ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 237 



numerous other purposes. The fine-grained wood is cut into veneers. It takes 

 a fine polish and is considered equal to the best walnut." Under favorable 

 circumstances it attains " a hight of eighty feet with a stem several feet in 

 diameter." This species requires a deeper and moister soil than A. decurrens 

 and A. lophantha, which are especially recommended for their ability to resist 

 drought, and therefore particularly applicable to treeless and sterile areas in 

 the southern part of California, and the adjoining country, where the tempera- 

 ture does not decline below ten degrees. 



The peculiar yellow displayed in the China silks and other articles, is ob- 

 tained from the yellow flowers of a species of Acacia, and is of an exceeding 

 permanent character. 



The Acacias are easily propagated from seed, as I have (with some species) 

 practically tested ; and it is not unlikely that the flowers of most of the species, 

 which are yellow, might be equally as valuable for the dyer, as the variety 

 cultivated or used by the Chinese. 



Of the Eucalypti, E. globulus is very common in California, and easily 

 cultivated : it is the Blue Gum of Victoria and Tasmania. " This tree is of 

 extremely mpid growth and attains a height of 400 feet, furnishing a Grst-class 

 ■wood; shipbuilders get keels of this timber 120 feet long; besides this they 

 use it extensively for planking and many other parts of the ship, and it is 

 considered to be generally superior to American Rock Elm. A test of strength 

 has been made between some Blue Gum, English Oak and Indian Teak. The 

 Blue Gum carried 14 lbs. weight more than the Oak, and 17 lbs. 4 ozs. more 

 than Teak, upon the square inch. Blue Gum wood, besides for ship building, 

 is very extensively used by carpenters for all kinds of out- door work, also for 

 fence rails, railway sleepers — lasting about nine years — for shafts and spokes of 

 drays, and a variety of other purposes." * 



Of the rapid growth of this species of Eucalyptus and the facility with 

 which it is propagated, most people in California who have had any experience 

 with it are familiar ; but as perhaps few persons who have specimens of it 

 growing upon their grounds or in their yards are aware of its value otherwise 

 than for ornamental purposes, I have deemed it a matter of interest as well as 

 of importance to quote from Dr. Mueller's valuable paper. Having propagated 

 the Blue Gum from the seed and raised many specimens under not particularly 

 favorabk' circumstances, I can indorse the remarks of the author from whom 

 I have quoted. An instance of rapid growth immediately under my observa- 

 tion, is that of a specimen purchased by me of a nurseryman, which at the time 

 of planting (Jan. 5, 1871) measured from the ground level to the extreme tip 

 six and one-half feet, and in about eleven months (Dec. 8, 1871) had reached a 

 height of a trifle over fifteen feet ; the diameter of the stalk when set out was 

 half an inch, and at the final measurement one and three quarters inches. I am 

 prepared to hear of instances far exceeding my figures, but it should be borne 

 in mind that we had very little rain after this tree was planted, and furthermore 



*Vide " The Principal Timber Trees readily eligible for Victorian Industrial Culture, etc., 

 etc., by Ferd. Von Mueller." 



Pkoc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Vol. IV.— 18. Januaey 1873. 



