dissimilar in form to the globular brass button formerly in 

 vogue, and so the blue-gum received from this botanist the specific 

 name globulus. 



Fig. 1. Eucalyptus Preissiana. 



" One tree of the future one of hope," says Prof. Fluclriger, 

 " may be recognized in Eucalyptus globulus." And the prophecy is 

 advancing to fulfillment, for already the eucalypt is becoming a cos- 

 mopolitan tree. It was discovered by La Billardiere on the south of 

 the island of Tasmania, near Entrecastenaux Channel, May 6, 1792, 

 But, though soon after known to science, not until 1856 was it known 

 to the arboriculturists of the Old World. In that year M. Ramel 

 sent seeds from Melbourne to Paris. In 1857, and again in 1860, 

 larger supplies arrived, which, being distributed, found their way 

 over a great part of the civilized world. Of the many varieties of 

 eucalypts, the blue-gum, or Eucalyptus globulus, was the first to be 

 introduced into Europe ; hence, perhaps, it may yet appear that the 

 best variety for acclimatization has not received proper attention. 

 The Eucalyptus globulus is only found in Tasmania and Victoria, but 

 where found it is 'really the monopolist of the woods. The forest 

 area of Victoria, the most southern colony of Australia, contains 73,- 

 000 square miles of forest, of which 71,500 is almost wholly of euca- 

 lypts. And so great is the diversity of these trees among themselves, 

 that some one hundred and fifty varieties are recognized. This gave 

 marked interest to the exhibits of the Australian colonies and Tas- 

 mania in the Philadelphia Exposition. But to the student of human 

 progress a noteworthy fact was, that this Eucalyptus figured in the 

 contributions of nations to whom the seed even was unknown twenty 

 years ago. Eucalyptus woods, leaves, oils, essences, gums, etc., 

 formed items in the exhibits from the south and the north of Africa, 



