Vol. X. No. 24^ 



THE AGKIUULTUKAL NEWS. 



327 



some of the greatest encouragement for cotton growing in 

 Nyasaland and Uganda. It is pointed out that Nya.saland 

 already possesses an excellent long-staiiled cotton, described in 

 Manchester as N3'asaland Upland. In 1909 samples from the 

 crop of this were valued by the Chairman of the Rriiish 

 Cotton Growing Association at 2d. tn •2ld. per B). on the 

 price of Jliddling American. 



In treating of the control of in.sect pests and diseases, 

 the Bulletin points out that the existence of an agricultural 

 department with power to regulate the importation of planting 

 material into the country would probably have prevented 

 the introduction of certain insects and fungi which have now 

 to be controlled. In regard to the organization of a native 

 cotton industry, great importance is attached to the employ- 

 ment of cotton inspectors and native overseers to travel con- 

 stantly among the villages in order to give information con- 

 cerning the proper growing and preparation of the crop that 

 it has been decided to establi.sh. 



It is con.sidered that the prospect.s of cotton-growing in 

 Africa are very good, and that there is little chance of a set- 

 back if the American cotton boll weevil can be kept out of 

 the Continent. In token of the progre.'^s that has been made 

 in Nyasaland alone, the following values of the exports for 

 the j'ears mentioned are given, in conclusion: 1903 £3, 

 1904 5 £.5,914,1907-8 £13.999, 1908 9 £28,355, and for 

 the first eleven months of 1910-11 £52,853. 



THE CONDITIONS BEST SUITED TO 

 EUCALYPTUS TREES. 



The native home of the valuable eucalypts is in the 

 warmer portion of Australia and a few of the adjoining 

 islands. The question of hardiness to frost is of para- 

 mount importance to the growing of Eucalyptus in the conti- 

 nental United States, because the range of the tree is there 

 determined by its ability to endure cold. In Hawaii, how- 

 ever, the question of frost hardiness is not of great conse- 

 quence because, oatside of the summits of the three highest 

 mountains in the islands, the temperature everywhere in the 

 territory is sufficiently high for the growing of Eucalyptus. 



Several species of eucalypts have been planted within 

 the last three years on the west slope of Haleakala, on the 

 island of Maui, at an elevation of between 6,000 and 6,500 

 feet, and a number of them are doing very well, notably the 

 peppermint gum {E. amygdalina), the blue gum {E. ylol/iilaa), 

 the mountain ash (E. uheriaim), and the broad-leaved iron- 

 l)ark {E. sidempMoia). Here the temperature is almost 

 never lower than 35°F. How much higher than 6,500 feet 

 these trees would grow it is difficult to state, but there is no 

 reason to believe that the temperature would be too low for 

 a proper growth of the eucalypts at elevations as high as 

 7,000 or 8,500 feet, since the thermometer rarely drops 

 below 32' F. 



The temperature and moisture conditions most favour- 

 able to the growth of Kucalyptus in Hawaii are an abundant 

 rainfall, say between 50 and liOO inches per year, and 

 a rainy season alternating with plenty of strong, warm sun- 

 shine. Prolonged rain suddenly followed by intense sunshine 

 and heat is injurious, especially to seedlings. 



The eucalypts are intolerant of ."ihade, and require 

 plenty of light for their proper development. When given 

 too much light, however, the eucalypts will branch out 

 immoderately and will then not be of much value as a timber 

 tree. The t'rees in their .seedling stage can endure more 

 shade than the older trees, and the very young .seedlings 

 require a certain amount of shade for their growth. When 



all are planted at the same time, the eucalypts can grow in 

 dense stands, and the trees will then form straight, cylindri- 

 cal trunks. They will not grow, however, planted in the 

 shade of other trees. 



Most of the eucalyi)ts have well developed root systems, 

 and as a rule are not easily thrown down by ordinary winds, 

 but the foliage of many of the gums is affected by strong 

 winds, and few species can therefore thrive in windy situations. 

 The trees seem to suffer more by constant than by unusually 

 strong winds, and the ordinary trade wind in an exposed 

 situation will be more harmful than an occasional kona 

 storm. The foliage of blue gum [E. globulus) and of red gum 

 {E. rostrata) is particularly sensitive to strong winds. 

 Sugar gum {E. corynocalyx) and peppermint gum {E. 

 aiiiygdalina) can stand much wind, though the trees will 

 often lean to leeward and are then unfit for straight timber. 

 The swamp mahogany (E. irjuisfa) is generally considered 

 sensitive to strong winds in California, but in Hawaii it is 

 found to grow straight and of good form even in the most 

 exposed situations. 



The eucalypts, as a rule, prefer a very moist soil and 

 respond readily to irrigation in dry situations. Swampy 

 land, however, is not favourable to good growth, especially if 

 the roots of the trees are constantly flooded. The red gum 

 (E. rostrata) is probably the least exacting in this respect, 

 and will thrive in wet swamps. Swamp mahogany {E. robusta), 

 blue gum {E. glohidus), and the bastard mahogany 

 {E. botryoides), will also endure excessive moisture. The 

 sugar gum (E. rorynocalyx), on the other hand, is the most 

 intolerant in this respect. 



Unlike agricultural crops, trees are not fastidious as to 

 the quality of the soil on which they grow. There is hardly 

 a soil .so poor as not to be able to support some tree growth. 

 The chemical composition of the soil is of little importance, 

 provided its jihysical composition is favourable. The physi- 

 cal composition of the soil is important becau.se it determines 

 to a large extent the amount of available soil moisture. 

 A deep, loose, moderately fine-grained, sandy loam, is the 

 best for most species of eucalypts, as it is for almost all other 

 forest trees. 



The following trees require good soil for their proper 

 growth: Uackbutt (E. pi/idaris), red gum (E. rostrata), 

 manna gum {E. viminaUs). 



The trees which arc least fastidious as to their soil 

 requirements are peppermint gum ( E. amygdalina), yate 

 (E. ciirnittii), red mahogany {E. rexinifera), swamp mahogany 

 (E. robnsta), and red ironbark {E. sideroxylon). (From 

 Bulletin No. 1 rrf the Hawaii Division of Forestry, entitled 

 Eucalyptus Culture in Hawaii, p. 5.) 



Indian Mango Juice. — We have received from the 

 Oriental Cannery Cc, Honovar, India, a sample tin of this 

 preparation of which we have formed a very favourable 

 opinion. It is of semi solid consistency, and the colour and 

 taste that of the best ripe mangoes. It is excellent seived 

 as a sauce with blancmange, etc., and could also be used to 

 make ices, or simply mixed with milk to form 'mango fool', 

 or used alone, in place of mango fruiti for dessert. 



According to the report on it from the Lancet, it is stated 

 to be practically free from sugar, and to possess antiscorb«tic 

 properties, while the British Medical Journal states that it 

 is free from preservatives, and the material appears to consist 

 of nothing but the pure pulp with its natural juice. 



It can therefore lie confidently recommended as a very 

 satisfactory means of enjoying the mango fruit at any tini« 

 or place. (The Tropical Agriculturist , Vol. XXXVII, p. 38.) 



